release date: Sep. 23, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Elvis Costello and Kevin Killen
label: Deutsche Grammophon - nationality: England, UK
18th studio album by Elvis Costello following 1½ year after When I Was Cruel is more of a solo album than most of any all his studio releases. Despite having what seems as a full orchestra of strings and brass musicians supporting him and also appearances by all of The Imposters: Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas, and Davey Faragher, the album comes out as a quiet and very ballad-like collection of vocal jazz compositions. Also, the majority of the song titles reveal an album with full attention on love ballads. Apparently, the album both reflects Costello's broken relationship with Cait O'Riordan as well as his newfound love with Canadian pianist and jazz vocalist Diana Krall, whom he married Dec. 2003.
The album bonds nicely with his two collaboration projects, the live album Deep Dead Blue (1995) with Bill Frisell as well as Painted From Memory (1998) with Burt Bacharach - and mostly with the latter by also having a full orchestra as backing band. Having said that, it's not an album that reflects his splendid ability to arrange and compose music - it's really like stretching his hands out to Krall and stating: "You know, I did all that but I can also make really soft vocal jazz and jazz pop music - really much like you do!", which some critics noted by referring to the style as closer to what Krall normally released than was the case with Mr. Costello.
Best thing here is the songwriting.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]
