Search - Elvis Costello :: Cruel Smile

Elvis -- Please, Not Everything Should Be Released

Todd and In Charge | Miami, FL | 02/09/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This odds-and-sods collection of live tracks, outtakes, b-sides, and trivia from Elvis' 2002 When I Was Cruel Tour has some interesting moments, but otherwise should have stayed on the cutting-room floor. Several tracks are standouts -- the version of "Uncomplicated" here is a winner, and the "Watching the Detectives/My Funny Valentine" segue is inventive and fresh.



That leaves the rest of the album. Too often, Elvis has seemed dedicated to convincing us that he can really sing torch ballads like the great ones. Uhh, he can't. The second cut, a painfully drawn out version of "Almost Blue," makes this point abundantly clear. One could literally have a smoke and stretch the legs between the final phrasing, an intolerably overbearing moment in an album that has several. The one time Elvis' torch ballad approach has really worked is on "Painted From Memory," where he had the great arranger and songwriter Burt Bacharach to help reel him in from his sometimes-too-much-is-too-much tendencies.



I would say this one is for the fans, but too many of Elvis' recent records fall within that category to recommend it even in that limited role. This is a record for those who think Kojak Variety was 60 minutes too short."