ELVIS COSTELLO AND ALLEN TOUSSAINT
The River in Reverse
Verve Forecast
· And the band played on…
You wouldn’t expect Elvis Costello to record a wholeheartedly New Orleans R&B album. Although he’s always a passionate singer, Costello’s voice is a bit thin for big-bodied soul. But, with the legendary pianist-composer-arranger-producer Allen Toussaint as the driving force and a stellar backing band joining the Crescent City Horns with The Imposters (both Steve Nieve and Toussaint tickling the ivories? Keyboard heaven!), The River in Reverse works – and works well.
Despite the gloom under which these veteran performers came together to record – namely, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina – the album has tremendous resilience at its heart. More time is spent on enticing listeners to dance – whether it’s to the upbeat groove of "Tears, Tears and More Tears," the sock-hop, slow-dance pop of "All These Things," or the bluesy rock of "International Echo" – than on asking them to mourn for the losses in New Orleans. However, not all is upbeat. There’s the sad title track and "Freedom for the Stallion," and finger-pointing at authorities for their inadequate response to the Katrina crisis on "Broken Promise Land" and "Six-Fingered Man." But, the overall effect is one of determination rather than despair.
So there, Katrina. Nyah nyah.
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