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With his second LP release, England's Elvis continues the brash personal style he established with his debut album last year, My Aim Is True.
There are no surprises in the new Costello work, just solid, workmanlike extensions of the kind of material that made Costello's debut LP one of the bright points on the record scene last year.
On the new album, he is working with his road band — the Attractions — and the addition of prominent keyboard parts gives the record a touch of the cheesy sound of a '60s garage rock band. Producer Nick Lowe kept the arrangements tight and tasteful, and overdubs sparing and judicious.
The songs on side one are the best — "No Action," "This Year's Girl," "The Beat," "Pump It Up," "Little Triggers," and "You Belong to Me." Each of these pieces represents a further refinement and improvement — without major alterations — on the unique style Costello exhibited on his first album. This LP should satisfy his growing legion of fans, as well as gain new converts.
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