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Unmistakable genius stamped on Costello's album 'Trust'
Chuck Pratt / Chicago Sun-Times
Elvis Costello
Trust
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Elvis Costello is that rarity of the pop music scene, an artist as talented as he is prolific. Trust, the Englishman's sixth album, is crammed with 14 brilliant songs, all stamped with the unmistakable brand of genius.
Costello still sings with relentless intensity, whether on frenetic existential rockers like "Clubland" and "Luxembourg" or on the more melodic "Watch Your Step" and "New Lace Sleeves." His lyrics are marvelously witty and imaginative, lines of intriguing phrases tumbling over each other. (A sample: "Family spies / they're making heroes out of fall guys.") His veteran backup band, the Attractions, still conduct a churning, instrumental context for the singer, and steady Nick Lowe is again at the production helm.
There are some subtle and encouraging changes in Costello's approach, however. Though his songs still have an underlying bitterness and cynicism, his anger has abated enough for true romanticism to emerge. The hostile edge is gone from his music as well, and there's every chance that a song like "From a Whisper to a Scream" can become a commercial hit. (Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze joins Costello on lead vocals here).
For the sixth time, Costello has proved himself worthy of our trust.
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