Mighty Like A Rose (studio album) by Elvis Costello

From indieshins 04/20/2018 00:57

Depending on your point of view, the nadir of Costello's career, or one of his best. I lean towards the latter view, though it's not on the level of his albums from his first phase. This was the album where Costello pushed everything as far as he could - the production is incredibly dense, and he begins to push his voice. At times, this results in some very obnoxious sounds, as on second track Hurry Down Doomsday, which sounds dated and has an overbearing vocal performance. Still, it is more consistent than its predecessor Spike, even if the highs are perhaps not as high. The only songs that really fall short here are Playboy to a Man and Georgie and Her Rival. The rest are good to great - After the Fall, So Like Candy, Harpies Bizarre, and the closer are all highlights. This is an album to leave until you are a Costello fan, but it is not without its charms, even if it's not one of my most played of his.

If there is a musical equivalent of the kitchen sink, then Elvis Costello threw it at this album. Mighty like a rose, is overblown, pretentious, and indulgent, but underneath the orchestration, the trumpets and God knows what else, there are some decent songs. Opener, the other side of summer, is a great sun kissed anthem, hurry down doomsday, is an angry dirty rocker, and despite the bombast, all grown up, is a beautiful song. Costello/McCartney co-write, so like candy, is excellent, but the pair's, playboy to a man, is awful. The, like a rolling stone-esque, how to be dumb, is good,after the fall, is nice, and closing track, couldn't call it unexpected no:4, is the best track on the album. The rest is either not bad to disappointing. It would have been a better record if Costello had a lower budget, less time, and just a small group of musicians. Having said that, it's good that he got an album like this out of his system. If a record ever was hit and miss, this is it.

From apeiron 03/30/2015 00:05

Not at his best, but this is a Costello album. Listen very carefully to "After the fall", an absolute gem.

From dubwicht 01/04/2013 20:23

Incredible record and I think his best. Superb production, arrangements and song writing.

From lightmyway 05/13/2012 22:05

This is a album has a few high points that it seems to lean on. Not too bad.

From ffudnebbuh 05/05/2011 11:02

not his best album, but "couldn't call it unexpected" is one of his best songs.

From ffudnebbuh 12/14/2010 12:30

love this album, "so like candy" and "couldn't call it unexpected" are among his very best.