PopMatters, September 15, 2013: Difference between revisions
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What it is, however, is a display of shit-hot funk feels underneath a surprisingly inspired and subliminally aged Costello. "Refuse to Be Saved", anthemic in nature, is irresistible fun, the singer inching closer and closer to Black Thought (who is disappointingly absent from the set) territory with his rapid-fire delivery and stuttering verses. Even more enticing is the Steve Naive-esque keys that meet up with the Roots' horns for an interplay alone worthy of whatever they want you to pay. By the time the "I refuse to be saved" cadence shines through the track's climax, you can't tell if you're in Memphis for the protests or the music. | What it is, however, is a display of shit-hot funk feels underneath a surprisingly inspired and subliminally aged Costello. "Refuse to Be Saved", anthemic in nature, is irresistible fun, the singer inching closer and closer to Black Thought (who is disappointingly absent from the set) territory with his rapid-fire delivery and stuttering verses. Even more enticing is the Steve Naive-esque keys that meet up with the Roots' horns for an interplay alone worthy of whatever they want you to pay. By the time the "I refuse to be saved" cadence shines through the track's climax, you can't tell if you're in Memphis for the protests or the music. | ||
Actually, it's that very Southern soul that makes ''Wise Up Ghost'' so intoxicating. "Wake Me Up", a retread of the singer's “Bedlam” and | Actually, it's that very Southern soul that makes ''Wise Up Ghost'' so intoxicating. "Wake Me Up", a retread of the singer's “Bedlam” and “The River in Reverse”, might be the grooviest Mr. MacManus has ever sounded on a record, his solemn, low-key vocals playing perfectly with the Philadelphia crew's expertly crafted and authentically presented version of contemporary R&B. Joining Costello's familiar faces is the decidedly hip-hop "Stick Out Your Tongue", a ''Punch the Clock'' favorite repurposed for a collection that was initially borne out of the idea that ?uestlove and his boys wanted to revisit some of the singer's catalogue. In hindsight, thank God they didn't. Because for as intriguing and insightful as that record may have turned out, it would have been criminal to leave this original material unrealized. | ||
Maybe the most notable example of that would-be depravity is the tender "Tripwire", a throwback ballad that accentuates the best qualities of both parties. Costello, for all his signature angst and punk-rock attitude, has long allowed his secret weapon to be his vulnerability (have you seen the stripped down version of "Everyday I Write the Book" from his short-lived ''Spectacle'' series?). The Roots, meanwhile, are accustomed to backing modern-day soul sisters, mastering the art of playing it pretty while also playing it smart. In this instance, the song is a bona fide 1960s R&B radio hit, echoing Smokey and his Miracles along with a settled down Little Stevie Wonder. Adding to the AM Gold is the singer's delicacy, uttering the title word with the strength of a feather. It's so welcoming, you would prefer to fall asleep in it rather than to it. | Maybe the most notable example of that would-be depravity is the tender "Tripwire", a throwback ballad that accentuates the best qualities of both parties. Costello, for all his signature angst and punk-rock attitude, has long allowed his secret weapon to be his vulnerability (have you seen the stripped down version of "Everyday I Write the Book" from his short-lived ''Spectacle'' series?). The Roots, meanwhile, are accustomed to backing modern-day soul sisters, mastering the art of playing it pretty while also playing it smart. In this instance, the song is a bona fide 1960s R&B radio hit, echoing Smokey and his Miracles along with a settled down Little Stevie Wonder. Adding to the AM Gold is the singer's delicacy, uttering the title word with the strength of a feather. It's so welcoming, you would prefer to fall asleep in it rather than to it. | ||
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Some people turn their obsessions into careers, the singer argues at one point during "Stick Out Your Tongue". Elvis Costello and the Roots? Well, they already have the careers. With ''Wise Up Ghost'', though, they now also have a great album. | Some people turn their obsessions into careers, the singer argues at one point during "Stick Out Your Tongue". Elvis Costello and the Roots? Well, they already have the careers. With ''Wise Up Ghost'', though, they now also have a great album. | ||
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{{tags}} | {{tags}}[[The Roots]] {{-}} [[Wise Up Ghost]] {{-}} [[Viceroy's Row]] {{-}} [[Questlove|?uestlove]] {{-}} [[Alison]] {{-}} [[Refuse To Be Saved]] {{-}} [[Steve Nieve]] {{-}} [[Wake Me Up]] {{-}} [[Bedlam]] {{-}} [[The River In Reverse (song)|The River In Reverse]] {{-}} [[Stick Out Your Tongue]] {{-}} [[Punch The Clock]] {{-}} [[Tripwire]] {{-}} [[Everyday I Write The Book]] {{-}} [[Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...]] {{-}} [[Smokey Robinson]] {{-}} [[Come The Meantimes]] {{-}} [[Walk Us Uptown]] {{-}} [[Late Night With Jimmy Fallon]] | ||
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Revision as of 22:10, 17 November 2019
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