From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
—
|
Genius in transition
Elvis Costello and The Attractions / Goodbye Cruel World
Nicholas Jennings
Elvis Costello is an artist in transition. Last year on his acclaimed album, Punch the Clock, the once unruly new wave musician moved confidently into the melodic side of pop music. Then, on his recent solo U.S. tour he displayed a growing fondness for crooning piano-style ballads. Goodbye Cruel World, his 10th album in seven years, is a charming but uneven collection which shows that Costello is still wondering which way to jump. Never has Costello sounded so comfortable with his own voice as on the romantic ballad "I Wanna Be Loved," which he sings convincingly "I guess I'm a victim of loneliness / But why should this be my destiny?" "Peace In Our Time" expresses his political passion with irony: a stately waltz lulls the listener into a disturbing history lesson about hypocritical governments professing to want peace. But most of Costello's messages are more cryptic, and the music at times seems too dense. While becoming increasingly at ease with eclectic musical styles, Costello remains an unsettled genius.
|
|
Clipping.
Page scan.
|
|
|
|
External links