Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1994)
ju s t out ▼ f s b r u a r y 4 , 1 9 0 4 T 2 7 Better sound? Elvis Costello is just one of the many artists whose recordings benefit from new digital technology ▼ by Dr. Tantalus uring the past six years boxed sets cess. Overcoming a band that had less talent than have soared in popularity within the most, the recording begins with the scalding “Work recording industry. One of the first. ing Week,” about the price of new found success: Rod Stewart's Storyteller, sold so well This song vents his frustration over having to work that folks began to realize that there while attempting to become successful in a new was a market for previously released music that job. brought together the collected work of a single This is not the only place Costello turned to musician, or which attempted to present a collec express his anger. In “Less than Zero” (a title tion of music of disparate popular artists that were apparently subsequently borrowed by Brent Easton linked thematically, stylistically or perhaps chro Ellis for his novel about empty lives in L.A.) nologically. Costello effectively gave expression to all those When the right lads whose lower economic class upbringing in amount of tender class-conscious England relegated them to a rela loving care is ap tively hopeless existence. My Aim is True is ulti plied, usually by mately a collection of well-crafted songs that some fans of the artists times arc better than the muscians collected to who are also highly perform them. trained engineers, Costello’s rough-edged style but smooth as silk boxed sets could _______________________ pop melodies and biting lyrics took a step up in his sometimes outshine follow-up album, This Year’s Model. Coupled for the original recordings. In order to achieve the best the first time with his band, The Attractions, he results the original master recordings found on once again began with a song that would singe hair, tape (even vinyl albums had a tape source) are “No Action.” Costello leaves no doubt that he was remixed using new digital technology to produce a planning to take his rightful place as one of the cleaner sound, sometimes closer to the sound in original angry young men of rock ‘n’ roll. tended by the artist at the outset. Recording flaws It would be a mistake to suggest that Costello is can be eliminated through this process, although only angry, because he has always been a good the extent to which such tapes are altered remains judge of the mass-market culture in which he found somewhat controver- himself. In “This Year’s sial. For example, in Model” he summarized, some older Elvis Pres belter than anyone else, ley recordings the sound the love/hate relation of his renowned back ship that the public has up group, the Jordan- with its celebrities. One aires, might be brought need only reflect on the up to the musical fore public’s reaction to re ground rather than re cent Tonya Harding maining muffled. news stories (or ' X Michael Jackson or oth Dr. Tantalus is not ers) to understand the anexpert on digital tech V / lyrics of this song: “Y ou nology, but the result is see her picture in a thou - clear: one can now re sand places’cause she’s capture the magic of re this year’s girl.” cordings that had long While there are since become horribly many good songs on scratched on vinyl, were This Year's Model, the out of print, or which one that deserves a had suffered through a slight bit of extra atten horrible CD transition tion is the album’s con in the Fust instance. In cluding number, “Night addition, boxed sets of ten include previously unreleased songs, and ex Rally,” Costello’s warning about taking the En tensive liner notes regarding each song’s history glish fascist movement too lightly. It’s difficult to hear that song today without thinking about the and perhaps an overview of the artist’s career. Because boxed sets vary highly, depending Oregon Citizens Alliance. Incidentally, this song principally upon the source material utilized to was removed from the U.S. release of This Year's make the CDs and the selection of music offered, Model because record executives thought it “too any shopper seriously interested in plunking down English.” It appears here in its normal playing $25 or more (one of the Frank Sinatra collections order for the first time on a domestic release, retails at more than $260) is well advised to spend followed by the original finale, the bite-the-hand- a few bucks and buy some national magazines that that-feeds-you bitch-a-thon “Radio Radio.” Following the gusto of This Year's Model it provide reviews of both the recording quality and was hard to believe that Costello could continue to the music. top himself, but the third album in this remarkable Which brings us, in a roundabout fashion, to talk about the recent release of Elvis Costello’s collection just about does that. Originally to be first three albums in a boxed set entitled 2 1/2 entitled Emotional Fascism (now there’s a warm Years. Costello’s career spans more than 15 years, and fuzzy title!) the record company retitlcd it and includes recordings whose sound has varied Armed Forces. The content remains thesame, with from early punk to country to his recent release Costello once again exploring his country, his life with the classical Brodsky quartet. But no matter and the similarities between the two. In summary, 2 1/2 Years is full of sound and what format one finds him in, he displays a remark fury and provides numerous thrills and chills; able gift for crafting clear pop songs with clever lyrics and double entendres on top of one another musically, lyrically and sonically. In addition to until it makes you stop and—yes—even think. the three albums mentioned above, this set also When was the last time a pop song did that? 21/2 comes with additional music that stretches each Years focuses on Costello’s prodigious output disc to about 75 minutes in length as well as a live during the early portion of his career, an effort that album recorded in that same era. This collection is no mere blast from the past, began with an album entitled My Aim Is True, a 1978 collection of songs that brought him immedi but one whose vitality continues to exert a power ate international attention if not immediate suc ful musical influence. D JOHN TERRILL • • • • 287-9370 More than 2 Decades Experience Residential/Plexes Tax-deferred Exchanges Buyer Brokerage Assoc. Broker C.KI “A Realtor you can look up to’ h. 249-8464 Bridgetown Realty HAL JONES AUTOMOTIVE JOY ENTERPRISES Bill Jo y Ron Jo y c~- We love o u r Just out custom ers. See us fo r y o u r autom otive needs. 5111 NE Fremont Portland, OR 97213 288-1130 K az Travel Services, Inc. STEPHANIE ANDERSON CHIY0K0 HONMA RANDY ROSENAU TONY DUARTE PRICE WARS SAN FRANCISCO $150.00 MAZATLAN HONG KONG $ 6 0 0 .0 0 BANGKOK. ‘TOKYO DELTA NON-STOP $551.00 • • $ 3 9 4 .0 0 $ 6 9 4 .0 0 ‘Limited Space. Restrictions Apply. CHECK THESE OUT PANAMA CANAL CRUISE *94 WINTERFEST - LAKE TAHOE NIGHT OF 1 0 0 0 GOWNS - NEW YORK DINAH SHORE GOLF CLASSIC SOUTH PACIFIC/AUSTRAUA TOUR WHITE PARTY - PALM SPRINGS QE2 TRANSATLANTIC PLAYA SLANCA WOMEN’S WEEK GAY GAMES & STONEWALL - NEW YORK Feb 2 0 - 2 7 cT March 13 - 2 0 9<f March 19 9 cf M ar 21-27 9cT M ar 2 4 -A pr 3 9 A pr 1-3 cf A p r2 4 -M a y 5 9 cf A pr 3 0 - May 6 9 June 1 5 -2 6 9 cf ASK ASOUTOUR INTERPRETER AND INSOUND TOUR SERVICES Japanese, Chinese, French and Spanish speaking agents available (5 0 3 ) 2 2 3 -4 5 8 5 FAX 223-2361 Toll Free 1 -8 0 0 -6 3 7 -3 8 7 4 Intwnational Travel Assoriotion Association ___ otionol Goy Trovel KSIA 1975 SW First Avenue, Suite K Portland, Oregon 97201