Elvis may be dead, but his music isn't

What ever happened to rock and roll? I am talking about good, old-fashioned rock and roll, not any of the rehashed, cliché crap that record companies are churning out without listening to first. One could arguably say that rock and roll died in 1977 with Elvis. His new album, ELV1S , showcases many aspects of his artistry.\nElvis was known for being unconventional in a couple of ways. Aside from introducing America's youth to rock and roll and sex appeal (look at his swiveling pelvis, which drove girls batty and drove parents up a wall), Elvis refused to be confined to one genre of music. Elvis sang it all, from country to rock.\nThe album was originally released in 1987, when it was called The Number One Hits and included 18 tracks. Where did 12 more No. 1s come from? Well, the first disc only counted Billboard chart-toppers. A myriad of other U.S. and U.K. pop charts were consulted to come up with a total of 30 re-mastered, pelvis-thrusting songs.\nElvis truly delivers on standard tracks such as "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock" and "All Shook Up." In "Love Me Tender," written in 1956 for his first film of the same title, Elvis shows his softer side. His soft but juicy voice tells the perfect love story, overwrought with emotionally sappy and clichéd lyrics. \nFor an early example of cross-marketing, listen to "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear," which helped promote his second film, "Loving You," as well as spark a boost in the U.S. teddy bear market. The track sounds particularly unoriginal and uninspired, both musically and lyrically. "One Night" is another uninspired track, a cover of blues singer Smiley Lewis' original, which Elvis re-marketed to teenage girls, taking out the sin -- and as far as I am concerned, the pizzazz.\nA potentially controversial inclusion is "In The Ghetto," released in 1969, in which Elvis addresses social injustice and racial strife, rampant throughout the '60s. Elvis sings soulfully and with passion, although the somewhat dated lyrics may come across as offensive today.\nJXL remixes "A Little Less Conversation," into a techno-dance track sure to answer all of our questions regarding the whereabouts of rock and roll. "The King" is very much alive in 2002, just slightly transformed. This album is a must-have for anyone who has even just heard of Elvis.