A few weeks back, this column was dedicated to information about the plethora of new releases this spring. Unfortunately, I forgot to mention two hugely anticipated albums that came out this very week. Without further ado…
Elvis Costello, the original “Angry Young Man of rock ‘n’ roll,” isn’t young anymore. But he’s still angry. At least, that’s the impression one gets when listening to his first solo album in seven years, “When I Was Cruel.” Gone are the interesting-but-not-that-exciting collaborations with the Brodsky String Quartet and Burt Bacharach; Elvis apparently isn’t feeling like classical music or pure pop these days.

Instead, the music on “When I Was Cruel” manages to update the classic Costello sound for the new millennium: Driving rhythm and jagged guitars come courtesy of the Attraction’s Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve, but there’s some hip-hop and electronica sprinkled in between the lines. If that sounds like a bad idea, rest assured: It isn’t. Costello has pulled off the hat trick that almost every aging rock icon (except Neil Young) has failed at: Updating his “old style” without sounding like a train wreck (see: Iggy Pop’s “Beat ’em Up”) or a washed-up, mellowed-out grandpa (see: Mick Jagger’s “Goddess in the Doorway”).
Country-fried alterna-slackers Wilco drop “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” on the world at large this week. Now here’s an album with a troubled history: Not only did two members of the band quit during its recording, but when Wilco gave the album to their label, Reprise, they were told that it was unsuitable for release. In fact, Reprise was so incensed by “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” that Wilco was highly encouraged to leave the label.
Too bad for Reprise. “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” is an awesome album.
Sure, it’s weird — Wilco’s country-ish pop is tempered by odd whooshes of synthesizer and a myriad of ghostly sound effects (think of Radiohead mating with some of Cracker’s quieter moments). It might seem like an unsettling marriage of styles at first. But that’s the point. Wilco obviously aren’t content with being alt-country’s poster boys. Rather, they’re using their newfound maturity for the Dark Side — creating new genres in the process. This album is a must-have.
So far this year, only two albums have really, truly impressed me. And by happy coincidence, both bands responsible are coming to the Pacific Northwest in the next few weeks.
About two months ago, the aforementioned Cracker came out with “Forever,” which is absolutely their best effort to date. Now on tour, the Cracker circus will be rolling into Eugene on May 1, when the band plays at the Wild Duck. Always known to be a terrific band to see live, Cracker is sure to entertain longtime fans with their always-eclectic setlist consisting of past hits and obscure album tracks.
Note to all Beta Band freaks: Sadly, your favorite band is playing the same night, at the WOW Hall. Cracker is better. Go see them instead.
The other amazingly good album to get released this year is “Rings Around the World” by the Super Furry Animals. I mentioned this album a few weeks ago, but I don’t think that I drove the point home well enough: This is simply one of the most astounding pieces of music that I’ve ever heard. It sounds like nothing I have ever heard. It is astonishingly original. Get it now. You won’t regret it.
Okay, enough ranting. Here’s the facts: SFA will be coming to Seattle on May 10 to play in support of “Rings.” Yeah, it’s a long drive, but entirely worth it. This is not a band to miss. If there was any justice at all in this world, SFA would be playing a sold-out show at the Rose Garden. Sadly, they’re merely playing a small venue called Graceland up in Seattle.
Finally, music suffered a big loss this last weekend when Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley was found dead in his Seattle home, the victim of an apparent drug overdose.
Though his demise by drug abuse hardly came as a surprise to fans of the band, it’s still extremely sad news. Alice in Chains hadn’t released an album since their self-titled 1996 work, but many fans had always held out hope for more music from Seattle’s darkest grunge rockers.
Staley was only 34 years old. Rest in peace, Layne.