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On first espying Elvis Costello's formidable new package my immediate reaction was to reach for the seconal. No gimmick has been left unturned. The cut-up album jacket is straight from the files of a Timothy Leary wet dream. Copies include a free single of "Allison" and "Accidents Will Happen" recorded live at Hollywood High (re-inforcing the wet dream motif). There are trendy postcards of each band member in the midst of his particular fantasy and a penetrating pair of symbolic pics, one which shows the big C sprawled out, apparently dead, on the diving board of a splendid Hollywood Hills swimming pool. (You guessed it, that wet dream motif again.)
In fact wet is the operative word. There are some brilliant moments, particularly on side one. "Accidents Will Happen" is the heir apparent to last years "Allison," "Senior Service" and "Oliver's Army" are inspired and "Green Shirt" is a commendable foray into untrod territory. But for all its outward overkill there is very little music to sink your teeth into. Hold your breath, I'll elaborate: "Busy Bodies" and "Chemistry Class" are nothing more than "Accidents Will Happen" Parts 2 & 3, "Party Girl" not only sounds like "Allison" but uses the some outro as the Beatles "Here Comes the Sun," the keyboard break in "Moods for Moderns" is an XTC ripoff, "Two Little Hitters" steals the classic guitar line from Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" ... Shall I go on?
To be fair The Attractions are a flawless musical unit and Costello's lyrics are consistently first class. But technical perfection, as they say, does not an album make. With a little bit of editing Armed Forces could have been a monster of an EP. I just wish somebody would tell these guys there's recession going on.
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