Elvis Costello – Blood & Chocolate (1986)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 47:50 minutes | 1,92 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Hip-O/Elvis Costello
Released only seven months following the rootsy King Of America, Blood & Chocolate was received as a more conventional, typical Elvis Costello album. Featuring the Attractions and produced by Nick Lowe, recorded live off the floor in London, Blood & Chocolate peaked at number 16 on the British chart.
Elvis Costello returned to the Attractions as quickly as he abandoned them, hiring the band and old producer Nick Lowe to record Blood & Chocolate, his second record in the span of one year. Where King of America was a stripped-down roots rock affair, Blood & Chocolate is a return to the harder rock of This Year’s Model. Occasionally, there are hints of country and folk, but the majority of the album is straight-ahead rock & roll: the opener, “Uncomplicated,” only has two chords. The main difference between the reunion and the Attractions’ earlier work is the tone – This Year’s Model was tense and out of control, whereas Blood & Chocolate is controlled viciousness. “Tokyo Storm Warning,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and “I Want You” are the nastiest songs he has ever recorded, both lyrically and musically – Costello snarls the lyrics and the Attractions bash out the chords. Blood & Chocolate doesn’t retain that high level of energy throughout the record, however, and loses momentum toward the end of the album. Still, it’s a lively and frequently compelling reunion, even if it is a rather mean-spirited one.
Tracklist:
1. Elvis Costello – Uncomplicated (03:28)
2. Elvis Costello – I Hope You’re Happy Now (03:07)
3. Elvis Costello – Tokyo Storm Warning (06:24)
4. Elvis Costello – Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head (05:07)
5. Elvis Costello – I Want You (06:41)
6. Elvis Costello – Honey Are You Straight Or Are You Blind (02:08)
7. Elvis Costello – Blue Chair (03:41)
8. Elvis Costello – Battered Old Bird (05:51)
9. Elvis Costello – Crimes Of Paris (04:19)
10. Elvis Costello – Poor Napoleon (03:23)
11. Elvis Costello – Next Time Round (03:34)
