Day 0499 - Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello and the Attractions "Imperial Bedroom" (1982)

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!

Day 0253 - Clube Da Esquina

Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges "Clube Da Esquina" (1972)

Another album that I had checked out when I first read the "1001 albums" book around 2009 or so.  The description of it as a "Brazilian Sgt Pepper" was just too good to pass up.

Milton, Lo, and their compatriots were members of the Tropicalia movement, and had come together to write, and to bond over their love of the Beatles.  That mutual creativity and collaboration leading to this collection of great melodies, unexpected changes, and lush arrangements.

The 60s may have been dead, but thankfully Brazil was still keeping it alive at this point.

Day 0130 - Scott 2

Scott Walker "Scott 2" (1968) - got it

I've made no secret in the past for my love of Scott Walker.  His luscious, lush arrangements, his brilliant croon, his quirky sense of humour... this is possibly the peak of his early work (to my tastes).
This set is somewhat typical of the 'Scott' albums: some translated Jacques Brel covers with an added swagger, some syruppy easy listening ballads and some other grandiose galloping arrangements.  Ranging from the trumpeting upbeat 'Jackie' the almost Bond-esque epic sound of 'best of both worlds' (a great near-breakup song).  The elephantine Eastern swagger of 'the girls from the street' slips into a nimble European bounce without a thought spared!