As a long time, ardent non-supporter of most things involving T-Bone Burnett, including his 80's stint as Elvis Costello's Coward brother, I fully expected to not like this new revival LP. Burnett has this stellar reputation as a producer, and you might be a fan. But to my ears, he makes all of his records sound like there is a wad of dust on your stylus. A perfect example is Costello's "National Ransom," a record that I find unlistenable because of just how bad it sounds. And while, I do love both records by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, despite the grainy T-Bone production, I can only imagine how much better both could have sounded. But that's enough about what I don't like about T-Bone Burnett. I had to listen to "The Coward Brothers" because of how much I love Elvis Costello.
If you are one of those E.C. fans who got off the bus after "Imperial Bedroom," maybe this record isn't for you. But if you are like me, someone who has embraced Costello's genre-hopping, this new collaboration with T-Bone is a big time winner.
This record is full of wonderful surprises. Melodies and arrangements take twists and turns, veering in and out of Americana, rockabilly, and even a touch of psychedelia.
How does it sound? Just like a T-Bone production, slightly muddy and occasionally and unnecessarily old-timey. But there are 20 songs and none of them overstay their welcome.
16 comments:
I have the album in my queue for today. I love the People's Limousine single from way back when, so I'm hoping the new work is good.
As for T Bone's production work, he did a superb job on the first BoDeans record, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, but often the albums he produces have a sterile, somewhat lifeless sound to me. Now and then, the performers and the songs are good enough to get past that. I know Marshall Crenshaw hates the albums he made with T Bone.
- Paul in DK
I have kept up with EC, and I've only listened to this once so far. It sounds a 21st century T-Bone production. I'm hoping the Audible thingy whatever it is will illuminate the songs better. But based on the preview clip, he still can't act.
Full review coming soon, once I write it.
It's nice to hear others who dislike much of T-Bone's productions. Before that BoDeans debut, he produced his own Trap Door, a perfect six song EP with great sound. Looking at his producing credits, it is really a mixed bag with some great ones (a couple more BoDeans records, Sam Phillips The Indescribable Wow, Elton's Wonderful Crazy Night, some others) and some real stinkers (Elton John and Leon Russell The Union, Cassandra Wilson's Thunderbird, Diana Krall's Glad Rag Doll, the stuff by Mellencamp and Costello). I said of his production on The Union that "the sound is dark and distant, like Phil Spector from down the hall." I don't know how he does the good ones when the bad ones are sooooo bad.
I didn't get off the bus after Imperial Bedroom. I tried and tried, but nothing after Imperial Bedroom beats that on or the ones that came before it.
I so disagree.
I've always been a big fan of T Bone's solo catalog - I do agree about his production, most of his records I have to crank the bass down when listening to.
I've only had time to give The Coward Brothers one spin, and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I had heard the pre-release track, Always, which I absolutely loved, so I guess I was hoping that I would hear more songs like that, which I didn't. Not much melody, flow or, for lack of a better word, accessibility.
I'm sure I'll warm up to it with more time spent with The Cowards. Just my initial impression.
Regardless, two incredible talents.
Randy
To be clear: I got off the bus after Blood & Chocolate :). And parts of that one were a bit difficult for me. My favorite is still Trust.
And as for Marshall Crenshaw, I don't dislike the T-Bone produced albums, but they are probably the ones I listen to the least.
My Costello ratings with 5 stars being a masterpiece:
My Aim Is True- ****1/2
This Year's Model *****
Armed Forces *** 1/2
Get Happy ****
Trust ****
Almost Blue ** 1/2
Imperial Bedroom *****
Punch The Clock ***
Goodbye Cruel World **
King Of America *****
Blood & Chocolate *****
Spike ***
Mighty Like A Rose **
The Juliet Letters *** 1/2
Brutal Youth ****
All This Useless Beauty **** 1/2
Deep Dead Blue **
Kojak Variety *** 1/2
Painted From Memory **** 1/2
When I Was Cruel ***1/2
North *1/2
The Delivery Man *** 1/2
The River In Reverse *** 1/2
My Flame Burns Blue **
Momofuku *** 1/2
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane ***
National Ransom **
Wise Up Ghost *** 1/2
Look Now ****
Hey Clockface ****
The Boy Named If *****
The Coward Brothers- ***1/2
Trap Door remains on of my favorite records of all time.
TBB did a great job, to my ears, on that BoDeans debut, the few Los Lobos records he did, the Gillian Welch records he did, and Peter Case's debut; I haven't noticed issues with the Plant/Krauss releases, so I'll add those, too.
I don't have a high-end system, tho, so maybe others hear things I'm missing.
C in California
OK, I'm going to get a bit pedantic. I'm not trying to prove anything, and if our tastes disagree, well, we are talking about art. Your average through Imperial Bedroom is 4.1. Your average after Imperial Bedroom 3.4. My average after Imperial Bedroom 2.4 (there were 3 I haven't heard so I used your rating on those). I agree with you before Imperial, except Trust would have to be a 5. Well, that was fun.
I didn't say you were wrong. I said I didn't agree. You said "nothing after Imperial beats that or anything before it." That's 40 years of work being dismissed. Just surprised by it, that's all. And yes it IS Fun! That's why we are here at this blog, no?
I knew you weren't saying i was wrong. Communication like this often sends the wrong message. Yes, tastes disagree. And there are some good ones after Imperial Bedroom, I didn't intend to sound like I am writing off 40 years of Elvis Costello. I am frequently impressed with how open-minded you are as you listen to artists you've followed a long time and appreciate more than most. There's a bunch, but McCartney and Rundgren come to mind right away. Thanks as always for you writing.
Sal, looking at your Elvis Costello album ratings I was reminded that I've seen him twice at the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta. First time was the Imperial Bedroom tour and second was the King of America tour. Both shows were superb, band was tight and Costello was in fine voice.
My EC:
My Aim Is True ****
This Year's Model *****
Armed Forces ****
Get Happy *****
Trust *****
Almost Blue *** 1/2
Imperial Bedroom *****
Punch The Clock ** 1/2
Goodbye Cruel World **
King Of America *****
Blood & Chocolate *****
Spike ***
Mighty Like A Rose ****
The Juliet Letters ****
Brutal Youth ***
All This Useless Beauty *** 1/2
Kojak Variety ** 1/2
Painted From Memory ****
When I Was Cruel **1/2
North ****
The Delivery Man *** 1/2
The River In Reverse ***
My Flame Burns Blue ** 1/2
Momofuku *** 1/2
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane ***
National Ransom ***
Wise Up Ghost ***
Look Now ***
Hey Clockface *** 1/2
The Boy Named If *** 1/2
Resurrection of Rust ***
The Coward Brothers TBD
Happy to see the love for KOA/B&C! I really do think those records were EC at his peak as an artist.
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