North Review: Sunday Times (London)
ELVIS COSTELLO - North - Deutsche Grammophon
HOP, HOP, hop. See Elvis hop. Elvis hops across
genres. Twist, twist, twist. See the critic twist
uncomfortably in his chair, because he wants Elvis to
sell lots of records, but he can’t really recommend
North. Costello is one of the last artists still given
the freedom to make the music he wants to, so it’s
important that he’s successful enough to continue.
That said, North’s collection of slow piano ballads
hardly plays to his strengths. Lines that might
impress if buoyed up by a guitar racket — “I wasn’t
very conversational/Except to say that you’re
sensational” — sound strained here. Costello has
decided he’s a crooner. I’m not buying it. But I’d
like a few of you to do so. One star
MARK EDWARDS
(Submitted by John Foyle)
Comments
...maybe a little Bruce Thomas baseline would help? ;)
Posted by: javaronn | September 15, 2003 1:01 PM