Goldmine, September 1, 1995: Difference between revisions
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Like | Like David Bowie's ''Pinups'' and Annie Lennox's ''Medusa'', ''Kojak Variety'' is a collection of cover tunes, most of them obscure. They span a Screamin' Jay Hawkins novelty (that's an original twist) called "[[Strange]]"; Howlin' Wolf"s "[[Hidden Charms]]", done all jazzy with nifty brushwork by Attractions drummer Pete Thomas; a surprisingly raucous, faithful take on Little Richard's "[[Bama Lama Bama Loo]]"; and a rhythm 'n' blues recasting of the Louvin Brothers' country ballad, "[[Must You Throw Dirt In My Face]]." | ||
Gorgeously produced by Costello and longtime associate [[Kevin Killen]], ''Kojak'' is clearly a holding action designed to relieve Costello of coming up with new material as strong as that on 1994's | Gorgeously produced by Costello and longtime associate [[Kevin Killen]], ''Kojak'' is clearly a holding action designed to relieve Costello of coming up with new material as strong as that on 1994's ''Brutal Youth''. Originally set for a 1991 release, it features such Costello stalwarts as guitarists [[James Burton]] (he's supernaturally funky on Little Willie John's "[[Leave My Kitten Alone]]," which also was recorded by the Beatles) and [[Marc Ribot]] (he goes wonderfully "outside" on such tunes as the Hawkins track and Randy Newman's "[[I've Been Wrong Before]]"). | ||
The tunes are not a reclamation project or a vanity affair. On the contrary, they're original renditions of songs that Costello would clearly like to assert as critical to the modern canon. Check out how [[Jerry Scheff]]'s keyboards lend a Procul Harum cast to "[[I Threw It All Away]]," a | The tunes are not a reclamation project or a vanity affair. On the contrary, they're original renditions of songs that Costello would clearly like to assert as critical to the modern canon. Check out how [[Jerry Scheff]]'s keyboards lend a Procul Harum cast to "[[I Threw It All Away]]," a Dylan tune that's usually given a wispy treatment. Listen to how Costello blackens Mose Allison's classic blues, "[[Everybody's Crying Mercy]]," stepping razorlike over Ribot's dainty, barbed guitar. | ||
The album suggests that Costello is coming ever more into his own as a singer, whether it's the Dylan soundalike stylings of "Strange," the sweet romanticism of the Newman song or the tender, burred stylings of | The album suggests that Costello is coming ever more into his own as a singer, whether it's the Dylan soundalike stylings of "Strange," the sweet romanticism of the Newman song or the tender, burred stylings of Ray Davies' "[[Days]]." | ||
This may not be a major part of the Costello canon, but it's suprisingly unified and unfailingly intelligent. Consistantly listenable, its repertoire refreshing and eclectic, ''Kojak Variety'' is a hell of a keeper for a throwaway. | This may not be a major part of the Costello canon, but it's suprisingly unified and unfailingly intelligent. Consistantly listenable, its repertoire refreshing and eclectic, ''Kojak Variety'' is a hell of a keeper for a throwaway. | ||
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'''Goldmine, September 1995 | '''Goldmine, September 1, 1995 | ||
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[[Carlo Wolff]] reviews ''[[Kojak Variety]]''. | [[Carlo Wolff]] reviews ''[[Kojak Variety]]''. | ||
{{Bibliography | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1995-09-01 Goldmine cover.jpg|x120px|border]] | |||
<br><small>Cover.</small> | |||
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*[http://www.elviscostello.info/articles/d-g/goldmine.950901a.txt elviscostello.info] | *[http://www.elviscostello.info/articles/d-g/goldmine.950901a.txt elviscostello.info] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldmine 1995-09-01}} | |||
[[Category:Bibliography 1995 | [[Category:Bibliography]] | ||
[[Category:Bibliography 1995]] | |||
[[Category:Goldmine| Goldmine 1995-09-01]] | [[Category:Goldmine| Goldmine 1995-09-01]] | ||
[[Category:Magazine articles | [[Category:Magazine articles]] | ||
[[Category:Album reviews | [[Category:Album reviews]] | ||
[[Category:Kojak Variety reviews | [[Category:Kojak Variety reviews]] |
Revision as of 16:31, 10 October 2014
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