Rolling Stone, March 22, 1979: Difference between revisions
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Consider "[[Oliver's Army]]," the pièce de résistance on Elvis Costello's '' | Consider "[[Oliver's Army]]," the pièce de résistance on Elvis Costello's ''Armed Forces'', an album that's a killer in several senses of the word. The tune sounds bright and bouncy, with a jangly keyboard riff along the lines of "Here Comes Santa Claus," and it's enough to make you want to rock around the room. But sit down, Fred, and get a load of the lyrics you're dancing to: | ||
{{n}}''There was a Checkpoint Charlie<br> | |||
{{n}}''He didn't crack a smile<br> | |||
{{n}}''But it's no laughing party<br> | |||
{{n}}''When you've been on the murder mile<br> | |||
{{n}}''Only takes one itchy trigger<br> | |||
{{n}}''One more widow, one less white nigger<br> | |||
{{n}}''Oliver's Army is here to stay<br> | |||
{{n}}''Oliver's Army are on their way<br> | |||
{{n}}''And I would rather be anywhere else than here today.<br> | |||
In fact, this is an angry song about imperialism and the military, reportedly written just after Costello visited Northern Ireland. In spirit and on its very congenial surface, "Oliver's Army" is a hit single. You can hear it one way, or the other way, or both. Elvis Costello doesn't seem to give a damn what you do, and that's no small part of his charm. | In fact, this is an angry song about imperialism and the military, reportedly written just after Costello visited Northern Ireland. In spirit and on its very congenial surface, "Oliver's Army" is a hit single. You can hear it one way, or the other way, or both. Elvis Costello doesn't seem to give a damn what you do, and that's no small part of his charm. | ||
Costello writes songs that are elusive at times, bursting with bright phrases you can't always catch. (As someone who still thinks | Costello writes songs that are elusive at times, bursting with bright phrases you can't always catch. (As someone who still thinks the Rolling Stones are singing "Heartbreaker... with your bowling ball," I'm all in favor of half-audible lyrics that encourage a valuable do-it-yourselfism in the listener.) He sings about violence with a vibrant romanticism, and about love with murder in his heart. He writes short, blunt compositions that don't pretend to be artful, though they are, and don't demand to be taken seriously, even though they're more stunning and substantial than anything rock has produced in a good long while. He doubles back on himself at every turn, and you're forced to take it or leave it. | ||
There's only one way to listen to Elvis Costello's music: his way. The songs are so brief they barrel right by, leaving an impression of jubilant and spiteful energies at war with each other. Every now and then, words like "quisling" or "concertina" leap out of nowhere to add to the confusion. Images are etched hard and fast, then replaced by new ones even stronger. There's an overload of cleverness on the LP — more smartly turned phrases than twelve songs ordinarily could bear. But the rapid pacing alleviates any hint of self-congratulation. | There's only one way to listen to Elvis Costello's music: his way. The songs are so brief they barrel right by, leaving an impression of jubilant and spiteful energies at war with each other. Every now and then, words like "quisling" or "concertina" leap out of nowhere to add to the confusion. Images are etched hard and fast, then replaced by new ones even stronger. There's an overload of cleverness on the LP — more smartly turned phrases than twelve songs ordinarily could bear. But the rapid pacing alleviates any hint of self-congratulation. | ||
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[[image:1979-03-22 Rolling Stone cover.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1979-03-22 Rolling Stone cover.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
[[image:1979-03-22 Rolling Stone page 60.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1979-03-22 Rolling Stone page 60 clipping.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
<br><small>Cover and clipping.</small> | <br><small>Cover and clipping.</small> | ||
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*[http://www.loubrooks.com/blog/2011/8/15/elvis-costello.html loubrooks.com] | *[http://www.loubrooks.com/blog/2011/8/15/elvis-costello.html loubrooks.com] | ||
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[[Category:Bibliography 1979 | [[Category:Bibliography]] | ||
[[Category:Bibliography 1979]] | |||
[[Category:Rolling Stone| Rolling Stone 1979-03-22]] | [[Category:Rolling Stone| Rolling Stone 1979-03-22]] | ||
[[Category:Magazine articles | [[Category:Magazine articles]] | ||
[[Category:Album reviews | [[Category:Album reviews]] | ||
[[Category:Armed Forces reviews | [[Category:Armed Forces reviews]] |
Revision as of 00:58, 27 January 2014
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