What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ELVIS COSTELLO WITH BURT BACHARACH "painted from memory" cd, 1998, #32 UK, #26 AU, #78 US

yet again Costello bewilders fans with an unexpected "u-turn" with his music(only other artist i know does that cinsistantly is Neil Young), never satisfied within his comfort zone, Costello is always looking for the 'next thing' to broaden his horizons, but unlike Mr.Young, Costello's musings do work, but can take some getting used to!
this one came about because a UK movie maker commissioned both Burt and Elvis to write a song for a movie, the song was "god give me strength" which does appear on this album, anyway, both Elvis and Burt enjoyed working together that they decided to do some more writing together to see what happened...the result, this album!
lots of the usual sugar coated strings,pop melodies and sparse intrumentation that makes a Bacharach song here, along witht he biting,bitter,twisted lyrics that make an Elvis Costello album perfect here also....
this one would have been a big thrill for Elvis to make as he has recorded a few Bacharach songs in his long career and has always claimed Burt was a big influence on him as a child...so everything has come full circle for him i guess!

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: my thief
best track: the long division

tracks:

1. in the darkest hour **
2. toledo **
3. i still have that other girl **
4. the house is empty now **
5. tears at the birthday party **
6. such unlikely lovers **
7. my thief **
8. the long division ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Ht0l52Vcg audio
9. painted from memory **
10.the sweetest punch **
11.what's her name today? **
12.God give me strength **

3s=1
2s=11
1s=0

rating: 2.0