Goldmine, March 2014: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> | <center><h3> ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ROOTS </h3></center> | ||
<center>''' | <center>''' WISE UP GHOST </center> | ||
<center>Blue Note (1875002)</center> | |||
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<center> . | <center>John M. Borack</center> | ||
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ELVIS COSTELLO has made a career out of refusing to be pigeonholed and also of constantly reinventing himself. From angry, young, new waver to country crooner, R&B shouter to sophisticated singer-songwriter - to name just a few stops on his musical journey - Costello's body of work is nothing, if not diverse. | |||
With "''Wake Up Ghost''" - a stirring collaboration with critically acclaimed hip-hop combo [[The Roots]] - Costello has done it again. The grooves are deep and plentiful, his voice is alternatingly caustic and smooth, and the thought-provoking lyrics bite and sting, as usual. It's a lyrical powder keg of a record, with Costello often spitting out his lyrics á lá Bob Dylan. Check "[[Refuse To Be Saved|Refuse to Be Saved]]," which finds him winkingly referencing Roger Miller and Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes (look 'em up if you don't remember) while also firing offlines such as, "Incidentally the revolution will be televised/with one head for business and another for good looks/until they started arriving with their rubber aprons and butcher's hooks." | |||
Even though the overall sound is relatively sparse, it doesn't sound bare bones by any means; the production (by Costello, the Roots' [[Questlove|Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson]] and [[Steven Mandel|Steve Mandel]]) gives each instrument and Costello's voice room to breathe and shine. The beautifully trancelike "[[Tripwire]]" - one of a handful of songs on "''Wise Up Ghost''" that samples or contains excerpts from one of Costello's old tunes - masterfully blends horns, bells, female backing vocals, chimes and keyboards into a simply gorgeous melody, topped with a wonderfully fragile lead vocal from Costello. The disc-closing "[[If I Could Believe]]" is a devastatingly heartbreaking ballad, while the ominous title cut and the first single, "[[Walk Us Uptown]]," provide some of the semisneering Costello-isms that his fans have come to know and love. "''Wise Up Ghost''" is light years away from "''Armed Forces''" and "''This Year's Model''," but that's as it should be; Costello has always been an artist unafraid to push the envelope and grow. This album is relevant, modern, forceful and a fine addition to Costello's peerless catalog. Note for collectors: The deluxe edition contains three bonus tracks and a booklet with lyrics, notes, photos and credits. | |||
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'''Goldmine, No. 839, March 2014 | '''Goldmine, No. 839, March 2014 | ||
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[[John M. Borack]] reviews ''[[Wise Up Ghost]]''. | |||
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[[Category:Album reviews]] | [[Category:Album reviews]] | ||
[[Category:Wise Up Ghost reviews]] | [[Category:Wise Up Ghost reviews]] | ||
Revision as of 17:27, 4 October 2016
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