Elvis Costello - Mighty Like A Rose (MOCCD14125) CD

‘Mighty Like A Rose’ is Costello’s 13th album. The music, the arrangements and musicianship are much more sophisticated and complex than on Costello’s previous albums, making this one of, if not his only album that could be classified as art rock. ‘Mighty Like a Rose’ begins with “The Other Side Of Summer”, a power-pop Beach Boys pastiche. “Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs are Taking Over)” is a clattering percussive mess reminiscent of some of Tom Waits’ more industrial-leaning songs (feat. Marc Ribot on guitar). Two songs from an older collaboration with Paul McCartney; “Playboy To A Man” and a song selected as a single, “So Like Candy”. The track “Invasion Hit Parade” features a trumpet solo by Costello‘s father, Ross MacManus.

1. The Other Side Of Summer
2. Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)
3. How To Be Dumb
4. All Grown Up
5. Invasion Hit Parade
6. Harpies Bizarre
7. After The Fall
8. Georgie And Her Rival
9. So Like Candy
10. Interlude: Couldn’t Call It Unexpected No. 2
11. Playboy To A Man
12. Sweet Pear
13. Broken
14. Couldn’t Call It Unexpected No. 4