Following in the tradition of
Taking Liberties and Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers,
Out of Our Idiot compiles 21 rarities
Elvis Costello released during the early and mid-'80s, usually under pseudonyms. Many of these songs are collaborations -- "Seven Day Weekend" is a rollicking duet with
Jimmy Cliff;
Elvis sings "Baby It's You" with
Nick Lowe;
Costello and
T-Bone Burnett form the Coward Brothers -- hence the album's billing as a "various-artists" record, which is indicative of its freewheeling, goofy humor. Even with a cover of
Richard Thompson's harrowing "Withered and Died,"
Out of Our Idiot is pure fun, and it's not just for collectors.
Costello's throwaways are frequently excellent, whether it's covers (
Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice,"
Smokey Robinson's "From Head to Toe," "So Young"), genre exercises, jokes, or full-fledged songs. Most of the songs on
Out of Our Idiot were later included as bonus tracks in the Demon/Rykodisc reissue series, but this remains the only place "Little Goody Two Shoes" (a working version of "Inch by Inch") is available. Besides, it's a great listen in its own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine