Well I certainly don`t "get" Elvis either despite many over the years deriding me for my ignorance. If ever there was a one-note "acquired taste" voice it`s his.

Fair enough comment he made though.

-Ben G

Elvis costello believes he is some sort genious and the rest of the world just cant see it instead of jumping on to different band wagons Opera ,Country, classical eskimo world music!!! why does he just sit down and write a decent record that does not dissapear up its own arse! Less is more Elvis i believe Morrissey when he sings Elvis costello just comes across as Smug and pretentious and that is why he does not mean as much to people...

its all down to personal taste... i think Costello is shit and i would say so do most of his early fans.... Maybe austin Powers will place him in a sequel - but even that did not win him any new fans.

Come on - whoever these old geezers were, I'm sure Morrissey is much bigger than them...

I think Elvis Costello is almost as cool as the guy who played Skippy in Family Ties.

I have never really tried to discover Elvis Costello's music so it would be wrong of me to attack him due to a semi-negative statement about Morrissey. If you read it again, it is not all bad and whilst he admits that he 'does not get it,' he does also refer to him as 'interesting' and 'excellent in his field.' I don't think we should all spend the next two days building a mountain of messages slagging off somebody who clearly has never been a thorn in anybody's side. You can go out for something to eat and have to be subjected to Robbie Williams, you can turn on the Brit awards and see them kiss the obvious arses year in and year out and you can barely turn on your television without another manufactured band being manipulated in the process of manipulating millions of the British public into turning them into this years chart toppers and tabloid gossip page regulars.

So in the grand scheme of things Elvis Costello has been one of the better artists of the thirty years, even if most people on this site don't listen to and buy his records.

but I think in the effort to try and be fair some people are being a bit too kind on Mr Costello.

There is no objective way any serious critic could say Morrissey has been singing the same song for 20 years. It's just not true.

It's basically a very shallow judgement based on the fact that he doesn't dabble in vastly different genres the way Costello does.

I like Elvis but the man has a massive ego and I think I detect traces of the green eyed monster.

I have got every single record, cd, single etc that The Smiths and Morrissey have ever released. Oh, I didn't realise that he's been singing the same tune for 20 years! Has he really?

cant recall the mozzer ending up on Austin Powers films.... and that was only seconds.

So 'Elvis' is having a pop again. I recall 'Elvis' some time back saying , " Morrissey writes the most interesting song titles , but , misses the song" or words to that effect. Basically saying , Moz doesnt know how to write a lyric. Fucking hell , if only 'Elvis' could write with the same conviction , passion and humour as Moz and then he would have the right to say what he likes. Costello compared to Bowie etc , do me a fucking favour.

Message to ' Elvis ' ,1: firstly drop the name ' Elvis ' , you shouldnt even be branded with that name , 2 : your not supposed to get ' it ' you thick twat and 3: go away you crashing bore , no fuckers interested or about writing another song and stop living off 'Olivers army'. Will someone tell me who OLiver is , i dont get it.

Elvis Costello and Robbie Williams to sing duet in an attempt to make Morrissey jealous!

Don't worry Moz. We still love you!

He seems to be implying that Morrissey is humoured because He is 'sensitive to criticism' -which I don't believe to be true. Morrissey has been constantly criticised, but He can stand up for Himself.

I am not really sure I 'get' Elvis Costello. He always pulls such annoying faces in his videos; I forget which one it is - but there are palm trees in it - and if ever he did have a good voice, he couldn't shout 'Coal' these days. This being said, they do often play his song* in the corner shop where I live.

*Oliver's Army.

Dear Jim,

Bands that have been singing the same tune for 20 years are pathetic.

signed,

Drama Rama

As with all these comments, I say this - so Elvis Costello doesn't rate Morrissey as highly as we do. So what? Costello hasn't made a good album since 1986, BUT - some of his early records are excellent. 'Imperial Bedroom' is a magnificent album, as are 'Get Happy' and 'This Year's Model'. Slag him all you like, but there it is. The truth is it doesn't matter at all what Costello thinks. It really doesn't. Morrissey needs to pull his socks up after two poor albums and one average one, Costello needs to do the same - his last really great song was 'I Want You' off the 1986 'Blood and Chocolate' album. It really doesn't matter. Let E.Costello have his say, and then move on.

That's what makes me proud as a Morrissey fan, because I and everyone else that knows what I'm talking about do get "It". And we laugh at the types that don't get "It", not that we feel superior, but we see all the ironies, hypocracies, etc. that Morrissey sings about through his lyrics, accompanied by wonderful musical arrangement and vocals.

National Front Disco v Let the right one in.

Every Day us like…...v Glamorous Glue.

November Spawned...v Suffer Little Children

The More you Ignore Me v Teachers

One could go on and on, but the same tune for 20 years? He is not exactly Status Quo is he Mr Elvis?

Well you are entitled to your opinion mate.

oliwers im barmy i heard you say
oliwer im barmy , they are on there way
and i wood rather bee anywhere else than
hanging out the back of a man today.

stop laughing , you know you can hear you singing the tune to those lywics. Now costello , they are lywics.....cant pwonounce me r's

Elvis Costello is hella dumb -- how dare he upgrade his legacy to the same class as Bowie and to say Moz has sung the same song for years is obviously in denial about his own monotony. (I'm so sure that his voice is anywhere as pleasant as Morrissey's)

Hmm, but one knows he fancies himself following in the shoes of Burt Bacharach, lol.

At least Morrissey is consistent and not constantly trying on new hats. Which reminds me, Costello needs to lose the pork-pie hat, or is he also trying to be Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin all rolled up into one?!

*Impostor* indeed.

elvis costello is a truly gifted artist who "opened" for Neil Young last year at a 15,000 seat venue and gave the man/gahd/icon a run for his money (especially because it was during the unfortunate Greendale tour) and yet still does a free Hollywood in store where you couldn't probably fit more than a 100 or so.

i'm sorry he doesn't get Morrissey but am so very glad that i get both of them and have for over 20 years. my life is certainly the richer for it.

Any body that adopts the name Elvis and pens a song entitled Alison, deserves to die in my book.

I think he's pretty jealous of the huge commercial success that Morrissey's been enjoying recently.
I've not explored EC's back catalogue. I like Oliver Army. But I hate the way he sings in that ridiculously contrived accent which is the complete opposite to Morrissey's approach. His voice is so ugly and he's constantly trying to disguise his accent by adopting that nauseating mid-Atlantic inflexion, fine on american peeps but uttterly ridiculous on a short little fella from Essex.
J

at taking a pot-shot at Morrissey's quaintness. Hang it up, already, Abott Costello!

"Those who are fragile, who need to be cosseted, maybe their shortcomings or their excellence in their field is then woven into the fabric along with Albert Tatlock and Hobnobs.”

Really?! Then, what about those who are *jealous*?

Jaysus, Morrissey fans can be SOOOOOO spiteful.
I mean, for goodness sake. Everyone's been licking Moz's backside for the past 12 months, the guy's touring with his name displayed in giant spangly letters onstage (talking of egomania) and now you cannot even tolerate a MILD tiny wee bit of criticism???!!!

Grow up!

Each to their own. Costello is cool (ok his last few albums are a bit irrelevant, but he still comes out with some gems) and so is Morrissey - well, until very recently...

is for "the intelligent few...Not the DULL masses!"

i mean, how come he just can't sing a note without warbling that fucker to death?

nobody's stuff sounds more the same than his.

Elvis, now that's an original name. Get off the weed!

This from a man who hasn't been able to write a song to make the world take notice in decades. I respect him for his early work but lets be serious...the man is a once was. Morrissey's recent success of YATQ is enough to counter his claims. Hmmm. Somebody get me the album sales of each of their last releases. Not that album sales are worth anything in judging talent but I think I can safely say these two gentlemen are playing to somewhat the same audience. They call it adult alternative (and oh how that title kills me).

Haha. So it's settled. Elvis Costello is in fact tone deaf.

I think that Morrissey is interwoven much more into the fabric of society than Albert Tatlock.
When did Albert Tatlock last release a decent album ?
I much prefered the work of Ena Sharples and Minnie Caldwell.

Elvis was once one of Britian's best songwriters IMO. He hasn't made a decent album since 'Spike'. 'Juliet Letters' had a few moments, but perhaps that's due to the novelty. Otherwise, he has just been rehashing generic 'Elvis', even going as far as bringing back the Attractions and trying to live off the legacy. Most of his recent albums are just bad reworkings of what 'Elvis ' should sound right. When he tries to leave the pop genre and be 'serious', he's just incredibly dull.

Moz on the other had, although not consistently as good as the Smiths (who in a 20 year career is ever consistently good) still puts out 5 or 6 great songs out per album. Look at the range of styles from the Vini Reilly/string-laden Viva Hate to the rockabilly years to the prog-rock/theatric 'Southpaw Grammar' to the electronics of 'Maladjusted'.

Moz is still one of the best. Elvis's old co-hort Nick Lowe still makes some decent albums. Elvis is not even up to that standard. I wouldn't be surprised if Elvis is no longer one of the top 100 songwriters in the Uk right now. sadly, Elvis- time to get off the stage.

It's funny, he mentions that Morrissey sings the same tune. What he should mention is that the tune NEVER gets played out. Instead, he garners more fans and inspires more and more musicians with the "same tune." I think Elvis is so jealous of Morrissey. He can't fathom the idea of Morrissey having loyal fans and is still popular. Elvis is full of sh*t!

The fact that poor Elvis/Declan doesnt 'get' Morrissey, widely acclaimed as one of the most inspirational artists of the last 20 yrs, says more about Declan/Elvis than it does about Morrissey.I'm not running Costello/Macmannus down, I think he's a great songwriter and he's more than entitled to his opinion, but I'd love to know what Moz thinks of Mcmannus/Costello too.I also wouldnt put Elvis Costello in the same list as Bowie thinking about it, whereas I would Moz.

Good to see Moz fans making points in their usual constructive, calm and measured way a la John Moore's comment on Morrissey. I think a career in religious fanatacism awaits you all...

And by the way, I love Hob-Nobs and would love to be comapred to them.

Elvis Costello USED to be GOOD, Shipbuilding, Watch Your Step, New Amsterdam, High Fidelity, Clubland etc, excluding the over rated and over played Olivers Army.

And he USED to have GOOD record sales.

In comparrison Morrissey is STILL GREAT, and has MASSIVE record sales.

To say Moz can't write a lyric, and is still playing the same one tune, is the most absurd thing anyone could ever say, and it's the sort of comment you would expect to hear from a 14 year old Busted fan, and not someone like Costello.

"Take Elvis Costello. For me, he’s been singing the same tune for 20 years. I just don’t get it."

I don't mean that in an offensive way, though... Maybe one day I'll get into him... I used to hate Morrissey, after all... Hobnobs...

What do you expect from a man whose real name is McAnus?

is that he's witnessing the amazing resurgence (don't want to use the "c" word) of Morrissey and thinking, "bloody hell, what *is* it about that cat that people love, and why don't *I* got it?"

That whinger from The Auteurs has a similar tone when he speaks about Moz. Basically "My lyrics are more brillianter than his! Why ain't I as huge as he?"

'Coz you ain't as good! (words, music, style, looks). Dat be why!

So, not only do I own every Smiths and Morrissey CD, I also own every Elvis Costello CD. And I think they're both great.
All this hogwash that Elvis hasn't made a decent album in decades is garbage. His last album was very good and the one before that North, man, I love that album. Someone said he doesn't put any passion into his songwriting, that's simply not true, some of his music is heartbreaking.
Having said that, I agree that his voice is a bit rough hewn. I can totally understand someone not liking his music because of it. Though whoever said he has a one note voice is dead wrong. The guy can sing, he's certainly not tone deaf. He hits every note, it may be a little strained, but he hits it.
But I think Morrissey's voice (though I love it completely) can be a little off putting to some. My girlfriend hates Morrissey and Elvis Costello and when you ask her why, she says their voices.
At any rate, I think most of you all are taking Elvis a little to literally. He doesn't mean that every Morrissey song is the same tune, I think he just means that Morrissey has a certain sound, which he doesn't stray far from. Maybe this is in large part due to his voice, but I think it's fairly accurate. I just think Elvis doesn't get it, meaning he just can't relate. Well, that's fine. He still, it seems, has some respect for Morrissey.
Elvis and Morrissey are both brilliant.
I think we should just lay off Elvis, I mean it was hardly a biting criticism.

What I 'get' about Elvis Costello could fit on the head of a pin, while what I 'get' about Morrissey is 'an ancient ocean wide'.

What??

I understand almost exactly what Elvis means. Morrissey's writing technique leads to a certain uniform melodic style. Many of his songs use similar intervals and rhythms, melodic motives. Elvis, as a songwriter, feels that he attempts to break out of said patterns more often, and I think he's probably right, although he still has patterns of his own, which I'm sure he'd cop to if asked.

Basically: Elvis is not talking out of his ass, and both he and Morrissey are highly respectable artists. He says he "doesn't get it," which is just fine. Probably the finest way to admit a distaste.