New Elvis Costello Album - The Delivery Man

[Alexander]

Anyone who's been on the fence on this one should get it. It ranks with Costello's best work. Several duets with Emmylou Harris, and one with Lucinda Williams. Great writing, great playing...and a great single! "Monkey To Man" deserives to be a hit, and hopefully it will be. It has great lyrics!

Monkey to Man

A long time ago, our point of view

Was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew

Now the world is full of sorrow and pain

It’s time for us to speak up again

You’re slack and sorry

Such an arrogant brood

The only purpose you serve is to bring us our food

We sit here staring at your pomp and pout

Outside the bars we use for keeping you out

You’ve taken everything that you wanted

Broke it up and plundered it and hunted

Ever since we said it

You went and took the credit

It’s been headed this way since the world began

When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man

Every time that man struggles and fails

He makes up some kind of fairytales

After all of the misery that he has caused

He denies he’s descended from the dinosaurs

Points up to heaven with cathedral spires

All the time indulging in his base desires

Ever since we said it

He went and took the credit

It’s been headed this way since the world began

When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man

Big and useless as he has become

With his crying statues and his flying bomb

Goes ‘round acting like the chosen one

Excuse us if we treat him like our idiot cousin

He hangs up flowers and bells and rhymes

Hoping to hell that someone’s forgiven his crimes

Fills the air with his pride and his praise

He’s big disgrace to our beastly ways

In the fashionable nightclubs and finer precincts

Man uses words to dress up his vile instincts

Ever since we said it

He went and took the credit

It’s been headed this way since the world began

When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man

[Sundog]

Agreed. Elvis is back in rare form!

[Big Al]

Well, I hope it's better than the clips indicate.

[David Williams]

Elvis thinks we're descended from the dinosaurs?

[GregK]

I don't know if I could tolerate even one verse from Lucinda Williams. That woman has a horribly overrated voice. I am looking forward to the 2 disc reissue of King Of America due in February though

[Michael Fitzgerald]

She is indeed horrible on this album. Emmylou Harris, on the other hand, is quite wonderful.

I'm not overly impressed with this one. Some OK things, but I certainly disagree that this is up there with EC's best work.

At the same time, I picked up Il Sogno, the EC classical album with his music for A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Again, not too impressed. There are thousands of basically unknown composers who deserve a record on Deutsche Gramophone conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas more than Elvis Costello who is a rank amateur in this area. I mean, it's not horrible to listen to, but it's rather boring and noticeably "diletante" in things like orchestration. Ooooh - what about a piccolo trumpet! Ooooh! Composition majors at college get that kind of thing out of their system by the time they're done with their "student works."

Another particularly bad aspect is when EC tries to write jazz. He does it a couple of times in Il Sogno. He just plain doesn't know enough. He's out of his depth.

How I long for something like the Bacharach album where Costello had someone who was eminently qualified in the area of music composition, arranging, and orchestration by his side (sometimes only figuratively).

Mike

[mgraham333]

I'm a fan of the new Costello album as well. I read the reviews on Amazon after I picked this one up at Borders and there seems to be a mix of opinions. Although that's common for albums from "legends" (using the term loosely, if not inappropriately)

I liked this one as much if not more than Brutal Youth and the stuff with Burt B. I never have gone back to pick up some of his older "classic" (again with the terms...) albums. I should since many have been remastered and rereleased with bonus material.

As for the comments about Lucinda. I unfortunately have to agree. Although after a few listens I her part grew on me. I haven't picked up anything of Lucinda's since Car Wheels, which I really like. Her voice can be grating at times, but a few of the tracks are quite blisfull (with beer in hand).

[Alexander]

I don't know if I could tolerate even one verse from Lucinda Williams. That woman has a horribly overrated voice. I am looking forward to the 2 disc reissue of King Of America due in February though

I dunno, I like her on this album. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment? Emmylou is pure heaven, though! For anyone who was into her work with G.P., this is a must-listen.

[Joe G]

I most likely won't get these albums, but I did enjoy the segment on All Things Considered that I heard the other day. He does have an interesting POV.

[Alexander]

At the same time, I picked up Il Sogno, the EC classical album with his music for A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Again, not too impressed. There are thousands of basically unknown composers who deserve a record on Deutsche Gramophone conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas more than Elvis Costello who is a rank amateur in this area. I mean, it's not horrible to listen to, but it's rather boring and noticeably "diletante" in things like orchestration. Ooooh - what about a piccolo trumpet! Ooooh! Composition majors at college get that kind of thing out of their system by the time they're done with their "student works."

On the one hand, I basically agree: "Il Sogno" is, and will remain, a very minor item in Costello's catalogue. He does a nice job. It's pleasant to listen to, but it's nothing earth shaking. On the other hand, its MUCH better than the "classical" works by Paul McCartney and Billy Joel, partially because Costello essentially wrote this music under contract. The dance company contacted him, not the other way around, so this is music that performs a function. McCartney and Joel, on the other hand, entertained "composerly" pretentions. I don't think Costello ever intended to release this music until he was, again, approached to do so. I think it's good for any artist to step outside of his or her chosen genre once in a while and try his hand at something different. I salute Costello for his courage, even when he doesn't always succeed.