Elvis Costello – Secret, Profane and Sugarcane Review
Posted by Tom Santoro on 07.15.2009
The angry young man is back with another studio album. This go around, with the help of T-Bone Burnett, he dabbles in acoustic folk and country with a little Blue Grass thrown in for good measure. How will the album play for fans of his punk and new wave hits of his youth?
TRACK LISTING:
1. Down Among The Wines and Spirits
2. Complicated Shadows
3. I Felt The Chill Long Before The Winter Came
4. My All Time Doll
5. Hidden Shame
6. She Handed Me a Mirror
7. I Dreamed of My Old Lover
8. How Deep Is the Red?
9. She Was No Good
10. Sulphur to Sugarcane
11. Red Cotton
12. Changing Partners
There is no doubt that Elvis Costello is one of greatest and proficient songwriters in the history of music. He is a musical chameleon that can compose a tune for any genre he wishes. Most know him as the geeky angry young man from his punk and new wave pub rock days of his youth; he has dabbled in less aggressive fair like classical, jazz, acoustic folk and country with proficiency. In between his rock phases, Costello has pushed himself to try something new without the worry of record sales and record executives looking for another hit. This is what makes him a legend.
I will admit that I am only knowledgable of his landmark albums with the Attractions and tend to ignore a vast majority of his catalogue that explore these other genres. With so much music at my disposal I tend to dismiss vanity projects, especially in genres I tend to ignore. After listening to Costello's latest offering, I may need to change my view (and so does anyone else who is as ignorant) as it is one of my favorite albums of this year.
On Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, Costello renews his interest in acoustic folk and country, with a little blue grass thrown in. He also reunites with super producer, T-Bone Burnett, whom he worked with previously on Spike and King of America. This go around both Costello and Burnett are at the top of their games, with Burnett just coming off a Grammy win for Allison Kraus and Robert Plant’sRaising Sand album.
From the opening strum of “Down Among The Wines and Spirits”, Costello and Burnett take us on a musical journey with lush string arrangements to match Costello’s masterful lyrics. Costello has come a long way from his “Little Concrete Hands” moniker, as his guitar playing is the clearest it has ever been. There is no note or lyric out of place on this album.
Lots of the songs on the album deal with giving into temptation and other sins and the regret you feel for giving into it. All the songs are well-constructed compositions but the stand outs on my heavy rotation are “Complicated Shadows”, “I Felt The Chill Before The Winter Came”, “My All Time Doll”, “I Dreamed of My Old Lover” and “Sulphur to Sugarcane”.
“Complicated Shadows” is country cool reminiscent of the days when Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were ruling country music. The stand up bass sets the pace and serves as percussion on most of the tracks (there are no drums on this album), but is particularly impressive on this track. Lyrically, Costello weaves a tale of taking a measure of revenge (wrath) and offers some of my favorite lyrics on the album.
“Complicated Shadows” gives way to the sweet and tender “I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came”. With the assistance of the legendary Loretta Lynn, Costello opens his heart with an earnestness not found in country music anymore. It is complicated and beautiful at the same time. The sadness of the accompanying violin helps give texture to the romantic tragedy conveyed in the lyrics. I love the complex emotional turmoil Costello gives us as he goes from regretful cheater to bitter hypocrite, angry with his lover for doing the same thing to him.
Because T-Bone Burnett is the foremost expert in blue grass, Costello takes the opportunity to explore the genre on “Sulphur To Sugarcane” and “Hidden Shame”. The exploration allows for the best jam sessions on the album. All of the session players shine on “Sulphur to Sugarcane” as they incorporate guitar and violin solos as the bass and rhythm guitar serve as tempo setters. Lyrically it is silly but it is clear the band is loose and comfortable playing on this track. It is a highlight because it is departure from the slower tempos that dominate the album.
My only complaint about this album is the inclusion of the cover, “Changing Partners”. At this point in his career, Costello does not need to interpret someone else’s work. He is arguably the greatest songwriter of the past 30 years so I took a little umbrage in him covering a song made famous by Bing Crosby.
The 411: Every composition on Secret, Profane and Sugarcane is well constructed and full of beautiful stringed arrangements to match Costello's lyrical regrets. If you are a long time fan of Elvis Costello, especially his lyrics, you will love this record. Don't let the words "acoustic folk and country" scare you away, you would be ignoring one of the best albums of the year.
