|
Not content to simply punch the clock, El and the Attractions are back with 13 more sharp-edged tunes, crafted with all the attention to detail, both lyrically and musically, with which they have come to be associated. The changes since Imperial Bedroom are small but not insignificant. The occasional backing vocals by the female duo know as Afrodiziak lend the songs a dimension that has been missing from Elvis' previous LPs, where he has done all the vocal tracks. Likewise, the TKO Horns introduce a new element that fills out the sound considerably on songs such as "Let Them All Talk" and "The Greatest Thing."
Not that the Attractions have ever needed much help. Bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation) are an incredibly versatile rhythm section, and Steve Nieve's keyboards grow in sophistication with each release. Costello's songwriting keeps developing too, the outstanding example here being "Shipbuilding," a cool ode to the economics of the Falklands war in a depressed British port. Though he makes no great strides and some of the songs such as "Everyday I Write The Book" (El's first chart hit) and "Charm School" echo their predecessors a bit too closely, Costello has his claim well staked out and is mining it with vigor and care.
|
