I'm happy to say that the results here are anything but mixed. Most will not find "North" as immediately captivating as "Painted from Memory", and will be disappointed if they expect a sequel to "When I Was Cruel". Although the rocker Costello is gone, at least for the moment, the works here feel more honest, heartfelt, and uncompromising than any of the albums mentioned above. If you give yourself over to the music, it is captivating and compelling, and I have the feeling that, over time, this will remain one of my favorite Costello albums. Sure, I'll still be popping in the pop/rock hits and classics, but this album acts as a subtle emotional roller coaster, if such a thing is possible. It takes you on a journey of a desperation and hope going through it's 11 tracks. Definitely not for everyone, but more than worth your precious time.


give it time....   September 29, 2003
wordnat (boise, idaho United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

....and you'll love it. i'm a huge EC fan, but this album kind of annoyed me at first. just too mellow. the only tunes that jumped out at me initially were "still" (an absolute stunner) and "someone took the words away" (even better), and i had to send out search parties to find the melody in (seemingly) dirge-like numbers like "when did i stop dreaming" or "fallen". but, after about a week or so of listening, the intricate beauty -- and, yes, sturdy melodies -- of these fragile songs bloomed into full flower. head "north", folks -- it's a great trip.


Going the other way...   October 12, 2003
Michael Clark (Seattle, WA United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

During a recent interview Elvis was asked about the title to his latest album, "NORTH". He replied that most songs and records written about love are all about a relationship "going South", "well, this is just the opposite of that.." I thought this was a brilliant statement on the body of work that Elvis has brought to us with this effort. So sit back, be quiet, and listen to a man start from loneliness, move to hope, and onto unbridled love all within one record. Elvis's exploration of the intimate rooms of male emotion that he walks into with this record is to be admired and taken in deeply, as most artists in Elvis's position would not be so brave to pursue so completely. His full commitment pays off with the nakedness and very intimate and quiet setting and leaves us feeling as if we are hearing him for the first time. If you wish to hear an artist that not only challenges himself, but his fans continuously, and then go on this journey and discover something most of us never take the time to admit to ourselves.


Elvis Costello get's the "one thing" that really matters   September 24, 2003
Ian C. Cunningham (OZ, United States)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Bruce Springsteen once said that he felt Elvis Costello wrote great love songs. I agreed. But, with "NORTH" I feel he has pushed and reached an even finer place of maturity and complete surrender to the power of a love song and his pull and take on the theme.
He touched on this with incredible beauty on "Painted From Memory" with Burt Bacharach. Plus, he moved his initial sarcastic and often heartbreaking musical endeavors from his early success of "Allison" to his "Imperial Bedroom" breakthrough to this ultimate step forward both vocally and emotionally. He is a brilliant artist at the peak of his powers. Who is in touch with his soul and his musical history from Cole Porter to Sinatra to George Jones Ballads. But, the sweetest ticket is that he wrote these songs and pulled in his experience to bring us right to a metropolitan highrise apartment filled with dim lights, Hi-Fi sounds, Martinis and two breaths.My theory on these first listens is to find the "One Thing" and listen to this great album over and over.


Another great album from Elvis...   September 24, 2003
Aaron Collins (Concord, CA United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I admit I was a little bored during my first listen of this album. Most of the songs sounded the same at first, and none were particularly memorable. After a few listens, however, it really started to grow on me. I love just about everything Elvis has ever done, and this is no exception. No...he's not the bitter young man he once was, but it's wonderful to see him exploring new styles of music, and with such success. This cd is entirely composed of ballads, mostly driven be Steve Nieve's beauitful keyboard work. The lyrics are some of the lovliest work of Elvis' career. None of the biting sarcasm or wit from his early work is present on this one. Some of it is heartwrenching, while other songs are just plain beautiful. If you are willing to accept a change of pace from Elvis' classic material, then give this album a shot. There's a lot going for this album, and you won't appreciate it until you've heard it a few times, so don't pass judgement after one time through. Favorite songs for me are Still and When Did I Stop Dreaming, but all of the songs are worthy of recognition.