Elvis Costello Painted From Memory

3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...Costello has found his most empathetic sidekick yet....When he turns down the volume, Costello creates ideal moods for jilted lovers. His phrasing is tart, his tone quietly seething....Costello's bile has never sounded so sweet."
8 (out of 10) - "...On MEMORY, Costello's mighty mouth--never more intimate on record--milks the drama out of exquisite melodies, melodies that peak before reaching the far side of the abyss or simply tumbling over the edge..."
"...It doesn't just recall Costello and Bacharach's potential. It's also a melancholy reminder of a time when pop songcraft stood on the brink of a new era, only to slip away."
- Rating: B+
4 stars (out of 5) - "...Costello steps up to the microphone, as if the once reluctant new waver had in fact spent the last two decades perfecting his torchsinging for this moment..."