|
Elvis Costello's third album in a year and a half is called Armed Forces, and like his other two albums, its a hit of a puzzle.
The album is available in two versions; one with a live EP entitled Live At Hollywood High and one without. Although Armed Forces has only been out for three weeks, copies with the EP ere becoming hard to find. Which is too had, because the EP is great.
On one side is a version of "Watching the Detectives" from his first album, on which he discovers unintentional feedback, distortion, and how to play his guitar with his face, all in a mere six minutes.
On the other side is a compelling, dramatic version of "Alison," also from My Aim Is True, and a different version of a song called "Accidents Will Happen" which appears an the album itself. Great stuff.
Besides the elephants pictured on the back cover, the highlight of the album is the only non-Costello composition, Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." It has enormous potential for wimpdom and self-parody, but destroys any possibility of it with its thumping bass, scratchy guitar and drums unlike anything you've ever heard before — they define the word thunder. Costello's vocal is positively inspired.
The other eleven songs were all written by Costello, and as a group they're more commercial sounding than his past work, perhaps because of a fuller production. In particular, the keyboard seems to be used here more extensively. The tunes all bounce along at a fair pace, and they're all pleasant enough, but unfortunately, not much more.
One doesn't feel the same urgency to listen to what he has to say as one does with, for example, The Clash, The Jam, or either of his other albums. At worst, the lyrics are shallow, and at best, he just playing with words. Perhaps it's my hangup, but I just can't he bothered to really listen to this stuff.
The album's lyrical highlight is "Chemistry Class," in which he says, "You got a chemistry class / I want a piece, of your" — and just when you want him to rhyme it, he says, "mind." Later, he asks his partner, "Are you ready for the final" (a nice small-talk line) but then he adds another two meanings by tacking on the word "solution."
It's a great example of his ability to evoke many ideas and interpretations from very few words, and it's too bad there isn't much more of it.
As previously mentioned, the twelve tracks are pleasant and listenable, but they're not memorable. And while nobody ever claimed Elvis Costello wasn't derivative, I'm a bit concerned that the guitar in "Two Little Hitlers" sounds like a direct cop from David Bowie's "Diamond Dogs," and the guitar in "Party Girl" likewise sounds much like the Beatles "You Never Give Me Your Money"
Armed Forces will likely depolarize the Costello lovers and haters to some extent, and undoubtedly the critics will love it. Meanwhile, Mr. Costello will continue to climb to new heights (you know you've made it when Weekend Magazine does an article on you). Still, I can't help but think that there's something missing from this album.
If you don't happen to share my fanaticism for interesting lyrics. chances are you'll like Armed Forces — it's a little more mainstream than either of his past two albums (especially the first), and if you were put off by him at first, this might convert you. As for me, I'm going back to decipher the rest of Give 'Em Enough Rope.
| 
