UC Irvine New University, January 23, 1979: Difference between revisions
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My friends and I waited interminable weeks for this album — one of them going so far as to call ''L.A. Times'' rock reviewer Robert Hilburn and demand to know when the record would come out. We began telephoning local record stores daily until one afternoon last week the wait was suddenly over. The entire late-afternoon and evening were spent listening to this one record over and over again. There is something distinctly pleasurable about looking forward to an event and not being disappointed by the outcome. | |||
As I sat realizing how obviously excellent the album was, I also remembered I had agreed to review it. | |||
The average track-by-track record review tends to be a bore. Yet, for the first time since high school, I've decided to write one, because ''Armed Forces'' is so intricate and explosive that each song requires separate attention. For the sake of novelty, and because I view ''Armed Forces'' as a temporary ending for Costello, I'm going to review the album backwards. | |||
"(What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" — The last song on ''Armed Forces'' serves as a fiery conclusion to the record. It is the first time any major artist has attempted to reply to the destroy-ethic of most punk rock. The song, written by Nick Lowe, sounds similar to Bruce Springsteen, rock's rough-and-tough romantic, even down to the rock 'n' roll wail Costello uses. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this track is that it's the first song on any album Elvis has recorded that he didn't write himself | |||
"Two Little Hitlers" — A pair of lovers reappears periodically through the entire album, and "Two Little Hiders" is their last song. Despite (or because of) their mutual insensitivity, they marry into a miserable coupling that Costello claims will eventually lead to one lover's complete domination of the other. More on this relationship as we move backwards. | |||
"Chemistry Class" — "Sparks are flying from electrical pylons/Snakes and ladders running up and down her nylons." Uh-oh, sounds like drugs to me. Listen to the song's music and see if it doesn't seem as if Elvis has been doing some important, non-musical experimentation. | |||
"Moods for Moderns" — Very, very pop-sounding. On a track like this it's very easy to see the enormous effect Nick Lowe has had on Costello. ''Armed Forces'', which Nick Lowe produced, is much prettier and cleaner than either of Costello's other two albums. Optimistic note: they're playing this song on KLOS. | |||
"Busy Bodies" — As promised, here they are again, that happy-go-lucky pair of insensitives who later get married in "Two Little Hitlers." "Busy Bodies" is not too much more than a vicious indictment of one-night stands: ''"You want to kiss her / but she's | |||
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Revision as of 06:21, 23 December 2016
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