see
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsar ... ?nid=18713
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Elvis Costello
North
Deutsche Grammophon
Having reinstated his rock & roll credentials last
year with When I Was Cruel -- not to mention getting
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame -- Elvis
Costello characteristically makes a dramatic stylistic
turn on North. The album is filled with haunted,
piano-centered ballads and elegant string and horn
arrangements that tease out subtleties in the songs'
already understated melodies. Costello's singing is
quiet and controlled, an intimate voice describing an
emotional journey from abandonment ("You Left Me in
the Dark") to a renewed commitment to love ("Let Me
Tell You About Her"). North exudes a consistent,
subdued beauty that, at times, is almost too delicate
to make a true impression. Despite its intelligence
and musical sophistication, the album floats by on a
breeze so light that it risks escaping notice; the
songs disappear into the air before the listener can
discover a way to inhabit them. There's an undeniable
pleasure in that effort to grasp this music and its
meanings before they fade, but at times you can't help
wishing they were less evanescent, more substantial.
ANTHONY DECURTIS
Rolling Stone review of North
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I agree. It's actually a much more thoughtful review than most of the UK papers gave "North." I think this critic actually captured the way this album has struck many fans on first listen, and rather than just dismiss it the way the Observer or London Times did, he seems to be curious enough to give it a chance.cbartal wrote:Not a fan of RS either, but having not heard the album yet (till tommorow) I must say it sounds fairly accurate based on the summation of all I've heard from various reviews, including those on this board, which I consider the most important.
Actually, I just checked RS's website-- they've been pretty kind to Costello in their reviews, even recent ones.
WIWC - 4 stars
For The Stars - 4 stars
PFM - 4 stars
ATUB - 4 stars
KV - 2 stars
BY - 3 stars
TJL - 4 stars
MLAR - 3 stars
SPIKE - 4 stars
I realize these are all from different reviewers, but it's a more solid track record than I would have expected. In particular, his recent run of 4 star reviews, from ATUB to WIWC and even including the Von Otter album (!) is pretty impressive.
I don't read the magazine, however. Too much like MAXIM now. I liked it better in the 80s.
The newly revamped 'official' site has a selection of extracts from reviews of albums , including 'North'. Judge for yourself how selective by seeing - above - the review this is from -
North exudes a consistent, subdued beauty . . . There's an undeniablel (sic) pleasure in that effort to grasp this music and its meanings before they fade . . .
Record Review / Anthony Decurtis, Rolling Stone / 16 October 2003
North exudes a consistent, subdued beauty . . . There's an undeniablel (sic) pleasure in that effort to grasp this music and its meanings before they fade . . .
Record Review / Anthony Decurtis, Rolling Stone / 16 October 2003
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