Search found 671 matches

by Poor Deportee
Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:38 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis & The Imposters with Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, Canada, June 7, 2023
Replies: 22
Views: 12411

Re: Elvis & The Imposters with Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, Canada, June 7, 2023

I don't agree that his voice is "absolutely fine." Maybe someone who goes to a dozen shows a year becomes acclimated to it, but it is seriously damaged goods compared to where it was just a few years ago. Now, it does seem as good as ever when he goes high or low, but there is clearly a mi...
by Poor Deportee
Thu Jun 08, 2023 3:51 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis & The Imposters with Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, Canada, June 7, 2023
Replies: 22
Views: 12411

Re: Elvis & The Imposters with Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, Canada, June 7, 2023

The set list was sublime, although I wouldn't have minded a song or two from "If." And what a treat to see the two legends performing together. But tell me - am I the only one worried for EC's voice? It seems a bit of a struggle these days, maybe even with suggestions of vocal polyps; and ...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:06 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Sebastian Krys
Replies: 13
Views: 12220

Re: Sebastian Krys

I saw EC coming out of his (relative) creative slump in the second half of “Profane.” Ransom, Ghost, and Look Now were all EC at the height of his powers, and if Clockface was a regression to the messy work of the pre-Ransom era, “If” is a stunning consolidation. So as a writer, he was entering a ca...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:21 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis as guitar hero
Replies: 4
Views: 3008

Re: Elvis as guitar hero

EC’s guitar has improved tremendously over the years. It was fairly basic when he started, but these days - while he may not be technically virtuoso - his playing is absolutely delicious. Every guitar note on “If” is wonderful.
by Poor Deportee
Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:18 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: The Boy Named If, new album by Elvis & The Imposters, January 14, 2022
Replies: 495
Views: 619755

Re: The Boy Named If, new album by Elvis & The Imposters, January 14, 2022

Can I just put in a word for “Mr Crescent?” It’s that final verse…with its implication that he is suffering from dementia, and the memory of what should have been his true love (lost long ago to his own untrustworthiness and reputation) floods his bewildered mind (“I wonder where my Honey has gone?”...
by Poor Deportee
Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:14 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: The Boy Named If, new album by Elvis & The Imposters, January 14, 2022
Replies: 495
Views: 619755

Re: The Boy Named If, new album by Elvis & The Imposters, January 14, 2022

Little doubt in my mind that it is an all-time great EC album. There is a richness and a mastery to both composition and performance which rivals anything he’s done. He’s absorbed all the lessons of his sometimes-trying “collaboration” years and has them effortlessly at his fingertips, while remaini...
by Poor Deportee
Tue Aug 24, 2021 10:10 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: on track… Elvis Costello and the Attractions (paperback), July 29, 2021
Replies: 17
Views: 16278

Re: on track… Elvis Costello and the Attractions (paperback), July 29, 2021

Is the book primarily about the music, offering informed dissection of the songs along the lines of Franklin Bruno’s excellent treatment of “Armed Forces?” Because that’s why I’d be after - an exploration of why/how a given song or album works or doesn’t work, with whatever social and biographical c...
by Poor Deportee
Fri Aug 20, 2021 2:39 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: We're All Cowards Now
Replies: 9
Views: 9310

We're All Cowards Now

This song has been haunting me of late. On the one hand, it seems straight out of the Official EC Lyrical Playbook circa "Armed Forces" - a portrait of a world sliding into fascism (as the percussion at the end, so reminiscent of boots marching, hammers home). The final verse also hearkens...
by Poor Deportee
Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:03 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Spanish Model, Sept 10, 2021 - New release based on one of Elvis Costello and the Attractions most celebrated albums!!
Replies: 265
Views: 387232

Re: Spanish Model, Sept 10, 2021 - New release based on one of Elvis Costello and the Attractions most celebrated albums

While I can’t see any reason (other than completism, a disease I have not yet caught) to pursue this album as a non-Spanish-speaker, I commend the whole venture. It’s a cool new take on the old, long-forgotten gambit of recycling pop music across linguistic borders: whether it be Tin Pan Alley write...
by Poor Deportee
Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:47 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: The Boy Named If, new album by Elvis & The Imposters, January 14, 2022
Replies: 495
Views: 619755

Re: New album with the Imposters in 2021?

On the “loyalty” question, I’ve followed EC’s work with passion for 30 years. True, I don’t pore over every last outtake or live bootleg, but I imagine that every artist would like to have listeners as enduringly interested as me. And I am probably on the “soft” end of fandom on this forum… My probl...
by Poor Deportee
Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:36 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020
Replies: 47
Views: 64706

Re: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020

I love the 'beamed in from another planet' weird spooky sound at the start and I LOVE the jangly, crazy maniac riff. It reminds me a bit of 'Master and Servant' by Depeche Mode. The vocal is too ranty for me and I don't like the production of the voice. I've never been a big fan of these kinds of E...
by Poor Deportee
Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:05 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: which of these two long players is MORE of a clunker?
Replies: 40
Views: 74621

Re: which of these two long players is MORE of a clunker?

Hmmm...I assume my mischievous reference to WIWC as a "clunker" in the other thread triggered this post. As others have noted, it's not clear why we should specifically contrast WIWC with RIR. Neither is vintage EC, however, that's for sure. RIR is good for what it is, a side-project in re...
by Poor Deportee
Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:03 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020
Replies: 47
Views: 64706

Re: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020

bronxapostle wrote:WIWC a clunker??? Come now! a great record returning to rock after six years away.
:lol: :lol:

I stand by what I said! By EC's standards, WIWC is a clunker. It reminds me of what John Lennon said about 'Mind Games' - the 'work of a semi-sick craftsman.'

Anyhow, carry on!
by Poor Deportee
Sun Jun 07, 2020 2:24 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020
Replies: 47
Views: 64706

Re: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020

It definitely reminds me of Tom Waits’ “Real Gone” album. Maybe a specific reference by Elvis to “Hoist that Rag”. Yep, or else the vocal beat-boxing in the background is a direct steal from 'Big in Japan.' Good catch either way! It's a sharp song, I love the organ and guitar parts. These, coupled ...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Jun 07, 2020 2:23 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020
Replies: 47
Views: 64706

Re: New song "No Flag" released June 5, 2020

It definitely reminds me of Tom Waits’ “Real Gone” album. Maybe a specific reference by Elvis to “Hoist that Rag”. Yep, or else the vocal beat-boxing in the background is a direct steal from 'Big in Japan.' Good catch either way! It's a sharp song, I love the organ and guitar parts. These, coupled ...
by Poor Deportee
Sun May 19, 2019 10:23 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Purse EP (Record Store Day)
Replies: 69
Views: 92906

Re: Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Purse EP (Record Store Day)

I just want to say that the Imposters sound utterly sublime on 'The Lovers that Never Were' in particular. You hear this and you kind of have to wonder why he doesn't do more recording with this group; they've got a depth and maturity now that deserves more than a once-per-decade cut. The other thin...
by Poor Deportee
Sat Dec 08, 2018 11:11 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: "Stripping Paper"- an archeology of Eros
Replies: 19
Views: 39910

Re: "Stripping Paper"- an archeology of Eros

It's not just the harshness - like I say above, it's also the laboured, strained quality of the delivery and the general lack of nimbleness and even subtlety in many of his performances, Sinatra was a master of delivery and it's this that sets him several notches above an EC, not only his voice. Les...
by Poor Deportee
Fri Dec 07, 2018 2:14 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: "Stripping Paper"- an archeology of Eros
Replies: 19
Views: 39910

Re: "Stripping Paper"- an archeology of Eros

Pitching in belatedly here to agree that EC works very well in the lower registers and that the recent dabblings in falsetto are also very welcome. My view of his singing is that it's at it's best when he's not pushing it. "Almost Blue" is as good a vocal as any in his catalogue precisely ...
by Poor Deportee
Wed Nov 07, 2018 4:31 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Look Now , October 2018
Replies: 482
Views: 4975775

Re: Look Now: new album announced!

I agree, that is probably one of the best EC interviews I've read. It contains so much insight into his thinking and - most importantly - into the music, and how he perceives it. Best of all is that he clearly seems interested in recording more music. The fact that he made such a splendid record see...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Oct 28, 2018 10:40 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: 'He's Given Me Things'
Replies: 24
Views: 37654

Re: 'He's Given Me Things'

It occured to me listening again tonight while walking my basset hound that her spurned lover might not be just a starving artist, but an artist who is painting either her portrait or a portrait of her and her new beau. Hence the command to 'cover the canvass...and never come back.' If this is right...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Oct 28, 2018 11:28 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Dishonor the Stars?
Replies: 7
Views: 14106

Re: Dishonor the Stars?

Well, you got your answer from the man himself! That's something! I had not realized that tweet followed my post in fairly short order. The astonishing and unlikely thought that he might be reading these posts (including my poor critiques!!) is downright mortifying : :o But I did ask for insights f...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Oct 28, 2018 11:25 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: 'He's Given Me Things'
Replies: 24
Views: 37654

Re: 'He's Given Me Things'

A music student I ain't! However, consider this: https://petercrosbie.net/2016/08/24/why-a-middle-8-isnt-a-bridge/ That said, EC clearly uses the term 'bridge' for middle-eight on 'Flutter and Wow' (yelling 'to the bridge!' apparently spontaneously). I've concluded that what put me off about this pa...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Oct 28, 2018 11:14 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Dishonor the Stars?
Replies: 7
Views: 14106

Re: Dishonor the Stars?

https://twitter.com/ElvisCostello/status/1056565157650948097 "Poets long have written or have sung" of that wishful eternity of love or the finite length of desire; until “the end of time” or “The Twelfth Of Never”. “Dishonor The Stars” is a song such as these. #LookNow #DishonorTheStars ...
by Poor Deportee
Sun Oct 28, 2018 11:04 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: "Stripping Paper"- an archeology of Eros
Replies: 19
Views: 39910

Re: "Stripping Paper"- an archeology of Eros

Splendid post, Jack. I whole-heartedly agree - this is quite simply a superb song from a master in peak form. Moving, complex, and multi-layered. The simplicity of the metaphor, while risky, is exquisitely handled. I find it very moving to realize that the love-making depicted in the song's first ha...
by Poor Deportee
Sat Oct 27, 2018 12:53 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: 'He's Given Me Things'
Replies: 24
Views: 37654

Re: 'He's Given Me Things'

Insightful in an engaged manner equal to the lyric and melody you nimbly pin to the page. I expected no less. EC should have legions of such listeners. Ha! Why, thank you, Jack. High praise indeed from one of the most insightful and engaged EC listeners around! :wink: FAVEHOUR, you may well be righ...