Delaware News Journal, February 8, 1981: Difference between revisions
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In short, Costello who is touring this country for the first time in two years flounders a bit without the assistance Lowe provides on the albums, although he remains far more interesting than the general run of heavy metal kids and leftover superstars who often grace the concert stage these days. | In short, Costello who is touring this country for the first time in two years flounders a bit without the assistance Lowe provides on the albums, although he remains far more interesting than the general run of heavy metal kids and leftover superstars who often grace the concert stage these days. | ||
The songs on ''Trust'' are closer to those on 1979's ''Armed Forces'' than on last year's ''Get Happy'', which had a stripped-down Motown flavor. They have just enough complexity to be interesting on more than a visceral level, but they never forget about melody. | The songs on ''Trust'' are closer to those on 1979's ''Armed Forces'' than on last year's ''Get Happy'', which had a stripped-down Motown flavor. They have just enough complexity to be interesting on more than a visceral level, but they never forget about melody. Costello is one of the best melody writers around. | ||
Costello's fuzzy baritone hasn't changed much; he doesn't have great range, but he's expressive. The vocal situation is improved when Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze joins in on "From a Whisper to a Scream." Although the two alternate vocals instead of harmonizing, Tilbrook's presence extends the vocal presence upward and generally adds lightness and agility. | |||
Although the two alternate vocals instead of harmonizing, Tilbrook's presence extends the vocal presence upward and generally adds lightness and agility. | |||
Costello's backup players, the Attractions, have always been top-notch. The Attractions, who first showed up on 1978 s ''This Year's Model'', when they provided a spare keyboard-bass-drums accompaniment, have gotten more sophisticated. They're sort of like the Section (Jackson Browne's backup group) of the New Wave. Among New Wave backup groups, perhaps only Graham Parker's the Rumour is a rival. | Costello's backup players, the Attractions, have always been top-notch. The Attractions, who first showed up on 1978 s ''This Year's Model'', when they provided a spare keyboard-bass-drums accompaniment, have gotten more sophisticated. They're sort of like the Section (Jackson Browne's backup group) of the New Wave. Among New Wave backup groups, perhaps only Graham Parker's the Rumour is a rival. |
Latest revision as of 11:03, 12 September 2021
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