After years of worthy-but-dull collaborations with everyone from Burt Bacharach to the Brodsky Quartet, at last - the real Elvis is back. That is to say, the veteran New Wave rocker has finally rediscovered his sense of anger, and in the process made his best album for many, many years. When I Was Cruel is simply a treasure trove of classic Costello tunes that hearken back to his glory days, all snarling guitars, oblique imagery and some of the most contemptuous vocals ever committed to record. Unfortunately a less welcome Elvis trait has also re-surfaced, namely his tendency to make albums way too long. If you can program out a handful of less inspired moments, however, When I Was Cruel stands up very well beside such old classics as This Year's Model and Blood And Chocolate - and let's face it, praise doesn't come much higher than that.

Your Comments

No comments have been posted for this article yet. Be the first!