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Seems every time you turn around, there's a new Elvis Costello album. The man's only one lp short of one hundred recorded songs. But that's okay, because it's all good stuff.
Trust serves as still another monument to Elvis' unique rhyming capacity. His ability to free associate images metaphorically correct never ceases to amaze me. Time and again, EC proves himself to he a master craftsman and certainly a prince amongst wordsmiths.
The album, produced by Nick Lowe of Rockpile fame, includes 14 new songs. There's a few throw-aways (like "Strict Time" and "Fish 'N' Chips Paper") but generally, the album is a menu of New Wave simplicities carefully prepared and deliciously served.
Side one opens with the new single "Clubland" and includes the interestingly avant-garde "Luxembourg" (a song much in the "Chelsea" vein.) "Lovers Walk" brought "Mystery Dance" connections to mind and "Watch Your Step" (a musical giant) is an advanced stage of "Secondary Modern." In other words these songs fit. The continuity of Elvis tunes is upheld as these tunes blend into the repertoire of imagetic love-hate songs Elvis is infamous for.
The second side goes far beyond the first. Musically, it cooks like nobody's business. "New Lace Sleeves," which opens the side, displays the best lyric on the album, and Elvis' vocals are at their peak. The next piece, "From A Whisper To A Scream," is quite possibly the best cut on the album. Glenn Tilbrook (of Squeeze) swaps vocals with Elvis and the harmony is a refreshing throwback to earlier Elvis tunes. It's a great rocking number that is both pop and potent and certainly destined for top-ten fame.
"All I want is one night of glory / I don't even know your second name." It's lyrics like these, combined with the hard-cut Elvis vocals, that grabbed critics back in '77. "It doesn't matter it your face doesn't fit."
Songs like "White Knuckles" and "Different Finger" (a '50s-bluesey-"Working Week"-ish cut) stand out as amongst the best Elvis songs.
The best number in the batch, though, has got to be "Shot With His Own Gun." Steve Nieve's piano is outstanding, even cryptic, the best since "Accidents Will Happen." Elvis outdoes himself here musically, it is by far the most sophisticated piece of work he's composed yet. The simplistic arrangement is a credit to the genius that is Elvis. Now this is what he's capable of.
After all that nice stuff, I'm not going to tell you to buy this album. Yeah, sure, if you're an Elvis fan(atic) you've probably beat me to the punch. But if you don't have any EC, get My Aim Is True instead because absolutely nothing compares to that one. As good as this album is, it can't stand up against any of the first three Elvis lps. You understand, Elvis is the only fascist I listen to (since Sid died) so I expect miracles.
Elvis is consistent in his metaphorical approach to profundity. Vocals and instrumentals are sharp as a razor. as should he expected after five years and six albums mid after all this time. Elvis is definitely someone you can Trust!
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