Elvis Is King: Costello's My Aim Is True

author: Richard Crouse
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/07/06
date added: 2015/07/06
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Elvis is King: Costello's My Aim Is True' by Richard Crouse is a true fan account of the early days of Elvis Costello. When I say early, I mean just until a little after the release of his first record My Aim Is True.

We get the early days of Declan P. McManus, including his early work in pub bands, and the influence his parents played. We find the lucky confluence of an angry young office drone and a spunky recording label called Stiff Records. Declan transforms to Elvis and finds fame even though no one can quite corner the genre of music he plays. It's not really new wave, and it's not really punk either. It is a backlash to the kind of corporate over-produced rock of the mid to late 1970s. One chapter analyzes each track on the album. Another talks about the strange tour Elvis finds himself on and how he ends up sharing headlining duties. It finishes with him coming to North America and subsequently getting banned for 10 years on Saturday Night Live.

Richard Crouse is the regular film critic for a few programs on CTV, but I can tell he would argue with anyone who disagrees that My Aim Is True is a true genius of an album. I don't disagree. The book quotes from a lot of other sources and interviews, but it really shines when the author's rabid fandom comes through (and I say that as a complete compliment). I didn't know much about the early days of Stiff Records, but it seems like the kind of madcap setup that we don't see anymore, and more's the pity. Costello is a legend, and this peak into his early days was interesting.

I received a review copy of this ebook from ECW Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1eAGcOY