2. "Before I listened I thought the recycling would bother me" In response to Reply # 0 Sun Sep-08-13 11:40 PM by TomWaitsInOkkervil
But the stuff they picked deserved to be re-contextualized (and wouldn't even be recognized by casual fans), and the completely new material is top notch, great lyrics from Costello as usual. The Roots did a great job, because on one side there are some new sounds for Costello, but at the same time it suits him and recalls his past work. The result is that he sounds fresher than he has in a while, at least since the Delivery Man, maybe even When I Was Cruel.
4. "FUCK ..." In response to Reply # 3 Mon Sep-09-13 10:46 AM by QBoogie
.... that's the second time I'm reading that. The first single sounds like something Thought would rip to shreds.
Fuck that, after hearing some of the tracks on NPR the next Roots solo album better have joints like this with BT on it. This album is nice and I never fucked with Costello before.
16. "Hmmm...Elvis sounds better than he has in a while." In response to Reply # 0
I don't know about the production though.
As usual...his songwriting misses the character that Steve Nieve (keys), Bruce Thomas (bass) & Pete Thomas (drums) added to HIM & HIS SONGWRITING.
I'm not crazy about the drums...might be a little too "sloppy" for the concise narratives that Declan usually shadow boxes his narratives against:
(see: strict time, shabby doll, black & white world, uncomplicated, etc.)
The Roots...(read that ?uestlove on drums) employ the same brilliant box of earth toned crayons that they've been quietly riding in the right lane of the music industry since day one.
James Poyser is ?uestloves most important collaborator next to Black Thought.
The problem here is...unless challenged by a producer/collaborator like Jay Dee or an artist like D'angelo who's artistic vision always meets at a crossroads with ?uestlove's musical comfort zone, the outcome always seems to go flat (for me) around the 3rd or 4th song when you realize that the drums throughout the album aren't really going to change much...meaning the mid-tempo tracks end up blurring together in the snap and crunch of hi-hats and snares (see the last couple of albums by the Roots.
Am I hating?
#NAW_DOGG
This unfortunately ends up in that pile of things ?uestlove does while trying with all his might to make the things that really matter to him (D'angelo's return) matter.
(see: Betty Wright, Al Green, John Legend albums)
This record could've been recorded in a marathon session between tapings of Fallon...illustrating how ?uestlove is the musical production version of Hank from "Breaking Bad", forensically reconstructing each artists career ethos and flavoring it with his own Hip Hop Band/DEA/Tonight Show/Soulquarian/Jay-Z musical director position.
This album would've been more interesting as a straight duo project between ?uest and Elvis, forcing Elvis to inject more of his playing alongside ?uestlove's "groove merchant" repurposed breakbeat science.
But like I said...I'm not mad.
s.blak Maybe Folks Will Explore Elvis Costello's Catalogue Now
18. "my review (excerpt)" In response to Reply # 0
With many people excited for the new collaboration album between Elvis Costello and The Roots, there were others who seemed to be a bit confused, as if mixing up musical influences in 2013 is something weird and bizarre. Let’s not forget that a few years ago, mash-ups were the it thing to do and hear, so if someone wanted to mix up Slayer with Conway Twitty, this was okay. Yet you do something that mixes things up in “real life” and “oh no, this is beyond anything that could happen, because it offends me”. Maybe that’s why the title is called "Wise Up Ghost" (Blue Note) because they’re telling you to wise up, and as for the ghost? Look in the mirror. Boo, you’re Casper.
uniqueterror Member since Aug 08th 2003 3906 posts
Thu Sep-19-13 11:53 PM
25. "Somewhat of a postjack" In response to Reply # 0
It just occurred to me that this album, as well as the Betty Wright and John Legend albums, weren't co-released on Def Jam or even IDJMG. Collabos like 'Watch the Throne' and 'Distant Relatives' shared their artists' respective labels.
27. "Album is dope to me ..." In response to Reply # 0
... kinda got a vibe that Questo passed EC a Sandwich Beat Tape, Costello wrote to it, they got in the lab and cleaned it up and sprinkled some magic on top. BT should be on Walk, and the Meantimes tracks AT LEAST, however I still enjoy the album very much so.
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