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Album Details

• Artist: Elvis Costello
• Album: When I Was Cruel
• Label: Island
• Year of Release: 2002
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-03-29

When "45", the lead track from Elvis Costello's brand new rock album When I Was Cruel, kicks off you know you are in for a treat. When I Was Cruel provides a very nice return to form for Elvis who hasn't really put out a solo album in over 6 years (disregarding the ones he did with Burt Bacharach). As a good Elvis album usually is, Cruel isn't immediate. It takes a couple of listens to fully appreciate and enjoy. Some songs such as the lead track of "45" is one of the ones that catch you right away while the title track requires a little more attention to detail. Another song that I didn't enjoy when I first heard was the track "Alibi". It keeps repeating the title over and over but after you stop to listen closer the enjoyment factor kicks in. Costello has also written the best Bob Dylan song as of late in the brilliant "Episode of Blonde". I wouldn't be surprised if this was indeed a tribute to the great songwriter himself. Costello still has it in him but he has to focus in order to achieve an album of this stature.

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