Elvis Costello & the Roots?
 

It's one of those strange collaborations that kinda makes sense when you think about it. Elvis Costello is releasing an album with radical hip hoppers and Jim Fallon house band, the Roots.

The album Wise Up Ghost will be released on September 17th but a video of the song Walk Us Uptown has already been on YouTube for a couple of weeks.



According to Rolling Stone magazine: The improbable relationship began when Costello, who performed frequently as a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, rocked with the Roots. Eventually, the artists decided to make new music together.

Sounds like Bob Dylan being backed by Issac Hayes.

That's my initial reaction. Not that its bad, but its got a weird vibe. Like someone sampled 60's/70's music, through in a hip-hop drumbeat and...it just hit me it sounds like a mash-up sort of.

Its really good, I don't know if I'd listen to it much beyond the initial play. Still, really good find here, Gavin.

I'm not sure if I'd give that many listens to an Elvis Costello/Roots album either. But then again, Elvis' collaboration with Burt Bacharach grew on me and I still listen to it on a regular basis.

I'm kind of interested. It's different.

I will be giving it a listen. The refrain "walk us up town," was getting to be a drag for me, and on a pretty short track.

I've never been a Costello listener, but my partner is 'bout it 'bout it. So, thanks for the find!

Not a James Brown fan, eh?

I think it sounds pretty cool. Strange, sure, but pretty cool nonetheless. Besides, Costello's done odder-sounding stuff than this. A few songs from When I Was Cruel come straight to mind.

So far as an album of collaborations goes, I'm not exactly expecting solid gold like the Juliet Letters with the Brodsky Quartet, but I'll be interested enough to look forward to this. September 17th you say? Duly noted :thumb:

Ha! Well, how can one get tired of "get up offa that thing"? It just makes you feel better.