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ELVIS COSTELLO
This Year's Model (Rhino)
Blood And Chocolate (Rhino)
Brutal Youth (Rhino)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale
These three packages are the second round of Rhino reissues of the Elvis Costello catalog, and I use the term "package" advisedly. By now, anyone who cares knows these albums, at least by reputation. Suffice to say that they're all excellent, and This Year's Model is essential, even for the most casual fan of Costello in particular or New Wave music in general.
The bonus material here is familiar to the cognoscenti as well, since most of it appeared on the Rykodisc reissue series of nearly a decade ago. This time out, though, it's offered on a separate disc, allowing the original albums to appear as discrete entities, rather than sharing space with the additional tracks. It's an arrangement that I prefer, but may not be enough reason for owners of the Rykodisc releases to consider an upgrade.
What might inspire that upgrade, though, are at least two factors. First, while Rykodisc delivered state of the art sound when they released this material in the early nineties, the state of the art has advanced somewhat and Rhino has taken special care to create the definitive sonic experience of Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Secondly, Costello's extensive historical and musical notes occupy much of the 28 page booklets that come with each set. Combined with archival photographs and lyrics, the result is more of the award winning packaging that has made Rhino a leader in the reissue field for so many years now.
This is special music in the kind of special packaging it deserves. Bravo, Rhino.
Track Lists:
This Year's Model: No Action * This Year's Girl * The Beat * Pump It Up * Little Triggers * You Belong To Me * Hand In Hand * (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea * Lip Service * Living In Paradise * Lipstick Vogue * Night Rally * Radio, Radio
Bonus Disc: Big Tears * Crawling To The USA * Running Out of Angels (demo) * Greenshirt (demo) * Big Boys (demo) * You Belong To Me (Capital Radio version) * Radio, Radio (Capital Radio version) * Neat Neat Neat (live) * Roadette Song (live) * This Year's Girl (alternate Eden Studios version) * (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea (Basing Street Studios version) * Stranger In The House (BBC version)
Blood And Chocolate: Uncomplicated * I Hope You're Happy Now * Tokyo Storm Warning * Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head * I Want You * Honey, Are You Straight Or Are You Blind? * Blue Chair * Battered Old Bird * Crimes Of Paris * Poor Napoleon * Next Time Round
Bonus Disc: Leave My Kitten Alone * New Rhythm Method * Forgive Her Anything (new version) * Crimes Of Paris (electric version) * Uncomplicated (alternate) * Battered Old Bird (alternate) * Seven Day Weekend (w/Jimmy Cliff) * Blue Chair (single version) * Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo * American Without Tears No. 2 (twilight version) * All These Things * Pouring Water On A Drowning Man * Running Out Of Fools * Tell Me Right Now * Lonely Blue Boy
Brutal Youth: Pony St. * Kinder Murder * 12 Steps Lead Down * This Is Hell * Clown Strike * You Tripped At Every Step * Still Too Soon To Know * 20% Amnesia * Sulky Girl * London's Brilliant Parade * My Science Fiction Twin * Rocking Horse Road * Just About Glad * All The Rage * Favourite Hour
Bonus Disc: Life Shrinks * Favourite Hour (Church Studios version) * This Is Hell (Church Studios version) * Idiophone * Abandon Words * Poisoned Letter * A Drunken Man's Praise Of Sobriety * Pony St. (Bonaparte Rooms version) * Just About Glad (Bonaparte Rooms version) * Clown Strike (Bonaparte Rooms version) * Rocking Horse Road (demo) * 13 Steps Lead Down (demo) * All The Rage (demo) * Sulky Girl (demo) * You Tripped At Every Step (Church Studios version)
© 2002 - Shaun Dale