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Elvis Costello: Rock 'n' roll's walking contradiction. A man at odds with the modern world, yet one who uses a pop idiom to express his wrath. His previous albums shed no light on the mysterious Costello. On Happy Time, Costello bares his soul.
Happy Time is a fun record. Happy Time is an angry record. There are 20 songs on the album — which is like giving the listener nearly a third side — but most of the tunes are about two minutes long and seem to end before they even start.
The content is bitter as ever: "You tell me it's a luxury, it looks like a disease," he sings on "Black and White World." The songs are more revealing than before: "I'm a man who's hurt a little too much," he says on "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down."
On "High Fidelity," his voice is raw with urgency. On "Temptation" it is sweet. "Love for Tender" is Motown influenced. "Beaten to the Punch" is fast, powerful New Wave — maybe even Punk. "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" is heavy on the R&B.
On Happy Time Costello points fingers at the ultra-cool, the sentimental and the games of love. He is sympathetic. He remains detached. He remains stricken.
There's not enough space here to do justice to Happy Time. You'll have to fill out the story by picking up a copy.
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