Elvis Costello (new autobiography)

I have been reading the new autobiography by Declan MacManus or, as he is better known, Elvis Costello. It is called “Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink”.

It is well written but that is hardly surprising given his skill with words as exhibited in many of his songs.

I am not a fan of all of his stuff. His voice can at times seem a tad hectoring and sometimes he gets a bit too wordy for me but there is no denying that at his best he is among the best songwriters of my generation. And there is no denying that he continually grows as an artist.

I especially like his album “Imperial Bedroom” and the fine collaboration he did with Burt Bacharach called “Painted by Memory”.