Elvis on Letterman
Published September 23, 2004
Okay, I've been an Elvis Costello fan since the beginning, but I saw his performance tonight on Letterman, and I don't know which was more offensive, his guitar (a custom jazz hollow-body really expensive arch-top which was totally wrong for the tune and obviously so signal processed to sound nothing like it looked) or his ugly shirt, or the generic, well, it's just an Elvis Costello tune, tune.
I think it's the guitar. Really set off the just don't care anymore.
... meanwhile back at the ranch:
This is usually why I try to tape Letterman and watch it the next day instead, largely because after waiting out ten minutes of really bad commercials (the Late Show is broadcast on a multi-cultural station in Toronto) I'm usually in a bad mood by the time they actually get around to performing. However, this isn't about the song, I haven't heard the album yet, but about the presentation. Since signing with Universal, EC seems to be on the slippery slope of pretentious self-indulgence, and that usually doesn't turn out well. His last couple of albums have varied between okay and forgettable, which combined with the label jumping (like the label means anything anymore) adds up to rather boring for the fans.
- Elvis on Letterman
- Published: September 23, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Video: Television, Video: Music, Music: Soundtracks, Music: Pop, Music: Adult Alternative
- Writer: Jim Carruthers
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I haven't seen this performance yet (hasn't aired yet in AZ - but I'm recording it) but I'm with Al on the "saving rock and roll" part. Delivery Man is, for the most part, a really intriguing melding two polar opposites of his early period (think Trust and Almost Blue) with the modern, light-on-melody abrasiveness of When I Was Cruel. It's a much better album than Cruel, as a result, and I really liked that album a lot, too.
good points and reminded me of my own "don't care much anymore" episode. I saw Elvis live about 10 years ago on his bloated and scruffy, Jerry Garcia-emulating tour, and the combination of the foolish look, desultory air of his performance, and the sameyness of his voice on wildly divergent material caused me to say "uh, I guess" and that has been my position ever since.
Now the first tour back in - what? '77-'78? - with the Attractions was something else entirely, brimming with manic energy: dude should have stayed a rocker.
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My, my, Jim. Are we lacking fiber in the diet or what? I'm not sure what to make of the song yet, but it sounded pretty good. Elvis was kicking down some vintage style EC rock.
I'm more inclined to agree with Letterman, who said that he's "single handedly saving rock and roll."