Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane by Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello's CD, Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane, has been widely promoted as his "country" CD. But as with all things Elvis Costello, the truth is somewhat more compliacted. When you look at the instrumentation, including accordion, upright base, fiddle, dobro, etc. It's easy to think country music, or perhaps more accurately, roots music. But it often sounds more like bluegrass than anything. But for most people, the distinction isn't very iportant. It sounds twangy. Several of the songs are previous works done on commission for an opera about Hans Christian Anderson. That's not as out in laft field as it might first sound. because the story line is about how Anderson was obsessed with an opera singer who toured the United States during the Civil War. So the songs are rooted in the era and rooted in the music style of the era. The rest of the songs, including one written with Loretta Lynn, sound a little more like roots music. But Elvis Costello never turns loose and writes a simple honky tonk ballad. He still has to write his incredibly complicated lyrics and herky-jerky usical lines. So in the end, the songs sound more like Elvis Costello rock songs adapted for a old-time string band. But ya know what? That's not a bad thing. Notable tracks include:
Down Among the Wines and Spirits / Secret, Profane and Sugarcane / Elvis Costello / 3:12
Complicated Shadows / Secret, Profane and Sugarcane / Elvis Costello / 2:53
Sulphur to Sugarcane / Secret, Profane and Sugarcane / Elvis Costello / 6:00
The Crooked Line / Secret, Profane and Sugarcane / Elvis Costello / 3:49