http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/ente ... 932791.htm
Posted on Sun, Oct. 05, 2003
Record reviews
Pop
Elvis Costello
North
(Deutsche Grammophon ***1/2)
North is another of Elvis Costello's periodic detours
from rock, but rather than a pretentious diversion
(such as The Juliet Letters, 1993's venture with the
Brodsky Quartet) or an intermittently brilliant
experiment (Painted From Memory, 1998's collaboration
with Burt Bacharach), it is a uniform success.
On North, Costello croons like Chet Baker through 11
quiet, piano-based ballads. They constitute a song
cycle about love lost and found, journeying from the
confused dismay of "You Left Me in the Dark" to the
breathless joy of "I'm in the Mood Again." For the
most part, Costello eschews his trademark irony and
wordplay. In their place, he's written direct, concise
lyrics appropriate for the somber settings.
Likewise, pianist Steve Nieve is a model of restraint,
playing slowly and softly, accompanied by a small
rhythm section and occasional swells of strings and
horns (including solos from jazz greats Lee Konitz and
Lew Soloff).
North may not rock, but it's an impressive, rewarding
achievement.
- Steve Klinge
Philadelphia Inquirer review of North
- Jackson Doofster
- Posts: 531
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 4:25 pm
- Location: Some far flung Canadian Club
- tokyo vogue
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 8:05 pm
- Location: philadelphia