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Back in August of last year, Rhino Records began its campaign of reissuing Elvis Costello's entire back catalog, three albums at a time (grouped by type of album rather than chronological order). All were to come with a second disc of unreleased tracks, live cuts, demos and rarities from the album's conception. It's a grand task for sure, as Costello had released near 20 albums thus far in his illustrious career and, while initially touted as the next hero of punk/New Wave back in the late '70s, he has gone on to explore musical genres from punk to pop to classical, and Bacharach to country, eventually leaving the original stamp of New Wave far behind him.
The latest trio of re-releases explores Costello's more energized pop-oriented side. This Year's Model from 1978, Costello's second proper LP, continues to stand up even to this day. And it is still, without a doubt, one of his finest. The young punk swagger and pop melodies meld perfectly, something Costello has yet to accomplish in such a fashion since. Plus, the album's first three tunes, the raging "No Action," the groovy "This Year's Girl" and the explosive, bass-driven "The Beat," could stand as the best opening trio of songs ever on an artist's sophomore record. Costello is full of pop piss and vinegar, and he doesn't let up until the last note rings clear — utter proof that a new Elvis should be crowned king.
As if this weren't enough, the second disc in this pair provides further period gems, from the live renditions The Damned's "Neat Neat Neat" and Ian Drury's "Roadette Song," to the demos of "Greenshirt" and "Big Boys" that were held over to Costello's next project, Armed Forces. Nonetheless, the real treats here are the demo/alternate-takes on the classics, some being a stripped and slowed down version of the anti-FM rant "Radio, Radio," a sped-up and organ-driven version of "This Year's Girl" and a mostly synthesizer and bass take on "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea."
Ultimately the third album in this re-release trio, 1994's Brutal Youth provides perfect complement to This Year's Model. Brutal Youth finds Costello, while much older and perhaps wiser, returning to the pop of his earlier days and doing it with the return of musicians Pete Thomas, Steve Nieve and Bruce Thomas of his famed backing band the Attractions. Putting aside whatever bad blood came among them, with Brutal Youth Costello, Nieve and Thomas created, an album that was, while much more sophisticated in its songwriting approach (which Costello attributes to his work with The Brodsky Quartet the year before), retains much of the same vigorous musical spirit that Costello practically patented with This Year's Model. From the more upbeat "Pony St.," "13 Steps Lead Down" and "Just About Glad" to the more Bacharach-esque leanings of tunes such as "London's Brilliant Parade," "You Tripped at Every Step" and "Favourite Hour," Costello and his Attractions are once again in fine form.
But for fans of this album, the second disc of the pair is an extraordinary pleasure and a true peek inside the album's creation, with demo versions of 10 of the album's original 15 tracks. Most of these are more solitary takes, but they work to reveal so much of the songs' original intentions. It's like peering into an artistic diary which, for any music geek, is true fun. One can even see how Costello developed the album's penultimate song "All the Rage" from the lyrics of abandoned demo "Poisoned Letter."
Some might say that such an extensive reissue project is over-the-top and somewhat akin to musical masturbation, but looking past some granted self-indulgence, these album trios showcase Costello's talent through the years as a truly gifted songwriter and musician extraordinaire. Sure the man has taken his share of missteps over the years, as every artist worth his weight has, but This Year's Model and Brutal Youth are two of Costello's best and prove even better with age.
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