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Mighty Like a Rose
Rock · 1991 · 14 tracks

Mighty Like a Rose

Elvis Costello

Dense, ornate pop-rock that pairs lush orchestral arrangements with some of Costello's most cynical and literate songwriting. A beautiful, difficult record.

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It's like a beautiful orchestral pop record that's also trying to pick a fight with you.

A dense, intellectualized spite wrapped in lush, baroque arrangements.

Mighty Like a Rose · vs · Elvis Costello
Maximalist+4.0σ

The production is built around maximalist than this artist usually allows.

Tracklist · 14 Tracks
01
The Other Side of Summer
3:56
02
Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)
4:06
03
How to Be Dumb
5:14
04
All Grown Up
4:18
05
Invasion Hit Parade
5:34
06
Harpies Bizarre
3:44
07
After the Fall
4:36
08
Georgie and Her Rival
3:38
09
So Like Candy
4:37
10
Couldn’t Call It Unexpected No. 2 (interlude)
0:22
11
Playboy to a Man
3:20
12
Sweet Pear
3:37
13
Broken
3:36
14
Couldn’t Call It Unexpected No. 4
3:49
Moments Worth Waiting For
The Beach Boys-inspired harmonies on 'The Other Side of Summer' clashing with lyrics about poisonous surf.
The way the brass section turns 'Invasion Hit Parade' into a dizzying, claustrophobic march.
The heartbreakingly sparse piano and weary vocal delivery on the closing track 'Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4'.
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