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All This Useless Beauty
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
David Bauder / Associated Press
This was to be another of Costello's concept albums, with songs that Elvis wrote first for other artists, until he backed out and included some newer material. The idea was a good one, though. It seemed to focus Elvis and his band on strong songs, not just a sound. Producer Geoff Emerick is Costello's most sympathetic collaborator other than Nick Lowe, and certainly the most careful: The arrangements are meticulous and quite unique for this veteran band. Although some of Costello's lyrics still baffle — what's this about "bamboo needles" and "shellac of Chopin," anyway? — the songs are sharp. All This Useless Beauty is heavy on the ballads, and will take some getting used to, but it has a richness and depth Costello has often missed over the last decade.
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