Texas Tech University Daily, February 7, 1978

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Elvis Costello aims true with debut LP


Ana Morales

Little by little, the new wave movement of rock is infiltrating the formerly solid strongholds of American music. Considering that the good old U.S. is the birthplace of the original punks, (remember Marlon Brando in The Wild One? or James Dean?) naturally it seems strange that America has no viable punk movement of its own, and relies on England's imports.

But it would be wrong to assume that all new wave and punk stems from Britain. After all. one must not forget the Ramones and Patti Smith. But one mention of Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols will incite a person to some form of fury. whether it be pro, con or indifference. The American new wave groups have yet to cause such an effect

Just as it is a mistake to assume all new wave is born in Britain, it is equally incorrect to consider new wave and punk synonymous. Punk is part of the new wave form. but not all new wave can be labeled punk. The Sex Pistols are punk. Graham Parker is not. And neither is Elvis Costello whose new album, My Aim is True (Columbia), is one of the most innovative works to come from the form.

To say Elvis Costello is a genius would be sheer folly. But while he may not be the savior of rock and roll, Costello has brought about an absent freshness and vitality into the dying form of contemporary music. Costello's compositions are an average two and one-half minutes in length, and in that short time, Costello compresses tales of almost average people abetted by the mid-sixties type instrumentation which characterizes his style.

A glance at the song titles hints at the unusual twists Costello gives his lyrics. "Welcome to The Working Week," "Blame It On Cain," "Watching the Detectives" and "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" are not the type subjects a sensitive Jackson Browne or James Taylor would normally pen.

The only truly slow number, "Alison" is one of the finest numbers on the LP. Space will not allow the publication of the lyrics, but they are clever and worth a listen. On the surface, the tune appears to be a mushy love ballad to a now married ex-flame. Costello reiterates the refrain "My aim is true." But only after he sings "Sometimes I wish I could stop you from talking, When I hear the silly things that you say. I think somebody better put out the big light...," do the words take on their intended macabre meaning.

Out of the 13 songs contained in the album, all are amazingly listenable. Anyone who enjoyed the music of the mid-sixties will find Costello's work similar, down to characteristic "chord organ" style keyboards.

Naturally, certain numbers are more noteworthy than others. "No Dancing" has a sweet sound and chorus that would have been perfect for Herman's Hermits. And are those traces of the Zombies floating in and out of the mysterious "Watching the Detectives"? "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" is also strong, especially the melody, as it has one of those tunes that float around your subconcious for days.

A word must be said for Costello himself. His album cover and appearance are as undecipherable as some of his lyrics. Costello resembles Lubbock's favorite son, Buddy Holly, which is a bit unusual even for a new wave musician. No musicians are listed on the cover, so it is more or less unknown who does his backing tracks.

Even his appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live (which ironically was a substitution for the Sex Pistols) did little to clear the cloud surrounding Costello's person. The press has hinted that Costello is misanthropic, but in these days, the journalistic hype given to a new artist should be taken with a grain of salt. (Especially that of the Jann Wenner type.)

My Aim is True is one of those albums that must be heard at least three times to be appreciated. No, there are no "hits" as such on the album, but there could be. Local campus voice KTXT-FM plays "Red Shoes" as one of its "singles," and as a previous music director of that station, this writer realizes how the other Lubbock stations subtly pick up musical choices from the "X," whether they admit it or not.

Elvis Costello may be the next Peter Frampton... or the next Bruce Springsteen. Anyway, the album is worth a listen.

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The University Daily, February 7, 1978


Ana Morales reviews My Aim Is True.

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1978-02-07 Texas Tech University Daily page 04.jpg

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