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Whether they know it or riot, this album is the record all the so-called "punks" Have been trying to make but don't have the talent to: an album which successfully combines the anger and rebelliousness of the "new wave" movement with the extremely appealing musical values of the middle to late '60s pop-rock era (musical denseness, clever and strong hooks, etc.). Costello, and his producer Nick Lowe (musically talented in his own right), have the sense to realize that all the complaining in the world is futile if people won't listen to your music. In accordance, they have delivered this album, Armed Forces, one of the best, most listenable albums to appear in quite some time, and a step above Costello's last two albums, both excellent. This is the kind of album you like on first listening.
Even the album's worst two songs, "Senior Service" and "Moods for Moderns," manage to hold the listener's attention and rate above mediocre. And the album has an unusual number of bright spots. "Accidents Will Happen," a somewhat balladic piece about lovers fooling around with others and getting hurt, as well as hurting others, is classic delectable pop, and could well see its way into the top 40 (giving Costello the recognition he has long deserved). "Oliver's Army," a poignant protest of war and all that surrounds it, moves swiftly and engrossingly throughout, and is more enjoyable and meaningful than much of what such '60s heroes as the Beatles did with pop.
"Chemistry Class" is another pop feast which also demonstrates Costello's lyrical sense of humor and wit. Sings Costello: "You've got a chemistry class, I want a piece of your mind..." A little thought, with respect to rhyme, reveals what Costello really wants. Touche!
In "Two Little Hitlers," Costello once again disdainfully comments on what is apparently his favorite topic, lover relations ("Two little Hitlers fight it out until one little Hitler does the other one's will"). "Two Little Hitlers" is another sounds-of-the-'6os-flashback (interestingly, Nick Lowe had a song called "Little Hitler" on his recent solo album, Pure Pop for Now People). "Two Little Hitlers" is followed by the album's last song, "(What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a number which Nick Lowe wrote, but which fits right in with the rest of the album, demonstrating how strongly suited Costello and Lowe are for each other.
And this probably explains this album's success. Costello's anger has mixed with Lowe's ear for well-produced pop to create the album at hand. You might call it a favorable mutation, more lyrically meaningful than pop is generally supposed to be, and better musically than most anger-filled "new wave" music. To say the least, it is a favorable mutation. Let's hope this "pop wave" mutant continues to breed.
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