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From the first notes of "Let Them All Talk" it's obvious that England's angry young man and his revitalized band aren't talking about time cards but punching the clock (the establishment) with musical fists. Unlike the last few years' albums that either had more tunes (20 per disc) than anyone could digest, or were so tense and complex that even fans couldn't find the chorus line, Costello's newest has gone back to basics with the most instantly catchy and hard-hitting effort since 1979's Armed Forces.
Each of the 13 songs is zippy, energized and individual. Several tunes use a big horn section for extra punch and a touch of the currently faddish Afro-pop feel. Others use a bit of orchestration or background vocals which add support to the Attractions' sound, especially on "T.K.O." and "The Greatest Thing." And "Everyday I Write the Book" (a sardonic answer to the pop oldie "The Book of Love") is impossible to forget even after just one listening. On Elvis' balladic look at the Falklands war and his country's political leanings, "Shipbuilding," there's even a haunting trumpet solo by jazz great Chet Baker.
Long after new wave has become mainstream pop, Elvis and his band are using rock as if it were an art form to be reckoned with. The result is one of the year's most exciting albums.
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