Hey, it’s Elvis Costello’s birthday on Sunday. No longer the "Angry Young Man of the British New Wave," Mr. Costello will be turning 59, if I’m not mistaken. Honestly, I’m just using that as an excuse to post the amazing photograph of him above, cribbed from an old cover of SPY Magazine from the early `90s.
As has been widely reported, Elvis has got an album coming out in September that finds him collaborating with The Roots. While I’m indeed curious to hear that, the picture above always makes me wish Elvis would swing the other way and collaborate with, say, a metal band. I know he’s a stickler for incisive lyric-writing (which is contingent on being able to hear and decipher the lyrics in question, something metal is not always renowned for), but he’s also been capable in the past of shouting over the top of some feisty, clangy guitars. Why not up the ante? Why not team-up with his fellow countrymen in Motorhead? Surely he and Lemmy have met by this point, no? Just a thought.
Anyhoo, not holding my breath for that. Herewith, then, are my twenty favorite Elvis Costello tracks. Not too many wild cards in the batch, but see if you agree. I kinda tapered off after 1988’s Spike…
1. "Beyond Belief"
2. "(What's So Funny)`Bout Peace, Love & Undertanding?" (yes, I'm aware Nick Lowe wrote this)
3. "Lipstick Vogue"
4. "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down"
5. "Goon Squad"
6. "I Hope You're Happy Now"
7. "Let Him Dangle"
8. "So Like Candy"
9. "Seven Day Weekend"
10. "Clean Money"
11. "I'm Not Angry"
12. "This Year's Girl"
13. "Little Palaces"
14. "Lip Service"
15. "High Fidelity"
16. "The Loved Ones"
17. "Welcome to the Working Week"
18. "...This Town..."
19. "Pump It Up"
20. "I Want You"
fuck it... 21. "New Lace Sleeves"
Recent Comments