March 11, 1999
No one bitches about not being able to get laid with such bitter eloquence as Elvis Costello. But this extraordinarily gifted songwriter also tackles fascism (both emotional and political), the myopic media and damaged relationships with equal facility. He really is punk's Dylan.
Well, maybe not punk per se - the birth of Elvis' career coincided with punk's explosion, and while his angry lyrics were in step with the times, his musical reach included not only the raw crunch of punk but also reggae, 50's pop and new wave, and that was just on his stunning debut, My Aim is True. The promise of that debut was even exceeded by the extraordinary This Year's Model, where Elvis formed his band The Attractions, a group who wound his music to a tight, reckless pitch.
This live album is taken from a 1978 show just before the release of This Year's Model, and although his restless creativity would eventually put him in a class of his own, this concert shows just why Elvis & The Attractions were considered punk at the time - the man rocks like a demon. Bristling with energy and passion, Elvis snarls, sneers and accuses while The Attractions unearth the ferocity simmering beneath the melodic surface of songs like "Welcome to the Working Week" and "Less Than Zero" from My Aim Is True.
Even better are the songs Elvis and The Attractions had recently written together. If you're already familiar with This Year's Model, the gritty metallic riffing the band finds in "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and the focused indictment of "Lipstick Vogue" with its cascading basslines and breakneck drumming will suck the breath out of your chest. "Sometimes I think of love as just a tumor - you got to cut it out," Elvis sings, and you can practically see the scalpel in his hand. This concert is essential for all Elvis fans, and if you're not a fan yet, what the hell are you waiting for?
- Jared O'Connor
bristling with energy