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Track Listings
| 1. Deliver Us |
| 2. For Other Eyes |
| 3. Swine |
| 4. Expert Rites |
| 5. Dead Letter |
| 6. I Almost Had A Weakness |
| 7. Why? |
| 8. Who Do You Think You Are? |
| 9. Taking My Life In Your Hands |
| 10. This Offer Is Unrepeatable |
| 11. Dear Sweet Filthy World |
| 12. The Letter Home |
| 13. "Jacksons, Monk And Rowe" |
| 14. This Sad Burlesque |
| 15. Romeo's Seance |
| 16. I Thought I'd Write To Juliet |
| 17. Last Post |
| 18. The First To Leave |
| 19. Damnation's Cellar |
| 20. The Birds Will Still Be Singing |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Good on Elvis for risking the ridicule of a blinkered pop world with this unprecedented (for him, certainly, and most anyone short of Kurt Weill) and quite lovely album of bitchy, wise, and funny art songs accompanied by strings. His freshest, most evolved work in years. --Jeff Bateman
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When "The Juliet Letters" album was released in 1993, Costello refused to refer to it as a classical album, prefering instead to use the term 'serious music.' Whatever you might call it, this is one of Costello's finest and bravest hours. This album contains the perfect blend of The Brodsky Quartet's rich timbre and Costello's strong and emotional tones. Those who are brave and open enough to discard the usual snobbery and poo-pooing which usually surrounds a collaboration of artists from genres as diverse as pop and classical, will be in for a treat. The album is made up of songs which are based around different types of letters. There is a love letter, suicide note - even junk mail. There are some wonderful moments here, from the hilarious "I Almost Had a Weakness" and "This Offer is Unrepeatable" to the heartbreaking "Why" and "This Sad Burlesque." Within the album are some memorable tunes, not least on the highlight of the album, "Taking My Life in Your Hands." This is a must for those love music and for those who think that Elvis Costello is just "Oliver's Army" and "Watching the Detectives."
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In retrospectives of Costello's career, this album always seems to be on the end of an ill-deserved kicking. It's certainly not accessible to the casual listener, and maybe hardcore fans find it too different from the new-wave norm, but this is a record that needs defending. The presence of a string quartet unlocks Elvis imagination and he's never been so lyrically on the ball. Once you've cracked the code, it's impossible to stop playing this CD. The Brodsky Quartet is awesome, punctuating the sarcasm and spite, and lifting the poignancy to new levels. Against this backdrop, it becomes clear just how emotive the singer's voice really can be. 'This Sad Burlesque' stands out, but no song is dispensible. The melodies roll unpredictably over weird and wonderful key changes. 'Taking My Life In Your Hands' is an aching ballad, though I have a soft spot for 'Damnation's Cellar', a song that ten years on, I find myself humming on the train even when I haven't heard the record for months. Don't believe the stubborn old punks. This is a brave and gorgeous recording, jostling with 'Imperial Bedroom' and 'Brutal Youth' as the man's best.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a record to listen to from the beginning to the end without skipping any tracks. Then listen to it in the shuffle mode of your CD player. A whole new experience! :) Finaly if you are anything like me, you will pick all the tracks you love and listen them on and on and on...
At first it might strike you a little odd. It is a quartet, they play all those strings and no, there are no drums, not even a shy guitar or the melodies of a mandolin on the background. Nothing like many rock and pop bands that tend to blend everything in case something catches.
It is a unique and alas, lonely effort to explore new music horizons.
I am not a big Elvis Costelo fan. But I am a huge fan of this record and I like the guy!
What a lovely record...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An outstanding accomplishment
I have been a EC fan over the years, but this record is in another league. Because the record is in the classical domain, following that genre's rules - the songs display... Read more
Published on 11 July 2005 by West Londoner
Disappointing
It's disappointing that there are so few brilliant artists like Elvis. This is one of his more unusual works, and not recommended for those who like bubble-gum & fluff. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2000
A brilliant moving meisterwerk
Wow! What can I say? I am listening to The Juliet Letters now, and they are fantastic. Moving, funny, rocky, a bit Shostakovich. That man's a genius, and so are they!
Published on 7 Feb 2000
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