New Musical Express, April 4, 1981: Difference between revisions
From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(start page) |
(formatting) |
||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
England's most literate and sophisticated songwriter can never be said to be dull and boring — the familiarity of his tunes breeds contentment. Still, he flirted with safety here while The Attractions substituted a frenetic percussive assault for their recorded melodic invention. | England's most literate and sophisticated songwriter can never be said to be dull and boring — the familiarity of his tunes breeds contentment. Still, he flirted with safety here while The Attractions substituted a frenetic percussive assault for their recorded melodic invention. | ||
Of the ballads, "Shot With His Own Gun" | Of the ballads, "Shot With His Own Gun," "I'll Take Good Care Of You" and the sublime, owning-up "Clowntime Is Over" were all memorable — Steve Nieve's florid acoustic piano working better than his up-tempo cheesy Mexicali organ on "Pump It Up" or in the disguised cheerful venom of "Oliver's Army." | ||
Anyone who gets Elvis' gist realises that he functions best on a mixture of scintillating instrumental energy and a diversity of lyrical techniques — he's straightforward and multi-faceted. | Anyone who gets Elvis' gist realises that he functions best on a mixture of scintillating instrumental energy and a diversity of lyrical techniques — he's straightforward and multi-faceted. |