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Elvis Costello's armed all right, but against who, why, and most importantly with what?
Considering Costello's infatuation with the primitivism cohabiting on his debut LP My Aim Is True, one has to wonder what's made him slide toward the pure power popisms (of producer Nick Lowe) evident on Armed Forces, Elvis' third most baffling release.
Just look at the cover art. First of all, the front looks like Calder and Jackson Pollack got sick together. And the back, . . . well ... elephants? Confusing, huh? I get the feeling the record company wanted the elephants on the front but Elvis wouldn't go for it.
There seems to be a carefully honed progression from the sadistic attack of My Aim Is True to the chimed-up rhythms on This Year's Model assisted by a circus-like organ that makes the meanest lyrics sound like joyous boasting to finally the misleading sweet intensity of Armed Forces.
The simple reason this record is so confusing is that there's rarely ever any of the forceful arrogance in Elvis' singing we got used to from listening to the previous albums. There are times, though, on "Big Boys" and more prominently "Goon Squad" (where the vocal is supported by an echo effect) that he reverts back.
Besides the usual pungent lyrics, the munitions here are respectful pillages of Beatlesque and other mid-late sixties pop techniques. Notice the Abbey Road type fades of "Accidents Will Happen" and "Party Girl."
This time Elvis' songs are buttressed, not by arrogant vocals, but by a grand interaction of organ and guitar chording. The organ does more than hold the album together. Along with Elvis' incessant rhythm guitar, it establishes a fullness that continues on every track.
Included in the first 200,000 copies is a live single featuring a six minute version of "Watching The Detectives." However, a piano which accompanies "Accidents Will Happen" deserves more attention. Elvis sounds like he's had it with critics and the music biz when he cries "I don't want to hear it / Cause ahh know what I've done."
When he almost whispers "You're mind is made up, but you're mouth is undone," one gets the feeling that Elvis has had some undue pressure put on him lately,
Perhaps Elvis is rebelling against this mysterious pressure or he could very well be conceding to it; only his producer knows for sure. But for Bruce, Graham, Willy etc. ... it's still a tough act to follow.
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