On a recent Saturday night after taking in a Sparklehorse/Jesse Sykes twin bill, I joined my friends Shawn, Stacey and Derek for a post-gig nightcap at a local Irish pub called, appropriately enough, The Dubliner. The joint’s basically the size of an old-school diner, and this particular night was packed to the gills. Simply moving from one spot at the bar to another required undergoing a rather unorthodox version of what can best be described as “Human Jenga.”
Though it was nearly impossible to make out voices above the din, I did manage to meet an Irish friend of Shawn’s with the extremely authentic name of Declan. And I don’t mean Irish-American, I mean mere months off the potato boat. We’re talking non-ironic Riverdance, here. So, after Shawn briefs him on the show we just saw, Declan excitedly responds. Between his thick brogue and the deafening sound of 300 drunken bodies wedged into a retrofitted boxcar, I couldn’t make out but a few words of what he said…
“Fratellis…fookin’ great…you like?”
For some reason, likely my relentless fixation on eating, I assume he’s referring to an area Italian restaurant. I nod in oblivious agreement, until I hear him throw in the word “album,” at which point I realize he’s referring to a band. Neither Shawn nor I were familiar with them, but when someone with Elvis Costello’s birth name suggests an album, I’m damn sure going to check it out.
The following week, Shawn hooked me up with their frighteningly appropriately titled Costello Music. It was then that I knew, before hearing a single note, that it was going to be good. Not only is it good, this album just might have topped by 2006 “Best of” list, had I heard it upon its release last year.
Costello Music brilliantly combines everything I love about music from across the pond (Punk, Glam, Pub Rock, unrepentant cheekiness), while avoiding everything I loathe (Wuss UK, Synth Pop, Twee, overwhelmingly fey foppishness). There isn’t anything even remotely approaching a clunker in this bunch of songs. Hell, even the cover art is fantastic! I cannot recommend this album, or throwing back some ale with Declan, highly enough.
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