Pitchfork

Elvis Costello hasn't really rocked much lately. This isn't to say that his recent albums with Burt Bacharach or opera singer Anne Sofie von Otter have been bad-- just that if you like your Elvis with knees locked and guitar pointed outward, that isn't really what he's been going for the over last few years. His recent supporting role as a downtrodden, beard-sporting inner-city public school teacher in the Mary J. Blige/Q-Tip vehicle "Prison Song" also failed to rock, but luckily nobody but me seems to have seen it. (Helpful hint: do not see it).

On April 23rd, however, the man with two red shoes will release a new album, entitled When I Was Cruel, a record which the King himself has stated is "rowdier" and has "more rhythm" than his last couple efforts. The album features drummer Pete Thomas and keyboardist Steve Nieve of Costello's longtime backing band, the Attractions, which will mark the first time he has worked with them since, oh, 1996's All This Useless Beauty, which was the first time he'd worked with them since 1993's Brutal Youth, which, in turn, was the first time he'd worked with them since the 1980s. Other musicians performing on the album include Cracker bassist Davey Faragher and Jazz Passengers saxophonist Roy Nathanson.

In other Costello news, Rhino will continue their series of back-catalog, double-disc reissues on February 19th when they release expanded versions of 1978's This Year's Model (easily Costello's best), 1986's Blood and Chocolate, and 1994's Brutal Youth. Costello will also be playing several dates U.K. dates this January as part of the Concerts for a Landmine Free World. Other performers include Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Nanci Griffith. Old people are expected to attend. Will you be one of them?

1-13 Belfast - Waterfront Hall
1-14 Dublin - The Point
1-15 Glasgow - Clyde Auditorium
1-17 London - Hammersmith Apollo