Blogcritics: Comments on Elvis on Letterman

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 23 Sep 2004 10:25:33 EDT

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.

Comment by Tom

Thu, 23 Sep 2004 01:38:19 EDT

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.

Comment by Al Barger

Thu, 23 Sep 2004 01:24:40 EDT

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."