Red Mosquito
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Elvis Costello
http://archive.theskyiscrape.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=39246
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Author:  Gods' Die [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

theplatypus wrote:
"Essential"

This Year's Model
Imperial Bedroom
King of America
The Juliet Letters
Painted From Memory
The Delivery Man

would constitute a list of "essential" albums, but that leaves off many of my favorites (Get Happy, Blood and Chocolate, Spike, Brutal Youth, North, Momofuku, etc). He has SUCH a vast catalog in so many different styles it's really hard to say.


I put "(Platy)" after all the albums in the above list...my first real listen to King of America revealed that I probably fucking love that album. And I'm ready to give this guy a real shot...any additions or subtractions, Jorge?

Author:  theplatypus [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

theplatypus wrote:
I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.


I've also "*"ed the records that got the best reviews on Allmusic:

My Aim is True
This Years Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy
Trust
Almost Blue
Imperial Bedroom
King of America
Painted

I've already listened to the first 3 on this list numerous times throughout the past 6-8 months...and while I've enjoyed them and caught myself singing some of their songs, none of them have "hit" me yet. KoA sounded like exactly what I'm looking for; I also think I'm going to give Trust and Get Happy some listenings to based on what I've read about them.

Author:  Kevin Davis [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

The first three albums are excellent (This Years Model is on my shortlist of perfect 10's) but parts of them sound dated and, in my opinion, they're a much better showcase for the Attractions' fantastic playing (albums 2 and 3, at least--they hadn't signed on yet at the time of album 1) than they are for Elvis's songwriting, which is fine but underdeveloped. From a songwriting standpoint, Get Happy!!! is a huge leap forward--plus you've still got the Attractions firing on all cylinders, so you really can't go wrong. What a marvelous album.

Brutal Youth (1994) might be one to try, too--it's rockier and poppier than King of America, but like KOA it covers a broad range with very few ingredients and manages to hold up remarkably well over 15 tracks.

Elvis rules. Keep at him.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

Kevin Davis wrote:
The first three albums are excellent (This Years Model is on my shortlist of perfect 10's) but parts of them sound dated and, in my opinion, they're a much better showcase for the Attractions' fantastic playing (albums 2 and 3, at least--they hadn't signed on yet at the time of album 1) than they are for Elvis's songwriting, which is fine but underdeveloped. From a songwriting standpoint, Get Happy!!! is a huge leap forward--plus you've still got the Attractions firing on all cylinders, so you really can't go wrong. What a marvelous album.

Brutal Youth (1994) might be one to try, too--it's rockier and poppier than King of America, but like KOA it covers a broad range with very few ingredients and manages to hold up remarkably well over 15 tracks.

Elvis rules. Keep at him.


Yeah...while I listen to a ton of dated music, it's music that sounds dated from the late 70s into the 80s that I have a much harder time latching onto. And KoA put all of that datedness aside and I loved the rootsy feel of it even though it was still very much in line with my previous Costello experiences.

Author:  Kevin Davis [ Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

His newest one, National Ransom, is also fantastic--a high watermark in his late career (the only other one I'd put in the same tier is North, but that's not really an 'introductory' album unless you're already into jazz and pop standards), and probably in his top ten overall. Sometimes trying to dig into an artist by way of his most current work affords a connection that the back catalog doesn't.

Author:  washing machine [ Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

theplatypus wrote:
I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.

I can vouch for Jorge's mix. If you like his sound, I'd imagine the mix is a pretty good jumping off point. I'm still warming up to him but I find myself listening to the mix more and more frequently.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

washing machine wrote:
theplatypus wrote:
I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.

I can vouch for Jorge's mix. If you like his sound, I'd imagine the mix is a pretty good jumping off point. I'm still warming up to him but I find myself listening to the mix more and more frequently.


I'm not a mix person at all...I absolutely love proper albums.

Btw Imperial Bedroom be good...this and King of America are the first ones to catch me.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

And I think The Juliet Letters suggestion might have been a bit premature for such a newb.

Author:  washing machine [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

Gods' Die wrote:
washing machine wrote:
theplatypus wrote:
I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.

I can vouch for Jorge's mix. If you like his sound, I'd imagine the mix is a pretty good jumping off point. I'm still warming up to him but I find myself listening to the mix more and more frequently.


I'm not a mix person at all...I absolutely love proper albums.

Btw Imperial Bedroom be good...this and King of America are the first ones to catch me.

Oh, I love proper albums too. A well crafted introductory mix can go a long way, though.

Author:  Kevin Davis [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

Gods' Die wrote:
And I think The Juliet Letters suggestion might have been a bit premature for such a newb.



Yeah, agreed. I attach to Juliet Letters the same caveat as I attached to North above, just substituting the genre of music.

Author:  stip [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

I've started making my way through Platy's collection. I really need a 'sit down with lyrics' listen which will probably be the second time through

Author:  Gods' Die [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

washing machine wrote:
Gods' Die wrote:
washing machine wrote:
theplatypus wrote:
I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.

I can vouch for Jorge's mix. If you like his sound, I'd imagine the mix is a pretty good jumping off point. I'm still warming up to him but I find myself listening to the mix more and more frequently.


I'm not a mix person at all...I absolutely love proper albums.

Btw Imperial Bedroom be good...this and King of America are the first ones to catch me.

Oh, I love proper albums too. A well crafted introductory mix can go a long way, though.


I'm already on my way, for some reason I can't get over the feeling that an amazing record can do more than a list of their best or most representative songs...hopefully within a year or so I'll have tackled another one of the great canons in music, and there aren't all that many.

Author:  washing machine [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

I remember when I used to pigeonhole my musical experiences too, friend.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

washing machine wrote:
I remember when I used to pigeonhole my musical experiences too, friend.


As long as I really try not to pigeonhole artists.

Author:  washing machine [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

Gods' Die wrote:
washing machine wrote:
I remember when I used to pigeonhole my musical experiences too, friend.


As long as I really try not to pigeonhole artists.

A well crafted mixtape is a great tool for avoiding that sort of thing.

Author:  theplatypus [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

stip wrote:
I've started making my way through Platy's collection. I really need a 'sit down with lyrics' listen which will probably be the second time through

Spenno once told me you'd never listen to my collection with much attention 'cause he put something together for you once and you never followed through. Prove him wrong.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

washing machine wrote:
Gods' Die wrote:
washing machine wrote:
I remember when I used to pigeonhole my musical experiences too, friend.


As long as I really try not to pigeonhole artists.

A well crafted mixtape is a great tool for avoiding that sort of thing.


Haha...I do have The Jam's Greatest Hits on my iPod, as well as compilations by BB King and Muddy Waters that I've listened to. In other words: I'm trying.

Ironically I had a CCR greatest hits CD that I listened to with at least a small regularity...got all their albums, and now never listen to them.

Author:  theplatypus [ Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello



Gods' Die, listen to this.

Author:  Gods' Die [ Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Elvis Costello

Pretty good...is it just acoustic and vocals on the record?

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