Costello: Ten of the Best
Stephen Arnell
![Stephen Arnell]()
Stephen Arnell
Broadcast/VoD Consultant for TV & Film, Writer/Producer (inc Bob Fosse, Alex Cox, Prince, Sinatra), Media/Culture Commentator & Author (novel The Great One published November 2022)
Although Elvis Costello is a very fine tunesmith, to my eyes he often seemed to value his lyrics at the expense of actual melodies, especially since the late 90s.
He could also overestimate his ability to hit and sustain notes - with evident strain, but that's all part of the Elvis Costello style.
That is...until 2018's Look Now, where Elvis rediscovered his love of and facility for melody.
BONUS:
Elvis goes country, back in 1981:
And a song off the Armed Forces album (1979), which was going to be called Emotional Fascism...