Music review: Elvis Costello – 鈥楬ey Clockface鈥�
While rummaging through my older brother鈥檚 extensive record collection back in 1977, I came across a debut release from a quirky guitarist with thick, black-rimmed glasses, skinny tie and a catchy name.
鈥淢y Aim Is True鈥� spotlighted Elvis Costello performing gritty tracks of punk passion with jolts of new wave, rock and power pop. Costello鈥檚 arrangements packed a potent punch and exhibited a vibrant energy that fueled his biting lyrics about jealousy, apathy, anger and youthful rebellion.
Costello鈥檚 next album, 1978鈥檚 鈥淭his Year鈥檚 Model,鈥� would be a continuation of his biting social commentary and give me yet another reason to follow the talented English singer-songwriter throughout his iconic career.
Forty-two years later, Costello is still going strong with the release of his 31st studio album. Recorded in various locations, 鈥淗ey Clockface鈥� illustrates Costello鈥檚 musical diversity as it methodically zigs and zags in multiple directions over the course of its 14 tracks.
鈥淩evolution #49鈥� opens the set as a spoken-word confessional with an alluring Middle Eastern vibe that finds Costello hauntingly emphasizing love is the one thing we need to save.
Costello channels some malcontent musings inspired from his early days on 鈥淣o Flag.鈥� 鈥淕ot a head full of ideas and words that don鈥檛 seem to belong to me/You may be joking but I don鈥檛 get the gag/I sense no future but time seems to drag,鈥漚gitatedly declares Costello on this track that would fit seamlessly on 1979鈥檚 鈥淎rmed Forces.鈥�
Being a huge fan of Costello鈥檚 1998 collaboration with Burt Bacharach on 鈥淧ainted from Memory,鈥� the new album contains three arrangements that drew my immediate attention. The piano-led ballads 鈥淭he Whirlwind,鈥� 鈥淭he Last Confession of Vivian Whip鈥� and 鈥淏yline鈥� possess a timeless elegance that is a pure delight to digest through a simplistic vulnerability that showcases Costello鈥檚 heartfelt vocals as the 66-year-old sings, 鈥淚鈥檝e had my moments/But all too few/You think you know me/Maybe you do.鈥�
Revisiting the glory days of his debut release, 鈥淩adio Is Everything鈥� features Costello still dishing out his quick wit as he proclaims, 鈥淚 sound much better than I look/Like a hero in a book.鈥�
With his latest effort, Costello demonstrates that his aim is still indeed true.