Illinois State University Vidette, April 2, 1980: Difference between revisions
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Elvis Costello, the hair-trigger neurotic peering out from behind his thick, black-rimmed glasses at a world in which he's a perennial misfit, has recorded what may prove to be the best album of his career. | Elvis Costello, the hair-trigger neurotic peering out from behind his thick, black-rimmed glasses at a world in which he's a perennial misfit, has recorded what may prove to be the best album of his career. | ||
''Get Happy!!'' showers the listener with a rapid-fire barrage of sonic ammunition fueled by the brevity and instrumental sparing of the album's songs. As they gain familiarity with the listener, they reveal turbulent depths of Costello's songwriting which spawned the "angry young man" evident in his compositions. | ''Get Happy!!'' showers the listener with a rapid-fire barrage of sonic ammunition fueled by the brevity and instrumental sparing of the album's songs. As they gain familiarity with the listener, they reveal the turbulent depths of Costello's songwriting which spawned the "angry young man" posture evident in his compositions. | ||
On a sheer quantitative level, ''Get Happy!!'' is immense. Its twenty tracks present a good deal to decipher, but they hold some of Costello's best songwriting to date for those willing to do so. Costello's angst, not as confined to adolescent matters as is The Who's, is pure, and while not as visible as on past outings, is every bit as biting. | On a sheer quantitative level, ''Get Happy!!'' is immense. Its twenty tracks present a good deal to decipher, but they hold some of Costello's best songwriting to date for those willing to do so. Costello's angst, not as confined to adolescent matters as is The Who's, is pure, and while not as visible as on past outings, is every bit as biting. | ||
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''Get Happy!!'' is a rare record; rare in its quality and breadth of songwriting, production, musicianship (The Attractions are second only to Springsteen's E Street Band in their strength as a backing unit), and most importantly of all, its emotional content. Elvis means what he says and says what he means, a feat not as easily accomplished as it sounds in a world where compromise is the foremost rule for survival. | ''Get Happy!!'' is a rare record; rare in its quality and breadth of songwriting, production, musicianship (The Attractions are second only to Springsteen's E Street Band in their strength as a backing unit), and most importantly of all, its emotional content. Elvis means what he says and says what he means, a feat not as easily accomplished as it sounds in a world where compromise is the foremost rule for survival. | ||
Costello and ''Get Happy!!'' exist strictly and unequivocally on their own terms, and that's what makes them so valuable. ''Get Happy!!'' is nothing less than an unqualified success. Oh — but there is one thing missing from ''Get Happy!!'': a encircling the album's jacket emblazoned with the legend FOR MALCONTENTS ONLY. | Costello and ''Get Happy!!'' exist strictly and unequivocally on their own terms, and that's what makes them so valuable. ''Get Happy!!'' is nothing less than an unqualified success. Oh — but there is one thing missing from ''Get Happy!!'': a band encircling the album's jacket emblazoned with the legend FOR MALCONTENTS ONLY. | ||
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{{tags}}[[Get Happy!!]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[Opportunity]] {{-}} [[Motel Matches]] {{-}} [[Nick Lowe]] {{-}} [[Bruce Springsteen]] {{-}} [[The E Street Band]] {{-}} [[The Who]] {{-}} [[Peter Asher]] | |||
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{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1980-04-02 Illinois State University Vidette page 08 clipping 01.jpg| | [[image:1980-04-02 Illinois State University Vidette page 08 clipping 01.jpg|380px]] | ||
<br><small>Clipping.</small> | <br><small>Clipping.</small> | ||
[[image:1980-04-02 Illinois State University Vidette page 08.jpg|x120px | <small>Page scan.</small><br> | ||
[[image:1980-04-02 Illinois State University Vidette page 08.jpg|x120px]] | |||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} |
Latest revision as of 19:47, 30 December 2022
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