Time Out , London review of North

[johnfoyle]

In my brief visit to London I read this review ;
it truly has to be the most ignorant and inaccurate
one I`ve seen so far. This , like most of the U.K.
one`s in the last few days , merely serves to
re-inforce in my mind the opposite of their message
ie. how fantastic North is. Similarly it serves to
show how provocative Elvis can still be.
------------------------------------------------------
No text seem`s to be avaliable on the magazine`s
site.
http://www.timeout.com/london/
------------------------------------------------------
Time Out , London , Sept.10-17 `03 , P.110.
------------------------------------------------------

Elvis , it would seem , is in love. With marriage to
second wife ( ex-Pogue Cait) now behind him , the not
at all pompous high priest of pop is currently head
over heels with jazz singer Diana Krall. So, from
opener `You Left Me In The Dark` to closer `I`m In The
Mood Again` , this is a poetically versed collection
of emotionally bared songs gradually charting his
uplift in mood from hurt to hope , pain to bliss ,
`last hurrah` to `first bouquet`.

But be warned , it`s one of his `serious`albums .
Hence the Kronos Quartet and varied featured soloists.
Yes , `North` might involve new lyrical themes and
different musical drapes , but we`ve been here before.
To cut to the nub , Costello`s voice simply works best
when snapping and rasping and buried in brutal
imbroglio. Here , however , he does that oversinging
thing again - all epic , aching, soncerity and dubious
, jarring vibrato. It`s uncomfortable to listen to
and painful to endure. Of course , everything is
washed in the finest silken sounds : Steve Nieve`s
sensitive piano , the gently melodramatic strings , a
light wash of brush on drums and tenderly muted
trumpet. But always , always , there is that foghorn
bellow. Anyone tempted to purchase , should be
redirected towards classic Sinatra albums like `Songs
For Swingin` Lovers`, `In The Wee Small Hours` , `Only
The Lonely` or `Come Fly With Me`. They`re somewhat
cheaper and infinitely better. Already got them? Good.
Now rest assured , you don`t need this.

Ross Fortune.

[bobster]

Since I haven't heard anything off this album, I can't really respond...However, I have to say that I have some sympathy with the "over singing" charge occasionally directed at EC. I certainly think he did so on much of "The Juliet Letters" and "God Give Me Strength" (which, for some reason, is the one song that many people who dislike PFM point to as the one they like; while for this lover of PFM, it's my least favorite song on the album). I personally would love to hear all of PFM and The Juliet Letters re-recorded with other singers some day.

But so what, that's just one element of the record. Tell us about the songs. The guy doesn't have to love the songs, but he should at least discuss them.

It really seems like the UK critics are out to bury this album, and I really wonder if it's out of contempt for him not "knowing his place." If that's true, it's really kind of revolting.