Uncut review of the Singles Volumes
Uncut ( Jan.`04) - home of one of the more savage reviews of North - redeem themselves somewhat with some kind words from Paul Lester about the Edsel Singles`Volumes.
Elvis Costello`s been discredited these days ,like that other `77-emerging nerd genius David Byrne guilty of releasing too much adequate fare for too long , but for sustained invention he`s up there with Bowie. His run of form lasted 10 years - the period covered by these sets.
The first box goes from 'Less Tan Zero' to 'I Can`t Stand Up For Falling Down', the second from `High Fidelity' to 'Pills And Soap' while the third ranges from 'Everyday I Write The Book' to 'A Town Called Nothing (Really Big Nothing)`. Within the 35 facsimile sleeves - works of art in themselves - lie all the original B-sides, plus no fewer than 20 tracks that have never before been released on disc - even on the expansive two-CD Deluxe Edition reissues of Costello`s albums. And they call Ryan Adams prolific. (4 Stars - `Very Good`)