ELVIS COSTELLO
North (Deutsche Grammophon)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Hey the much dreaded sappy love letter record to Diana Krall doesn't turn out be nearly as painful as anticipated. In fact Costello may have finally made his ballad record, something he's been attempting without much success for a decade. With voice and piano up front, tasteful string and brass backing, Costello delivers a sentimental moody piece of classical crooning sure to irk the legions still high on his last rocking slab. But that's what Elvis does, and whilst his careening music swings have often been misguided, there's no denying the simple beauty of North will go down as one of his crowning achievements, and not the embarrassing tabloid fodder we secretly had hoped for.

© 2004 - John Sekerka