Consumer Guide Album

Out of Our Idiot [Demon, 1987]
Credited to "Various Artists" who include Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Elvis Costello & the Confederates, the Coward Brothers, and the Emotional Toothpaste, all of them the musical workaholic who didn't release an LP under any of his own names this year. In other words, Taking Liberties Vol. II. EC and T-Bone's "People's Limousine" has a rep, and well-crafted it is--meaningful, too, I think. But the compelling contemporaneity of our genius's current one-offs (not to mention his current taste in companions) is best conveyed by my own personal favorite: a cover of the Shirelles' "Baby It's You" featuring none other than the Jesus of Cool, Mr. Nick Lowe. B-