Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Blood & Chocolate

Elvis Costello returned to the Attractions as quickly as he abandoned them, hiring the band and old producer Nick Lowe to record Blood & Chocolate, his second record in the span of one year. Where King of America was a stripped-down roots rock affair, Blood & Chocolate is a return to the harder rock of This Year's Model. Occasionally, there are hints of country and folk, but the majority of the album is straight-ahead rock & roll: the opener, "Uncomplicated," only has two chords. The main difference between the reunion and the Attractions' earlier work is the tone -- This Year's Model was tense and out of control, whereas Blood & Chocolate is controlled viciousness. "Tokyo Storm Warning," "I Hope You're Happy Now," and "I Want You" are the nastiest songs he has ever recorded, both lyrically and musically -- Costello snarls the lyrics and the Attractions bash out the chords. Blood & Chocolate doesn't retain that high level of energy throughout the record, however, and loses momentum toward the end of the album. Still, it's a lively and frequently compelling reunion, even if it is a rather mean-spirited one. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Starr Product Manager Bill Levenson A&R Bruce Thomas Bass, Guitar (Bass) Cait O'Riordan Vocals (Background), Vocals Coco Shinomiya Design Colin Fairley Audio Production, Producer Dan Hersch Mastering Eamonn Singer Paintings Jake Riviera Direction Keith Morris Photography Michael Sören Krage Design Michele Horie Reissue Producer, Producer Napoleon Dynamite Vocals, Harmonium, Tambur, Guitar (Acoustic), ?, Vocals (Background) Nick Lowe Audio Production, Guitar (Acoustic), Producer Pete Thomas Saxophone, Tambur Steve Nieve Piano, Harmonium, Organo