If Grammy nominations are any indication, Elvis Costello seems to have earned the dubious honor of being the most widely accepted New Wave artist. It's understandable; behind that strangely appealing geek exterior lurks an aggressive instinct for true rock 'n' roll.
With Armed Forces Costello, once again teamed with producer Nick Lowe, has shifted his approach slightly. Though the title may suggest an all-out guitar attack, the production relies mostly upon skillfully arranged keyboard layers which successfully create mood and tension. His themes have changed as well. Modern techno-society now replaces the struggle of the sexes as his primary target, but Costello retains his unerring ability for wry wordplay and the quotable line.
Happily, the songs are worthy of the extra attention Lowe and Costello have lavished upon them. Armed Forces isn't as emotionally intense as This Year's Model but Costello still sounds as though his hostilities are keeping him on a dangerous edge. There are some decidedly offbeat touches, such as the unorthodox structure of "Senior Service" and the nervous undercurrent of "Green Shirt."
Yet Lowe's pop sensibility smooths the edges on several songs, from touches of harpsichord to the almost corny crescendoes of "Oliver's Army." (I get the feeling that "Moods For Moderns" is a bit of a private joke between Lowe and Costello.)
With the sounds and subjects of Armed Forces. Elvis Costello doesn't need to play the geek any more.
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