Bangor Daily News, February 5, 1979: Difference between revisions
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Elvis Costello just keeps getting better. His first album, ''My Aim Is True'', was one of the most impressive debuts of 1977. Its followup, ''This Year's Model'', made nearly every critical top 10 list of 1978, and now, with ''Armed Forces'' (Columbia JC 35709), the man may have topped himself again. It's not an obvious conclusion to make, because this year's Elvis is unquestionably less explosive than last year's. Costello set the pace for ''This Year's Model'' by starting off with a terse half-whispered, half-sung, "I don't want to kiss you, I don't want to touch you," after which his band, the Attractions, kicked in with a crashing fury. This time around, the album commences with a lilting pop song, "Accidents Will Happen," and Elvis croons, "Oh | Elvis Costello just keeps getting better. His first album, ''My Aim Is True'', was one of the most impressive debuts of 1977. Its followup, ''This Year's Model'', made nearly every critical top 10 list of 1978, and now, with ''Armed Forces'' (Columbia JC 35709), the man may have topped himself again. It's not an obvious conclusion to make, because this year's Elvis is unquestionably less explosive than last year's. Costello set the pace for ''This Year's Model'' by starting off with a terse half-whispered, half-sung, ''"I don't want to kiss you, I don't want to touch you,"'' after which his band, the Attractions, kicked in with a crashing fury. This time around, the album commences with a lilting pop song, "Accidents Will Happen," and Elvis croons, ''"Oh, I just don't know where to begin."'' | ||
The first half dozen times through the record, I didn't either. Something, it seemed, was missing and I was skeptical. The gripping intensity which marked ''This Year's Model'', and to a lesser extent, ''My Aim Is True'', appeared to be absent. Costello's new songs were just as clever, but smoother and more palatable. Was he making his stab at superstardom by toning down the rage of his material? | The first half dozen times through the record, I didn't either. Something, it seemed, was missing and I was skeptical. The gripping intensity which marked ''This Year's Model'', and to a lesser extent, ''My Aim Is True'', appeared to be absent. Costello's new songs were just as clever, but smoother and more palatable. Was he making his stab at superstardom by toning down the rage of his material? |
Revision as of 17:20, 26 December 2013
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