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| <center> Joe Camilleri </center> | | <center> Joe Camilleri </center> |
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| | '''This month, the singles are reviewed by Joe Camilleri of Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, with help from Falcons roadies Geoff and Tony. At times the conversation deviated from the record at hand, but the sidetracks were often as interesting as the review comments so I've left most of them in - D.R. |
| {{Bibliography text}} | | {{Bibliography text}} |
| [[image:1979-03-00 Roadrunner page 22 clipping 01.jpg|120px|border|right]] | | [[image:1979-03-00 Roadrunner page 22 clipping 01.jpg|150px|border|right]] |
| | Joe: I don't think it'll do very well here. It's interesting because it's definitely directed at the American market. Interesting kind of work on that one with that jangling guitar, very sixties sound. I think it's a good record. It's one record that I find I have to listen to a few times. That's the second time I've heard it and I still haven't got right into it. Nick Lowe has that effect on me with his records, like with ''Jesus Of Cool''. I didn't like that at first but it really grew on me. It's unfortunate that these singles don't get an opportunity except on stations like 3RRR or 2JJ. But even at their strongest peak those stations will never break through. I don't think 10 per cent of the people are aware that it's available to them. Maybe when FM comes in, 'cos it has to come in strong, there might be a little more awareness. Maybe if some of these commercial stations go FM it'll make a difference. This tune will probably be one of the top 10 tunes in the 3RRR top forty, but it probably wouldn't even get a hearing anywhere else. It's hard to tell, of course. Costello's breaking through and there's a few others. |
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Revision as of 22:46, 22 June 2017
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Armed Forces
Elvis Costello
Ross Stapleton
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The third album from Elvis Costello comes hot on the heels of his Australian tour so Costello fans have already been introduced to some of the material on it. However, as anyone who attended his concerts would testify the live Costello is quite different to the recorded one.
This album immediately strikes you as being similar to his previous two but further listening reveals its true quality. Costello's vocal style is undoubtedly responsible for this initial impression because his distinctive style does not appear repetitive. There is no mistaking that tense and sometimes strangled singing, vehemently attacking the lyrics and bending vowels into the Costello mode.
The production on this album is clean and precise highlighting Costello's singing and negating his guitar playing to the point of irrelevance... not that that matters with the Attractions behind him solid and strong all the way. The rhythm section of Bruce Thomas and Pete Thomas provide a consistent base for all the tracks here. Although it seems very basic and simple at first, close listening reveals an intricate rhythmic partnership. Now that may be more by design of the producer than natural partnership but whatever the case, it works. One thing that is certainly not contrived on this album is the piano and organ playing of Steve Naive. His playing adds color and depth right through the album despite the overpowering vocals. It provides a perfect complement to the melodies and certainly showcases his musical training for it is both lyrical and thoughtful. In fact, I think if it wasn't for his presence on the album, Costello would have had only a duplicate of his last album. Naive may be a petulant little shit on stage but he knows what he's doing when it comes to music.
The cover and inner sleeve of this album deserve a mention because of their obscurity and the trouble taken with them. I'm not going to bother trying to interpret them because any meaning that can be read into them is purely subjective... they're a symbolist's delight.
The lyrics are similarly obscure and the same applies as above. Only Costello knows what they're really about and anything you or I make of them is conjecture. This raises the question of whether the lyrics are important or is the music the thing? Costello may have had a grand theme for this album and his subject is obvious but its importance is debatable particularly when the music stands on its own merits. Yet something about Costello's style is disturbing. It's a feeling that you've heard it somewhere before although you know it wasn't the same. Just as he created a unique identity and labelled it with a synthesis of infamous names he synthesises a unique sound by combining various musical styles which seem obvious although you can never quite pinpoint them.
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Page scan.
American Squirm
Nick Lowe
Joe Camilleri
This month, the singles are reviewed by Joe Camilleri of Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, with help from Falcons roadies Geoff and Tony. At times the conversation deviated from the record at hand, but the sidetracks were often as interesting as the review comments so I've left most of them in - D.R.
 Joe: I don't think it'll do very well here. It's interesting because it's definitely directed at the American market. Interesting kind of work on that one with that jangling guitar, very sixties sound. I think it's a good record. It's one record that I find I have to listen to a few times. That's the second time I've heard it and I still haven't got right into it. Nick Lowe has that effect on me with his records, like with Jesus Of Cool. I didn't like that at first but it really grew on me. It's unfortunate that these singles don't get an opportunity except on stations like 3RRR or 2JJ. But even at their strongest peak those stations will never break through. I don't think 10 per cent of the people are aware that it's available to them. Maybe when FM comes in, 'cos it has to come in strong, there might be a little more awareness. Maybe if some of these commercial stations go FM it'll make a difference. This tune will probably be one of the top 10 tunes in the 3RRR top forty, but it probably wouldn't even get a hearing anywhere else. It's hard to tell, of course. Costello's breaking through and there's a few others.
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Elvis Costello
Keith Shadwick
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Out of the gutters
The story of Stiff Records: Part Two
Stuart Matchett
Last issue Dave Robinson described the...
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Cover.
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External links
