Elvis Costello

Album reviews

The Delivery Man
Lost Highway (2004)
I can only use "wow, Elvis Costello has finally gotten back to his roots" so many times to begin a review before it loses all meaning. How about "wow, Elvis Costello has finally made another great record?"

When I Was Cruel
Island (2002)
I could say I never saw this album coming and isn't it a wonderful surprise, but it wouldn't be true. Besides, that review has already been written (for Brutal Youth, which When I Was Cruel somewhat resembles).

Painted From Memory
Mercury (1998)
Elvis Costello has worked with a wide array of musicians throughout the '90s. The union many find the most perplexing is of Costello and revered songsmith Burt Bacharach.

All This Useless Beauty
Warner Bros. (1996)
Brutal Youth is a great album. But is hardly a fitting epitaph for The Attractions. All This Useless Beauty, on the other hand, is the perfect end to a phenomenal group.

Kojak Variety
Warner Bros. (1995)
Not only is Elvis Costello one of pop music's greatest songwriters, he's also one of pop music's biggest fans.

Brutal Youth
Warner Bros. (1994)
Brutal Youth was never meant to be "The Great Attractions Reunion," as the press heralded it.

King Of America
Rykodisc (1986)
Elvis Costello hasn't had a consistent career, but he does tend to make consistent albums.

Blood & Chocolate
Rykodisc (1986)
One of the all-time great divorce records, 1986's Blood And Chocolate saw Elvis Costello throwing a big, fat, juicy T-bone to his hardcore fans.

Goodbye Cruel World
Rykodisc (1984)
Few songwriters have as dedicated and unwavering a following as Elvis Costello. And yet, there are few albums more reviled than Goodbye Cruel World.

Imperial Bedroom (Recommended)
Rykodisc (1982)
By virtue of having at once some of his best lyrics and best tunes, this album represents the climax of Elvis Costello’s career. Though he would go on to release some good albums, this is his last great one.

Trust
Rykodisc (1981)
Since the album has no musical theme, it's up to Elvis's lyrics to create flow. He's more than up to task.

Get Happy!! (Recommended)
Rhino (1980)
A frantic, drug-soaked salute to American R&B, Get Happy!! at once exposed Costello's limitless potential and cemented his future as a cult artist.

Live At El Mocambo
Columbia (1978)
So Elvis Costello was booed at Woodstock '99. What is this world coming to?

This Year's Model (Recommended)
Rykodisc (1978)
I have this rock fantasy where my tremendously popular band comes back from an incredibly successful tour and announces we'll playing a seven-night stand at Chicago's Metro. (Like many of my rock fantasies, this dream is Cheap Trick-inspired.) The catch is, each night, we'll be playing one of our choices for the seven most influential records of all time.

My Aim Is True (Recommended)
Rykodisc (1977)
The most astonishing thing about My Aim Is True is that it's a debut album.

Concert reviews

July 6, 2003
Petrillo Band Shell, Grant Park, Chicago
Could it be? A mildly happy Elvis Costello? NATN's prodigal son Mark Donohue returns with a review of a recent show by the once "Angry One."