|
Emotional fascism.
Certainly not the common topic in college political texts, I'll grant you. But fear not, for that congenial political scientist, Elvis Costello, is back and with him comes Armed Forces.
Creatively utilizing the concept album medium, Costello and the Attractions have fashioned a tightly produced, and often moving, socio-political scenario of modern attitude.
Costello's motives, thematically or musically, aren't always simple to dissect. One might not expect a large amount of complexity from an artist who has pumped out three albums (My Aim is True, This Years Model) in only 18 months. But, Costello's magnetism is overwhelming nonetheless.
Costello's sound has a remarkably similar resemblance to a product the Beatles produced over 10 years ago. It brings to mind the Fab Four's Rubber Soul period, complete with mantra-like song endings and quixotic harmonies. Yet, Costello's sadistic lisp, the Attraction's hard driving rhythms, and their undeniably punkish attitude lays bare the Beatles attempts at cynisistic assault.
Side two of Armed Forces opens with the powerful "Goon Squad," the hysterical last plead of a rising young man realizing his imprisonment in Costello's cannibalistic society: "But I never thought they'd put me in the goon squad." The remainder of the album traces a similar path through the narcissistic "Moods for Moderns," the imperialistic "Oliver's Army" and the ominous "Accidents Will Happen."
Costello doesn't stop at pointing an angry finger toward the oppressive minority, he boldly projects blame on us and himself as well; this self-oppression explained perfectly in "Two Little Hitlers."
The artist paints a barbarous, totalitarian picture of current civilization. Images of fascism, big brother and world crime attack from every corner of Armed Forces, serving as grim reminders of where we've been and where we're headed.
It's certainly not a delightful chore reminding us of all those nasty little things. Nor is it fun being reminded. But someone will always have to do it because sometimes the world just seems to forget. Yet through it all there still remains hope for optimism on Armed Forces.
Costello's raving throughout the album all point to one singular notion which we're hit with at the album's end when Costello fervently sings, "What's so funny bout peace, love and understanding..."
| 
