New York Times, March 2, 1986

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The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions


Jon Pareles

Elvis Costello likes his video clips casual and unslick, belying the intricate structures of the songs behind them.

He writes about the myriad ways people can misuse one another; the songs revolve around complex wordplays and a library of styles from punk to country.

In these 22 clips — 21 originals plus "Green Shirt," a collage of the others — Mr. Costello usually just sings to the camera while the band plays behind him; the locales change while Mr. Costello lip-synchs the words as if he can barely contain himself. For variety, there are a few, more elaborate clips — a jokey dream-date fantasy in "The Only Flame in Town," a claustrophobic, one-take close-up in "I Wanna Be Loved" and distracting animation in "Accidents Will Happen." Mostly, however, Mr. Costello's images simply focus attention on his pugnacious, anti-complacency lyrics.

Video cassettes are generally available in VHS and Beta. Some titles are also available in the 8-millimeter format and on LaserVision video disks. Unless otherwise specified, prices cited are the manufacturer's suggested retail price for a VHS cassette.

CBS/Fox Video Music
65 minutes. $24.95


Tags: The Best Of Elvis Costello & The AttractionsGreen ShirtThe Only Flame In TownI Wanna Be LovedAccidents Will Happen

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New York Times, March 2, 1986


Jon Pareles reviews The Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions video.

Images

1986-03-02 New York Times page H-24 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.


Photographer unknown.
1986-03-02 New York Times photo 01 px.jpg


Page scan.
1986-03-02 New York Times page H-24.jpg

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