It does not move me, even though I've seen the movie

[venta]

On Fridays this year, we ask...

What's in the Box?

The Box in question is the glovebox of my car, home to my extremely motley tape collection. By the time I owned a car with a tape player tapes were on the way out and most of my music was in CD format. However, charity shops were practically giving tapes away, which meant that I bought rapaciously and eclectically. A half-remembered 80s band who once released a single I'd liked a little ? A band I'd vaguely heard of ? An unknown group with good cover art ? Bring them on.

Of course, the net result is that I've ended up with a tape collection which any music-lover would be slightly ashamed of. There was a relatively narrow window (late 70s to later 80s) when tapes were big news, and my horde represents that. However, in amongst the terrible pop I've found some gems and I reckon its time to come clean about my guilty musical secrets.

Whew. Today has been busy. I've finished my list of 'urgent things to do before going to York' (mostly by deciding that some of them weren't that urgent after all). If anyone's in the York area this weekend, they have an International Sword Spectacular on their doorstep.

So, we just have time to look in The Box and find...

Elvis Costello - The Man: The Best of Elvis Costello

I'm always confused about how well-known Elvis Costello is. I'm sure you've heard of him... but how many songs can you name offhand ? I'd have said about two (Oliver's Army and I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea), but then listening to a best-of invokes lots of those "Oh, is that Elvis Costello?" moments.

There's quite a lot of variety on this compilation. There's nice big fat guitar riffs, there's quiet introspection, there's clever and slightly cringeworthy rhymes.

Obviously, I'm mostly in it for the surprising rhymes. I really like the words to New Amsterdam, just because someone has spent time carefully crafting the lyrics so that they sound natural but all scan neatly and rhyme.

I have this vague suspicion that Elvis Costello is a bit too worthy for me ever to be a huge fan. I'm happy to be on best-of nodding terms, though.

Elvis Costello - New Amsterdam [link expired]

[Poll #1192627]

Comments

[redcountess]

I would say I've heard at least half of the songs on the album before, but not that one. I think he's very underrated (and have you seen his cameo in 200 Cigarettes?)

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

I could name a lot of EC songs but I wouldn't know which of them were hits. Looks like all earlyish stuff though. Can I encourage you to try Mighty Like A Rose sometime?

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Spookily enough, I was playing this very compilation just yesterday.

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Sounds good at first hearing, although, as with many EC tracks, I suspect that it would benefit from repeated listening.

[mr_magicfingers]

A great album, but growing up with his music each album spoke of the changes in his life. For sheer balls and vitriol pick up blood and chocolate, the beautifully penned rantings of an angry young twat.

Love EC, and his bass player's a genius, the walking bass on I don't want to go to chelsea is marvellous.

[mrlloyd.livejournal.com]

For my money the best living English songwriter. I've seen him live twice, once rocking out (awestruck gig review here http://sbsmba.blogspot.com/2002_09_01_sbsmba_archive.html ), and once doing jazz standards with an orchestra. Although even then he couldn't resist the odd wall of sound guitar solo.

[erming.livejournal.com]

I dispatched Glenn and Emily to see the festival (who you may have met on Catt's hen do). I also told them to look out for Mabel and they said they really enjoyed your dances.

They also said there was no trail of empty gin bottles to follow...