Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0731458677529
Label: Island
Manufacturer: Island
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Island
Release Date: April 23, 2002
Studio: Island
Sales Rank: 59668
Disc 1:- 45
- Spooky Girlfriend
- Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)
- When I Was Cruel No. 2
- Soul For Hire
- Petals
- Tart
- Dust 2...
- Dissolve
- Alibi
- ...Dust
- Daddy Can I Turn This?
- My Blue Window
- Episode of Blonde
- Radio Silence
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com: Following a string of tasteful but sometimes bloodless collaborations with Sophie Van Otter, Bill Frisell, and the London Symphony Orchestra, Costello delivers his most visceral and satisfying CD in years with When I Was Cruel. Reunited with half the Attractions, Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve, Costello sticks relatively close to the sharp new-wave melodies that sealed his reputation in the late '70s and '80s, but infuses them with powerful sonic touches: a hypnotic loop of Italian pop singer Mina that carries the title track, the melodica that casts an eerie glow over "Soul for Hire," and the frenetic, klezmer-inspired horns that drive "15 Petals." Costello's guitar is frequently drenched in tremolo, and his lyrical wit hasn't been this consistently spiky and unforced since Blood & Chocolate. Compared to some of his more uptown adventures, When I Was Cruel may seem at first a kind of semi-nostalgic slumming, but the opposite may be the case: like Woody Allen, Costello is at his most artful when he produces perfect pop trifles that will almost certainly outlast his more self-conscious "serious" work. --Keith Moerer
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
I'd never really heard Costello growing up in the 70s and 80s, so thought I'd better educate myself one day and picked up "When I Was Cruel". The title looked cool.. but after I heard it, wow! I was so impressed. This album is fantastic - catchy lyrics that are really clever when you start checking 'em out and the tunes are down-and-out heavy riffed melodies with a lot of soul. If you hear the cd once, you'll want to hear it again. Read the lyrics too - this guy is a poet. This is the first Costello album I'd ever heard. Since then I've picked up another few, but none of them have impressed me like this one. If you don't get another album by Elvis, get "When I Was Cruel"! I don't think you'll regret it. Elvis is a real cruel dude!!!
Rating: -
I always liked Elvis Costello, but never owned any of his CDs. We had some LPs a long time ago, but were far from big fans (very casual). Now it is 2007, and I decided to give him another listen. I started with a very best of, enjoyed it so much, that I then decided to buy all of his CDs. I think he has so many awesome songs and is turning out to be one of my favorites with such a WIDE variety of music. When I Was Cruel is definitely one of my top 5 favorites along with Delivery Man, Spike, Trust, and Brutal Youth. It is so hard to choose since I like a majority of his music now. I think When I Was Cruel deviates from a classic EC album, and plays more like something modern on an alternative or college rock station. Many of the songs ... Read More:
Rating: -
I was a big EC fan from early on. Maybe I didn't keep up with him, I admit.
But then I heard "when I was cruel, no.2".
This man is beyond genius. This track is so profoundly creative and genius, words cannot describe.
It led me to hunt down the Mina track from which he sampled. But besides that, this one track references Eric Sate', and ABBA!
In Japan, they designate some people as "national treasures". EC is the closest thing we've got to that.
This is my desert island song.
Rating: -
Elvis Costello is quite literally the most unique and interesting man in rock-n-roll today. He hit the music scene in the mid-1970s, and no one quite knew what to make out of this strange man with the big glasses and funny stage name. At one point he was labeled Punk, and another New Wave. But, Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus) was never easily buttonholed into any category. About the only thing you can say is that he is Elvis Costello.
This album is Elvis Costello's twentieth, and came out in 2002. It contains fifteen tunes carrying that great Elvis Costello sound, which is sure to please his fans - well, it sure did me. Overall, I think that this is a great album, and an excellent addition to anyone's music library. ... Read More:
Rating: -
It pains me to say that Declan McManus (his real name) no longer has the chops to fill an album with hits. Sure, he can still write great lyrics, but this album is sadly lacking in melodies. Without the foundation of hummable tunes, the music collapses. I think Costello deserved to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but I was disappointed...ARRGHH!!!
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