London Guardian, January 9, 1979: Difference between revisions
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As ever, what makes it so very different is Costello's skill as a lyricist. In the past he's been notable for his emotional honesty, and the range of his private and public concerns. This time, he's a lot more obscure, packing the songs with verbal tricks (lines like ''"a{{nb}}death that's worse than fate"'') or a jumble of surreal images that often build up a sense of menace or unease against the pleasant melodies. | As ever, what makes it so very different is Costello's skill as a lyricist. In the past he's been notable for his emotional honesty, and the range of his private and public concerns. This time, he's a lot more obscure, packing the songs with verbal tricks (lines like ''"a{{nb}}death that's worse than fate"'') or a jumble of surreal images that often build up a sense of menace or unease against the pleasant melodies. | ||
There's a concern for things military in songs like " | There's a concern for things military in songs like "Senior Service" and "Oliver's Army" (which appears to end with a jumbled view of world politics), there's a characteristic blend of social and personal comment in "Party Girl," a mixture of Dylanesque imagery and English nightmare in "Sunday's Best," and a very weird, highly effective piece called "Green Shirt" which uses a gently pounding bass, and staccato drum interruptions. | ||
Like his early hero Dylan, Costello does not believe in lyric sheets. Each listening reveals a little more, and after playing this lengthy collection through at least ten times I'm more impressed than ever. He may be getting overconfident, but there are precious few new lyricists in his league. | Like his early hero Dylan, Costello does not believe in lyric sheets. Each listening reveals a little more, and after playing this lengthy collection through at least ten times I'm more impressed than ever. He may be getting overconfident, but there are precious few new lyricists in his league. | ||
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{{tags}}[[Armed Forces]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[Dominion Theatre]] {{-}} [[Hounslow]] {{-}} [[This Year's Model]] {{-}} [[My Aim Is True]] {{-}} [[Emotional Fascism]] {{-}} [[Live At Hollywood High]] {{-}} [[Oliver's Army]] {{-}} [[Senior Service]] {{-}} [[Party Girl]] {{-}} [[Sunday's Best]] {{-}} [[Green Shirt]] {{-}} [[Bob Dylan]] | |||
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{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1979-01-09 London Guardian page 06 clipping 01.jpg|380px | [[image:1979-01-09 London Guardian page 06 clipping 01.jpg|380px]] | ||
<br><small>Clipping.</small> | <br><small>Clipping.</small> | ||
<small>Photo by [[Chris Gabrin]].</small><br> | |||
[[image:1979-01-09 London Guardian photo 01 cg.jpg|190px]] | |||
<small>Page scan.</small><br> | |||
[[image:1979-01-09 London Guardian page 06.jpg|x120px|border]] | |||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} |