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Elvis Costello never ceases to amaze me. Get Happy, a recent effort by Costello, Nick Lowe and the Attractions, contains 20 (count 'em, 20) songs. The songs touch all the bases, from hyperactive rock ("I Stand Accused," 'The Imposter"), to punchy rhythm & blues ("Beaten To The Punch," "B Movie"), to emotional ballads "Motel Matches," "New Amsterdam"). True to form, "Opportunity," one of the record's outstanding pieces, defies classification of any kind.
Get Happy is by no means a singular effort by Costello. Nick Lowe's production is first rate, and the Attractions are one of the tightest and most imaginative units in rock. The ability of Lowe and the Attractions to adapt their talents to Costello's notions of what the albums should sound like is amazing. The differences in sound and the consistency of quality between Get Happy and Armed Forces (Costello's previous album) speak for themselves.
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