UC Irvine New University, January 23, 1979: Difference between revisions
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"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. | "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. | "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. | "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 | "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 busy with her makeup."'' Brilliant lyrics, but, as is always the case with Elvis' words, you can only hear them if you want to. | ||
"Goon Squad" — This song, which opens up side two like a kick in the ribs, is the nastiest sounding on the whole album. In it Costello is a juvenile delinquent in a boys' military school writing home to his parents. Once again the lyrics are superb. | |||
"Party Girl" — Moving backward to the last track on side one, "Party Girl" is one of the most gentle and complex songs on ''Armed Forces''. It's about time Costello started paying more attention to his Beatles influences. Following several verses of lyrical ambiguity, he sings, ''"I know I shouldn't raise my hopes so high"''; it's clear that Elvis Costello is singing to the girl he hasn't yet met. | |||
"Green Shirt" — More weird lyrics, more weird keyboards, more hypnotic bass, and maybe more drugs. Who knows? One of the finest songs on the album anyway. | |||
"Big Boys" — I may be mistaken, but this seems to me to be the first song about that aforementioned pair of lovers. Actually, this one is just about the man and how terribly hard he tries to be successful in his romantic pursuit. Together with the other two, this part of the trilogy is concerned with the vacancy of modern plastic love. | |||
"Oliver's Army" — ''"If you're out of luck or out of work / We can send you to Johannesburg".'' Yes, this is a song about mercenaries. As Costello sings ''"it's a professional career"'' through a contemptuous sneer, his band The Attractions pound and rejoice in the background as if they were off to war. Another one of the best songs on ''Armed Forces''. | |||
"Senior Services" — Only Elvis Costello would do two songs like "Goon Squad" and "Senior Services" on the same album. While the former attacks military schools for the young, the latter takes aim at old folks' homes. Good words, too: ''"Though it may be secondhand / It's by no means second-rate."'' | |||
"Accidents Will Happen" — At last we've reached the beginning. "Accidents Will Happen" opens ''Armed Forces'', as well as the live three-song EP that comes with the first pressings of the album. | |||
Briefly, the live EP is an encapsulation of Costello's [[Concert 1978-06-04 Los Angeles|show]] last June at Hollywood High School. Although the album version of "Accidents Will Happen" is very strong, it seems a little pale compared to the simple live rendition. I am addressing the EP last in this backward regression because it was released to radio at least a week before the album. Besides "Accidents," the EP includes "Alison" and "Watching the Detectives." Costello's motivation for releasing the EP is obvious: he simply wants people to know how good he is live. | |||
Tickets for his upcoming [[Concert 1979-02-13 Long Beach|concert]] at the Long Beach Arena went on sale Monday morning. I plan to spend Sunday night at the Arena... waiting. | |||
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{{Bibliography notes header}} | {{Bibliography notes header}} | ||
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[[image:1979-01-23 UC Irvine New University page 12.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1979-01-23 UC Irvine New University page 12.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
[[image:1979-01-23 UC Irvine New University page 13.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1979-01-23 UC Irvine New University page 13.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
<br><small>Page | <br><small>Page scans.</small> | ||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_activities_and_traditions_at_UC_Irvine#New_University Wikipedia: UC Irvine New University] | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_activities_and_traditions_at_UC_Irvine#New_University Wikipedia: UC Irvine New University] | ||
*[http://ucispace.lib.uci.edu/handle/10575/6489 ucispace.lib.uci.edu | *[http://ucispace.lib.uci.edu/handle/10575/6489 ucispace.lib.uci.edu] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT: | {{DEFAULTSORT:UC Irvine New University 1979-01-23}} | ||
[[Category:Bibliography]] | [[Category:Bibliography]] | ||
[[Category:Bibliography 1979]] | [[Category:Bibliography 1979]] |
Latest revision as of 18:00, 9 December 2018
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