Search found 772 matches

by alexv
Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:20 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: When was your first Elvis gig?
Replies: 73
Views: 70775

Re: When was your first Elvis gig?

1982, forest hills, NYC was my first. IB had just come out and had become my musical obesession. Those were the years when he would play The Pier, and Forest Hills and sometimes Jones Beach. I remember leaving work early to catch every show. Those were the days. The opening acts are memorable: Nick,...
by alexv
Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:03 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10
Replies: 148
Views: 139779

Re: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10

There clearly are at least two sides to this Israel/Palestinian thing, and like our Philadelphia poster, I'm disposed to the Isreali side. Lots of reasons, some of them totally irrational. Like a lot of other US residents (particularly those from cosmopolitan areas) I have known many american jews i...
by alexv
Sat Jul 10, 2010 7:35 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis's last great album
Replies: 53
Views: 51412

Re: Elvis's last great album

Painted from Memory is it for me, EC's last "great" record. That one gets an asterisk, because of BB. His last great individual effort is, IMO, KOA. I agree with those who despise WIWC. Can't stand it. Can I add a "near great" category? After we all love EC, and near great EC is ...
by alexv
Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:45 am
Forum: The Annex
Topic: Hamlet
Replies: 3
Views: 5079

Re: Hamlet

As WS and Nick Lowe say, you have to be cruel to be kind, in the right measure (for measure?),but by the same token if you are kind to the cruel you end up being cruel to the kind, or so the Jews said.

"He who is kind to the cruel is cruel to the kind"--Midrash
by alexv
Tue Jun 08, 2010 9:03 am
Forum: The Annex
Topic: Wake up you footy fans!!!
Replies: 4653
Views: 2718727

Re: Wake up you footy fans!!!

our english "footy" fans might enjoy this

http://www.slate.com/id/2256074
by alexv
Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:31 pm
Forum: The Annex
Topic: Random Thoughts
Replies: 3952
Views: 2692351

Re: Random Thoughts

Can you reach any higher, CS? Love Griffey. No steroids; did it the right way. Home run leaders: Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey. bonds, McGuire, Sosa have big asterisks. ARod will pass them, and although he admitted steroid use for a couple of years, I will give him a pass since he was awesome from the ...
by alexv
Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:27 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: National Ransom - November 2010
Replies: 597
Views: 497841

Re: New Album(s) Being Recorded in Nashville

Continuing on the GP track, Human Soul is a flawless record, probably my favorite GP record altogether.
by alexv
Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:07 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: National Ransom - November 2010
Replies: 597
Views: 497841

Re: New Album(s) Being Recorded in Nashville

Migdd, I wouldn't say current GP compares to current EC. I like GP. The list I threw out includes, intentionally, only artists I like. GP is one of them, but where he falls short, in my opinion, of EC-type relevance is on two levels: (1) there is no variety in GP's stuff: GP has one style, which he'...
by alexv
Fri May 28, 2010 9:46 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: National Ransom - November 2010
Replies: 597
Views: 497841

Re: New Album(s) Being Recorded in Nashville

IP, I'm not saying that EC is the only artist of long standing out there making vibrant ambitious music in his 50s. I was reacting to CS's allusion that there are lots of guys like EC (old, established, well-thought of guys) out there doing their thing. I just don't think there are lots of them, and...
by alexv
Thu May 27, 2010 11:03 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: National Ransom - November 2010
Replies: 597
Views: 497841

Re: New Album(s) Being Recorded in Nashville

CS, Roger Federer has one of the most impressive records in sport: he has reached at least the semifinals of every Grand Slam tennis tournament over the last 6 years. I belive it's something like 23. I call him The Beautiful One. His tennis is an aesthetic marvel. Imposter, Roger Federer is a Les Pa...
by alexv
Mon May 24, 2010 6:45 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: National Ransom - November 2010
Replies: 597
Views: 497841

Re: New Album(s) Being Recorded in Nashville

I take your point, CS, but...with the exception of Dylan, who is one of a kind, what differentiates EC from the rest of the folks on your list (I'm a fan of all of them except for Neil Young, whom I just have never gotten) is that the music he's been making on a yearly basis is somehow more vibrant ...
by alexv
Thu May 20, 2010 11:59 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10
Replies: 148
Views: 139779

Re: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10

ET, on your bush-bashing red state point: you are absolutely right that he played red states and bush-bashed. Why? Because as he says in his post, for him music is not just music, it involves other things, including politics. On American politics he clearly has a stated view: he's made up his mind t...
by alexv
Wed May 19, 2010 2:30 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10
Replies: 148
Views: 139779

Re: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10

Yaniv, EC is a political artist. He's no Elton John. Take it from a long-time fan/groupie. On your second point. You miss my point: the reason I think EC is not performing is that he does not want to make a political point, for the reasons I summarized. Unlike Waters EC is not a "criticizer of ...
by alexv
Wed May 19, 2010 1:19 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10
Replies: 148
Views: 139779

Re: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10

What strikes me about all this is the language EC uses in his withdrawal post. He says: "One lives in hope that music is more than mere noise, filling up idle time, whether intending to elate or lament." Right off the bat, he's saying, look, music should be about more than just the melodie...
by alexv
Tue May 18, 2010 11:49 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10
Replies: 148
Views: 139779

Re: Elvis cancels shows in Israel , June/July '10

The New York Times readers chime in. Elvis must be loving the attention.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/ ... israel/?hp
by alexv
Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:00 am
Forum: The Annex
Topic: The letters of Saul Bellow
Replies: 2
Views: 4236

Re: The letters of Saul Bellow

CS, looking forward to it. Bellow was one of my favorites. Have read just about everything he wrote. A few years back I read James Atlas's (I think he was the writer) biography of Bellow, and found him a one of a kind character. A combination of old-time gangster and intellectual. The letters should...
by alexv
Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:46 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Spectacle season 2
Replies: 211
Views: 177483

Re: Spectacle season 2

Imp, you asked CS what he likes about EC. Since i've been critical of his later stuff here, I guess i'm another candidate to whom that question could be addressed. Not too busy today, so here goes. I’ve been a fan since 78, own every record (although I gave away WIWC and Il Sogno), have seen him per...
by alexv
Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:42 pm
Forum: The Annex
Topic: You Cannot be Serious: Health Insurance for All in the USA?
Replies: 10
Views: 15182

Re: You Cannot be Serious: Health Insurance for All in the U

ET, the plan is complicated, so skepticism is in order. I found the link below to be useful in answering some basic questions. Since the thing seems to still be subject to more political maneuvering, this may not be the final word. http://www.examiner.com/x-5738-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m3d17-A-...
by alexv
Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:31 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: RIP T-Bone Wolk
Replies: 8
Views: 12140

Re: RIP T-Bone Wolk

Thanks for that link to livefromdaryl'shouse, John. Was not aware it existed. Some great performances.
by alexv
Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:27 pm
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: August 15th 2016 - 40th anniversary of Charlie Gillett playing Elvis' demo tape
Replies: 29
Views: 29339

Re: Charlie Gillett - 1942 -2010

Hey, JohnF, you know much more about the Gillett/Costello relationship than I do, what do you think EC is referring to in the below comments taken from his note on Gillett's passing? Seems kind of odd to throw this stuff into a posting on the guy's passing. Are the comments just EC generalizing abou...
by alexv
Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:45 pm
Forum: The Annex
Topic: You Cannot be Serious: Health Insurance for All in the USA?
Replies: 10
Views: 15182

You Cannot be Serious: Health Insurance for All in the USA?

Well, not for all just now, but soon or else. Interesting times. For some reason, and the bills are obviously not related, I keep thinking about the uproar when Clinton signed the Welfare bill. At the time, liberals throughout the land railed at Clinton's compromise legislation, predicting mass numb...
by alexv
Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:21 pm
Forum: The Annex
Topic: Alex Chilton
Replies: 8
Views: 8872

Re: Alex Chilton

Chilton/Big Star get some love in a most unexpected place. Great stuff.


http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/ ... -song.html
by alexv
Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:26 am
Forum: The Annex
Topic: Alex Chilton
Replies: 8
Views: 8872

Alex Chilton

Sad news. I don't know if the comments on the attached come through, but it's heartening to see so many comments coming in.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/ ... n-dies/?hp
by alexv
Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:40 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Spike Demo Version Revisited
Replies: 34
Views: 31334

Re: Spike Demo Version Revisited

I think Mercer's I-95 jones for chuck had a lot to do with the cocktails he was probably imbibing. He liked his liquor, old Johnny, and with a couple of drinks in him he would probably even bop to Metallica.
by alexv
Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:00 am
Forum: Elvis Costello General Discussion
Topic: Spike Demo Version Revisited
Replies: 34
Views: 31334

Re: Spike Demo Version Revisited

I get what you are saying, CS, but I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. It's probably because my take on the Great American Songbook is different. Clearly EC's melodies, good as they are, can't compare with the pros mentioned (Porter, Gershwin, Sondheim etc.). Not even close. EC's mu...