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Editorial Reviews

Continuing his fascinating streak of collaborations -- a list that already includes Paul McCartney, the Brodsky Quartet, and Burt Bacharach -- Elvis Costello joins forces with a truly surprising muse: the magnificent Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter. The sophisticated result, For the Stars, is an otherworldly affair -- call it rarified chamber pop -- that focuses on von Otter's soaring, swooning voice and Costello's stately arrangements. The duo embrace songs written by some of pop's finest acts, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and ABBA, as well as the work of songwriters Tom Waits, Ron Sexsmith, and Costello himself, who contributes two new pieces: the gorgeous "No Wonder" and the twinkling title track. While some may be distracted by von Otter's diva-esque diction, her crystalline interpretations bring the powerful melodies here front and center. At her best on jazzy numbers -- the vibraphone-enhanced "The Other Woman" and "Shamed into Love" (which Costello originally did with Rubén Blades) -- von Otter also serves as a graceful counterpoint during duets with Costello and his endearingly ragged pipes. Together they work wonders wrapping their voices around Waits's "Broken Bicycles" and the Brian Wilson/Tony Asher Pet Sounds classic, "You Still Believe in Me." For the Stars may shock Costello fans who pine for early Elvis's high-energy days -- not to mention opera purists who think Anne Sofie sings best in Italian -- but the album ranks among the new wave bard's most successful side projects. It not only showcases the elegance and versatility of von Otter's voice but also provides further evidence that Costello is one of pop's most daring talents -- a deft arranger, sensitive producer, and a songwriter whose compositions are starting to sound a lot like standards. Gail O'Hara, Barnes & Noble

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