Elvis Costello "Rock And Roll Music" (Universal 2007)

A flatpack Costello collection for the unconvinced that does exactly what it says on the tin..


I can take or leave the bespectacled one. Always have always will. I love ‘Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea’ and ‘Pump It Up’ and that’s about it for me. But he’s just so clever, he has a way with words, he’s a pop genius. Yeah, yeah, just because you use thirty four words instead of the necessary three don’t cut it with me buddy. So, as you can tell, I must confess seeing this collection in the jiffy bag this month hardly filled me with the joys of spring. But, hang on, whats this rocking beast of a track blasting from the speakers? Hey its not drowning in its own melancholia its just rocking and to hell with the consequences. Is this this right disc? Turns out those kind and caring folk at Universal have devised a new marketing ploy to snare both the uninitiated and the unconvinced with one fail swoop by putting together all of Costello’s ’rockier’ tracks on one CD. Christ listening to this lot would convince anyone that Costello, far from being an eternal heartbroken flagellist has a lighter side that just wants to have fun. Basically half the album is made up of This Year’s Model and Blood And Chocolate and the rest with all manner of tracks from likes of Armed Forces, Taking Liberties and Trust. To the unbelievers like me its somewhat of a revelation. Together on one CD tracks like “Lipstick Vogue” and “Tiny Steps” sizzle with creative zest and life and the old faves “Pump” and “Chelsea” still kick ass like before only now have a whole posse of attitude for support. Maybe I have got the man all wrong. If this was a CD to get people who don’t normally buy Costello to go out and buy one then I think it will work a treat. Fair play.

Date review added:  Thursday, June 14, 2007
Reviewer:  Del Day
Reviewers Rating: