Strange revulsion against Elvis Costello

Subject: Strange revulsion against Elvis Costello Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:15 am

I was listening to some early-to-mid period Elvis Costello the other day and I had to switch it off.

Costello's stock in trade were songs about young men weeping into their lagers because they've got wimmin problems. At the time, I loved these songs; now I'm embarrassed to catch these glimpses of my former self.

It's hard to believe I was ever as bad as that; I WAS, but I don't want to be reminded of it!

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The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas

Thumble Snowglobe Number of posts: 2100 Registration date: 2008-05-18

I was never really a fan. I did have a couple of his albums. Never really cared for his sound. Something about it seemed to contrived and flat. I kept the Spike album around just to listen to Marc Ribot's guitar. But it too has long ago left the building.

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Head Librarian Gender: Number of posts: 2308 Registration date: 2008-07-30

Spike was a musically accomplished album but unbearably depressing. I "lost" my copy- or perhaps I just gave it away?

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The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas

Subject: Re: Strange revulsion against Elvis Costello Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:27 pm

He's someone I've always planned in getting in to (musically, not physically)... but I never got round to it. The songs I know I like I guess.

Subject: Re: Strange revulsion against Elvis Costello Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:45 pm

Something I always found funny about him is that his worst efforts fail miserably for all the same reasons his best work succeeds "gloriously". He once mocked himself saying he was the 'scrabble-master of rock' and makes a point to proove that in many of his songs.
A lot of them are a seemingly random collection of obscure words and boringly conventional guitar chords that don't seem to be going anywhere. And than there are other, made up out of the very same ingredients, that somehow "work".

I've seen him about 4 tims live and really love him as jolly fun performer.

I'm also quite a big fan of his Burt Bacharach collaboration - Painted from memory.

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chacun pense en être si bien pourvu que ceux même
qui sont les plus difficiles à contenter en toute autre chose
n'ont point coutume d'en désirer plus qu'ils en ont.

Head Librarian Gender: Number of posts: 2308 Registration date: 2008-07-30

He's a great record producer.

He managed to contain the various strong personalities in The Pogues long enough to enable them to create "Rum, Sodomy & the Lash"- and married the bass player while he was about it.

But Shane MacGowan is very dismissive of his talents and general personality in "A Drink With Shane MacGowan". Mind you, that could be a real compliment in the eyes of many!

Tom Waits acted as MC on one of the Attractions' tours, adopting the alter ego of "Napoleon Dynamite" for the purpose. He and Waits seem to regard one another's work with mutual respect.

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The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas

Lusts after Eddie Gender: Number of posts: 769 Registration date: 2008-04-28

Quote:

I'm also quite a big fan of his Burt Bacharach collaboration - Painted from memory.

Me too

Blood & Chocolate was another fave.

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"without sounding too partronizing, Im sure more people would go with you if you were a bit older" - Twood in chat 13/8/2008

Head Librarian Gender: Number of posts: 2308 Registration date: 2008-07-30

Nashville Skygirl wrote:

Blood & Chocolate was another fave.

Blood and Chocolate is one of those albums I find difficult to listen to these days. Too many memories.

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The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas

King of Pop Gender: Number of posts: 3131 Registration date: 2008-05-05

Perusing the record collection and only IMPERIAL BEDROOM seems to still be around. The two songs I remember from it are fairly catchy. pig

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Number of posts: 697 Registration date: 2009-06-19

I love his cover of George Jones's 'Good Year For The Roses'.

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I'm hoping for a computer game.

... or a pair of socks

Head Librarian Gender: Number of posts: 2308 Registration date: 2008-07-30

Every time he reaches for a high note, he sings louder. Once you notice this mannerism, it becomes very distracting.

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The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas

Number of posts: 697 Registration date: 2009-06-19

Eddie wrote:

Every time he reaches for a high note, he sings louder. Once you notice this mannerism, it becomes very distracting.

I shall try to avoid noticing it

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I'm hoping for a computer game.

... or a pair of socks