Costello was up to the grand total of 6 albums in 5 years, including raw rock n roll with a punk energy, a country album and an album of keyboard-heavy pop.
With the Beatles' engineer Geoff Emerick on board as producer, Elvis and co set down a platter of lush pop here, with arrangements ranging from smokey jazz blues to full-on Sgt Peppers-esque bouncy baroque pop. Sonically, the band throws in everything from backwards guitars to horn sections.
As with previous Costello albums, I keep thinking that his prolific output is going to offer up a few duds, or at least 'middle of the road' fare... if it is, it's yet to show up, because this is a great album!
1981's Trust runs out of steam IMO - which is a shame, because side one is great.
ReplyDeleteI have noted (listening to "Brutal Youth") that they list some albums where he's delved into a range of different genres, yet the albums that have made the list seem to be more his 'signature style' with a few variations (more keyboards on Armed Forces, a lusher approach on Imperial Bedroom).
DeleteI like the Imperial Bedroom and Trust period where he still has youthful energy but turns up the sophistication. Never bothered with any Costello past the 1980s.
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