|
Elvis is king.
Those words were written across Elvis Costello's first album, My Aim is True. Elvis' third album, Armed Forces, makes those same words ring true. In short, Armed Forces is a masterpiece.
In My Aim is True, Elvis proved he was a rocker, while his songs dealt with subjects ranging from sexual ignorance "Mystery Dance" to the apocalypse in "Waiting For the End of the World." Six months later, the release of This Year's Model found Elvis more aggressive, both musically and lyrically. With one exception, the bitter "Radio, Radio," all the songs dealt with women and sex. Obviously Costello was shattered long before the Stones coined the word.
As good as both these albums are, Armed Forces is the follow through. Elvis has toned down the music and the lyrics, but still retains the force that he has come to master. Anyone who can't find anything enjoyable in this album just isn't listening.
Still, the commercial success for this album — it's already in the top 10 — is somewhat baffling. Elvis has never had a hit single, despite the fact that "Alison" received a great deal of FM airplay, and there is nothing that resembles disco on this album. People are getting Elvis by word of mouth, and those mouths certainly have a lot to talk about.
What makes Armed Forces different from the first two Costello albums is the production. Nick Lowe, who has produced Elvis from the beginning, previously had to only turn the tape recorder on and let Elvis run rampant. This time Lowe has taken things into his own hands. What Lowe has done is bury some of Costello's rage and disguise it as pure pop.
It's tough to argue with the production. Lowe had a great time with the mix on this one. Sounds come from all over, moods change in seconds, and lyrics fly by. Keep these guys away from quadrophonics — they'll go nuts.
Costello's guitar playing, never one of his strong points, is kept buried in the mix most of the time. The keyboards of Steve Naive are brought to the fore and contributes to the overall change in sound. However, with two obvious exceptions, the songs don't call for the all-out aggressiveness that was Costello's trademark. Songs like "Oliver's Army" and "Accidents Will Happen" (just released as a single) are jaunty little pop songs that Abba could come up with if Abba's lyrics had bite to them.
What is played up on Armed Forces is Costello's voice, a combination of Graham Parker, Southside Johnny, and Bruce Springsteen all rolled up into one. Costello is really a moving singer because he believes what he sings. The lyrics reveal the real strong point of the album. How could any man argue with lines like:
I was down upon one knee
Stroking her vanity
What is most impressive though, is the sheer power of Costello's performance. While only two songs, "Goon Squad" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," truly rock out, the album pushes along quite nicely.
"Goon Squad" is the most menacing track on the album. Driven by a pounding bass line and a slashing guitar, Costello relates a letter written home to Mom and Dad. At first it seems like a soldier is the author. But these lines tend to reveal that a battle field may be an insane asylum.
Mother, Father, I'm doing so well
I'm making so much progress now
That you can hardly tell
Fit in a little dedication
With one eye on the clock
They've got you under meditation
You could be in for a shock
Elvis plays tricks like that constantly, with the truth sometimes cleverly and sometimes not so cleverly hidden.
The highlight of this album though, is Costello's performance of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding." Originally recorded in 1974 by Brinsley Schwartz, this song was sung as a parody, a fond farewell to hippiedom. Elvis takes it seriously though, and the punchy arrangement drives the point home. He really wants to know what's so funny, completely missing the point of the song. Elvis could sing the yellow pages and make it sound like the end of the world.
Don't think that Elvis has no sense of humor because he missed the point of an obvious joke. His humor is subtle and hidden. Really, opening an album with the line "Oh I just don't know where to begin," or cooing to a lover "Are you ready for the final solution." Even his most serious songs have coy lines. "It's a death that's worse than fate" from "Senior Service" or stuttering the word accidents from "Chemistry Class" emphasize this.
If you don't own Armed Forces now, buy it soon. The first pressing contains an EP (extended play) of three live songs recorded at Hollywood High (anyone that would play a concert at Hollywood High School must have a sense of humor). But, even even without the bonus EP, Armed Forces is a triumph. The music is as catchy as the Bee Gees and the lyrics are as significant as Dylan's. The world may never survive.
| 
