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Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 16:31
by Neige
Currently on powerplay at Neigemont Castle.

Image

Much better than the advance singles led me to expect, with some instant classics - he's still got it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiWQsl2oSU&list=PLe0heRDhXt1LtFZoL5YZmjuWr4kSUBAw2

Still really ugly cover art, though

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 17:57
by mudshark
Youtube started it off with a song that had the word "Halfpenny" in it. It started to irritate me after 27 seconds so I switched off. I found his voice annoying, but maybe it's because the B&O speaker in my laptop sucks. I hardly ever listen to music on my computer.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 18:20
by Neige
mudshark wrote:Youtube started it off with a song that had the word "Halfpenny" in it. It started to irritate me after 27 seconds so I switched off. I found his voice annoying, but maybe it's because the B&O speaker in my laptop sucks. I hardly ever listen to music on my computer.


I changed the link so it would play in sequence from the beginning - but if you hate his voice so much. I doubt it will make any difference :lol:

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 19:03
by mudshark
It strange: I loved and love My Aim Is True, so I can't dislike his voice that much. And I really like Almost Blue. But that's about it. When the wife and I saw him Live in Houston several years ago I didn't enjoy his performance at all. Looks like I'm not really into music at all. WTF am I doing on this chatboard anyway??

I know! Currently playing the 2016 vinyl re-print of Ummagumma. The sound is just amazing. In my opinion the best live album (well, half album) The Pink Floyd Sound has produced, Currently head-banging to Careful wiiitth tthhat Axxxe Eeugeeene, sooo fforggive tthe tyyyyyyyyposs..

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 19:30
by Neige
mudshark wrote:... In my opinion the best live album (well, half album) The Pink Floyd Sound has produced, Currently head-banging to Careful wiiitth tthhat Axxxe Eeugeeene, sooo fforggive tthe tyyyyyyyyposs..


... totally with you there, muddie :x

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 19:33
by robertff
Like the cover, don't like him much.


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Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 22 Jan 2022, 19:36
by mudshark
Never met the man so can't judge
Just put on Patti's Horses so it's promising to be a Glorias afternoon.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 23 Jan 2022, 07:04
by Mike Boom
It seems it has that classic EC sound but to me seems to be lacking in the melody department. Only listened to it briefly so more playings may change that opinion.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 25 Jan 2022, 22:54
by 50 Shades Of Blue
Thanks to Prof of this parish I heard this album on release.
I liked it and recommended it to others and one of them came back to me today saying he had seen EC performing on the Graham Norton Show a week ago and he wasn't very good. After telling him the GN Show is for fuds I checked out EC's performance and sure enough it was horrific. Accompanied only by Steve Nieve on keyboard EC sang so appallingly flat that I had to switch it off less than half way through.
Which brings me to my point. When I listened to the album track concerned, "Paint The Red Rose Red", it sounded like there was autotune on his vocal. To me that would suggest he struggled with the vocal for that song in the studio so very odd to then try to perform it live on TV, accompanied only by Steve Nieve on keyboard, as a showcase for the new album and his summer tour.
Can anyone confirm if EC's vocal on the album recording of this tune has been treated with the dreaded autotune?

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 26 Jan 2022, 00:42
by Mike Boom
Don't hear it myself, I think generally his voice is pretty strong, whether you like it or not. I saw that Graham Norton appearance, and didn't really notice him being out of tune, even though I wasn't impressed. I quite like the album version tho having heard it a few times now.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 26 Jan 2022, 15:04
by yomptepi
It is certainly an more upbeat and muscular record than he has made for a while. His best since Brutal Youth I suspect.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 26 Jan 2022, 15:09
by Walk In My Shadow
After hearing this album I shall buy all his previous albums at once. It is that good.


Said I never.




On the plus side: in last Saturdays quiz I got the fragment of Mystery Dance right. Don't know where that came from.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 26 Jan 2022, 16:06
by Jock
Walk In My Shadow wrote:After hearing this album I shall buy all his previous albums at once. It is that good.


Said I never.




On the plus side: in last Saturdays quiz I got the fragment of Mystery Dance right. Don't know where that came from.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 26 Jan 2022, 16:07
by Jock
His best in years. It was the featured album on my hospital radio show today :D

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 26 Jan 2022, 19:58
by Hugh
50 Shades Of Blue wrote:Can anyone confirm if EC's vocal on the album recording of this tune has been treated with the dreaded autotune?


I’d be surprised - actually more disappointed than surprised - if he used auto tune. Having said that, his voice was noticeably more ragged on his last tour in 2020 than it had been in 2018.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 29 Jan 2022, 01:30
by 50 Shades Of Blue
Hugh wrote:
50 Shades Of Blue wrote:Can anyone confirm if EC's vocal on the album recording of this tune has been treated with the dreaded autotune?


I’d be surprised - actually more disappointed than surprised - if he used auto tune. Having said that, his voice was noticeably more ragged on his last tour in 2020 than it had been in 2018.


As the saying goes old age doesn't come by itself.
The album is good and that is what's important.
The track "Trick out the Truth" is well and truly wedged in my head including lots of it's great lyric.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 29 Jan 2022, 01:38
by 50 Shades Of Blue
Jock wrote:His best in years. It was the featured album on my hospital radio show today :D


In good company, Roddy Hart played 3 tracks from it on his Radio show 2 nights ago.
It is really getting a lot of praise. A shame that so few people will actually buy it in these days of downloads.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 29 Jan 2022, 08:15
by Neige
50 Shades Of Blue wrote:The track "Trick out the Truth" is well and truly wedged in my head including lots of it's great lyric.


Yep, that one's ace - and I don't see him lacking in the melody department at all, there are several very memorable tunes

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 29 Jan 2022, 08:38
by Tom Waits For No One
yomptepi wrote:It is certainly an more upbeat and muscular record than he has made for a while.


I'd go along with this, certainly has more punch than the last two (Look Now, Hey Clockface) although they have their moments!

Picked up the bloody big book edition and it's been given a fair hammering here.
Up there with the best of EC&TA/TI.

Re: Costello's "The Boy Named If"

Posted: 29 Jan 2022, 13:45
by Neige
Tom Waits For No One wrote:Picked up the bloody big book edition....


That was sold out before I even knew it existed... :lol: