Great album: For the Stars

I saw a documentary a while back about this collaboration between Anne Sofie von Otter and Elvis Costello. I’d heard a few songs, and recently purchased the album. It’s the most accomplished, sophisticated pop albums I’ve heard in years. Von Otter sings and Costello writes and arranges, and the result is brilliant. She’s an accomplished opera star, and brings a maturity, technicality and expressiveness to the songs that today’s pop-girl-of-the-moment can’t approach. The songs are gorgeous (if, at times, a little syrupy, but then that’s pop music) and the arrangements are original. Highly recommended.