Hot Press, September 17, 1977: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> Elvis Costello; Anti-star of the New Wave </h3></center> | <center><h3> Elvis Costello; Anti-star of the New Wave </h3></center> | ||
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Between them, however, for downright weirdness, Stiff take the proverbial biscuit. | Between them, however, for downright weirdness, Stiff take the proverbial biscuit. | ||
Just look at their advertising. The flair which has marked their promotional work, both graphically and linguistically makes them a far more interesting label to work, or deal with than any of the boring old farts responsible for promotion generally. They've got a sense of humour that literally mocks at the serioso gunge churned out for the likes of Harley,Yes, Wakeman and so on... and on . . | Just look at their advertising. The flair which has marked their promotional work, both graphically and linguistically makes them a far more interesting label to work, or deal with than any of the boring old farts responsible for promotion generally. They've got a sense of humour that literally mocks at the serioso gunge churned out for the likes of Harley,Yes, Wakeman and so on... and on... | ||
Interestingly, both labels straddle in a laudably maverick fashion the whole New Wave bandwagon, when it comes down to the music. But what makes their success so intrinsic to the rise of the 'new music' is the set of attitudes which go to create their respective characters. In particular, both acted as pioneers for the movement away from costly budgets and over-elaborate productions, which, as a general phenomenon were getting in the way of the unearthing and recording of new talent. | Interestingly, both labels straddle in a laudably maverick fashion the whole New Wave bandwagon, when it comes down to the music. But what makes their success so intrinsic to the rise of the 'new music' is the set of attitudes which go to create their respective characters. In particular, both acted as pioneers for the movement away from costly budgets and over-elaborate productions, which, as a general phenomenon were getting in the way of the unearthing and recording of new talent. | ||
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The commitment to continuing to evolve runs deep with Costello. Already he's playing a substantial amount of new material on stage ("We do about 50/50 old and new now and it's getting more biased towards the new") He often refers to established stars as boring — clearly he'll go to some pains to avoid that judgement. | The commitment to continuing to evolve runs deep with Costello. Already he's playing a substantial amount of new material on stage ("We do about 50/50 old and new now and it's getting more biased towards the new") He often refers to established stars as boring — clearly he'll go to some pains to avoid that judgement. | ||
"When the new album comes out | "When the new album comes out I want to have another half set of new material again, so we're always pushing on and doing new stuff... I do write quite a lot so it shouldn't be a problem. | ||
"From the point of view of a show, I really like the idea of being able to go out and do something fresh, 'cos it keeps people on their toes. They're not just coming along to see you' do a live version of the album, which is what it's like with a lot of bands." | "From the point of view of a show, I really like the idea of being able to go out and do something fresh, 'cos it keeps people on their toes. They're not just coming along to see you' do a live version of the album, which is what it's like with a lot of bands." | ||
Don't let the word 'show' deceive you either: "I don't like theatrical things. I'm not very into show business. Well, I'm not very into it — I hale it. I don't regard myself as being in | Don't let the word 'show' deceive you either: "I don't like theatrical things. I'm not very into show business. Well, I'm not very into it — I hale it. I don't regard myself as being in show business at all. I'm just playing songs. I don't think of rock 'n' roll in the Nils Lofgren sense — trampolines and scarves. I don't think of it as another world." | ||
Art? | Art? | ||
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"I don't pretend to have any big 'in' into all this information. I'm not saying — 'Listen, 'cos now I'm going to tell you the way it is.' I hope people don't take my word for everything. In the '60's people were built up into kind of gurus but one by one they fell to pieces, or copped out or died or something. Everybody was left mourning them and really they should have said they're just human beings and they're fallible. | "I don't pretend to have any big 'in' into all this information. I'm not saying — 'Listen, 'cos now I'm going to tell you the way it is.' I hope people don't take my word for everything. In the '60's people were built up into kind of gurus but one by one they fell to pieces, or copped out or died or something. Everybody was left mourning them and really they should have said they're just human beings and they're fallible. | ||
"I hope people would never take anything I write seriously in that sense. I ''am'' serious about what I'm doing but I hope they'll never come and say 'Oh yes, he knows. He's got The Word.' cos I haven't got | "I hope people would never take anything I write seriously in that sense. I ''am'' serious about what I'm doing but I hope they'll never come and say 'Oh yes, he knows. He's got The Word.' 'cos I haven't got 'The Word' anymore than anybody else." | ||
What Elvis Costello does have is the ability to make us look inside ourselves in order to reassess the way in which we relate to other people. His songs may not have the word and he may not have any special 'in' on the ultimate truths that evade us, but his work can stimulate people . to dig that little bit deeper than they've been used to. What you come up with then is your own business. | What Elvis Costello does have is the ability to make us look inside ourselves in order to reassess the way in which we relate to other people. His songs may not have the word and he may not have any special 'in' on the ultimate truths that evade us, but his work can stimulate people . to dig that little bit deeper than they've been used to. What you come up with then is your own business. | ||
Meantime . . . Elvis Costello, you are not the future of rock 'n' roll. Don't worry. | Meantime... Elvis Costello, you are not the future of rock 'n' roll. Don't worry. | ||
The fact that your whole attitude spurns that kind of crap should insure you against the trap. | The fact that your whole attitude spurns that kind of crap should insure you against the trap. | ||
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{{Bibliography next | {{Bibliography next | ||
|prev = Hot Press, August 19, 1977 | |prev = Hot Press, August 19, 1977 | ||
|next = Hot Press, | |next = Hot Press, October 30, 1977 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Hot Press, September 17-29, 1977 | '''Hot Press, September 17-29, 1977 | ||
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[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 01.jpg|360px|border]] | <small>Photos by [[Steve Wood]].</small><br> | ||
[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 01 sw.jpg|360px|border]] | |||
[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 02.jpg|360px|border]] | [[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 02 sw.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 03.jpg|360px|border]] | [[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 03 sw.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 04.jpg|360px|border]] | [[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 04 sw.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 05.jpg|360px|border]] | [[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 05 sw.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
[[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 06.jpg|360px|border]] | [[image:1977-09-17 Hot Press photo 06 sw.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
<br><small> | <br><small>Photos by [[Steve Wood]].</small> | ||
Revision as of 17:12, 12 October 2021
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