Elvis Costello

Those who are familiar with my views will recognize the repeated refrain that genius makes connections between unrelated things, bringing them into a peculiar and remarkable union. Elvis Costello scores here on his name alone, having taken on the first name of the King of Rock and Roll and the surname of a pudgy prince of slapstick comedy (and these choices speak volumes about the man and his attitude). Where he really proves himself, though, is in the breadth and depth of his musical output.

The soft-spoken Englishman, formerly a computer programmer by name of Declan McManus, channeled his poet’s soul through the angry passion of the punk movement, shaping the result with the keen melodic sense of a master tunesmith. Joining
ranks with the likes of Nick Lowe and Joe Jackson, Costello helped establish a fresh genre which became generally known as Power Pop. He provided this genre a number of fresh anthems and ballads, like Alison,
Accidents Will Happen, Watching
the Detectives, and Radio, Radio, all of which became classic items
on any menu of 1980′s alternative rock.

Not satisfied to just languish there, Costello began to edge laterally into other genres… country, classical, jazz… bringing his unique sensibilities with him in each phase of his exploration. With marvelous judgement, he associated himself with top musicians in each area: Paul
McCartney, T-Bone Burnett, the Brodsky Quartet, Bill Frisell, Burt Bacharach. With each new collaboration, he became more mature, more developed, more facile at his craft.

This ability to translate the subtleties and complexities of the human heart
into popular song has propelled him to the top of his field, and the amazing
diversity of his music has led the All-Music Guide to declare him “one of the
most innovative, influential, and best songwriters since Bob Dylan.” There
are some things you can’t argue with. Elvis Costello’s aim, having always been
truth, remains true.

DISCOGRAPHY

2003	North	1989	Spike
2002	When I Was Cruel	1986	Blood and Chocolate
1999	The Sweetest Punch	1986	King of America
1998	Painted From Memory	1984	Goodbye Cruel World
1997	Terror and Magnificence	1983	Punch the Clock
1996	Costello and Nieve (live)	1982	Imperial Bedroom
1996	All This Useless Beauty	1981	Almost Blue
1996	Jake’s Progress (Soundtrack)	1981	Trust
1995	Deep Dead Blue, Live at Meltdown	1980	Taking Liberties
1995	Kojak Variety	1980	Get Happy!!
1994	Brutal Youth	1979	Armed Forces
1994	G.B.H. (Soundtrack)	1978	Live at the El Mocambo
1993	The Juliet Letters	1978	This Year’s Model
1991	Mighty Like A Rose	1977	My Aim Is True