White Plains Journal News, February 2, 1979: Difference between revisions
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{{n}}''give it a chance <br> | {{n}}''give it a chance <br> | ||
{{n}}''starts like fascination <br> | {{n}}''starts like fascination <br> | ||
{{n}}''ends up like a trance | {{n}}''ends up like a trance | ||
To a greater degree than either ''My Aim Is True'' or ''This Year's Model'', the album pulls the listener in conflicting, but equally compelling directions. Neither the lyrics nor the music strike as immediately as Costello's earlier work; the album doesn't rock as hard, but it penetrates deeper. Its perceptions are paranoid, funny and near-genius. | To a greater degree than either ''My Aim Is True'' or ''This Year's Model'', the album pulls the listener in conflicting, but equally compelling directions. Neither the lyrics nor the music strike as immediately as Costello's earlier work; the album doesn't rock as hard, but it penetrates deeper. Its perceptions are paranoid, funny and near-genius. | ||
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But while Dylan's songs often threaten to short out from the array of symbols and images they incorporated, Costello's lyrics are more precise. His songs are definitely shorter and seemingly more to the point. | But while Dylan's songs often threaten to short out from the array of symbols and images they incorporated, Costello's lyrics are more precise. His songs are definitely shorter and seemingly more to the point. | ||
The overtly political "Oliver's Army" sounds like a commercial for recruiting mercenaries. (''"If you're out of luck or out of work we can send you to Johannesburg."'') "Goon Squad," "Senior Service" and "Green Shirt" revolve around military and-or corporate evil. Most of the remaining tunes | The overtly political "Oliver's Army" sounds like a commercial for recruiting mercenaries. (''"If you're out of luck or out of work we can send you to Johannesburg."'') "Goon Squad," "Senior Service" and "Green Shirt" revolve around military and-or corporate evil. Most of the remaining tunes describe the mystery dance of male-female relations. "Two Little Hitlers" is a sitcom fusing all of this. | ||
One might reasonably question the humor potential of nazism. ''"She's my soft-touch typewriter and I am the great dictator"'' provides a partial answer. Much of the rest lies in Costello's delivery of lines like ''"are you ready for the final solution?"'' in "Chemistry Class." | (One might reasonably question the humor potential of nazism. ''"She's my soft-touch typewriter and I am the great dictator"'' provides a partial answer. Much of the rest lies in Costello's delivery of lines like ''"are you ready for the final solution?"'' in "Chemistry Class.") | ||
Such reduction doesn't do justice to the songs, however. They are all these things and more. And less. A series of shared images, including political and high school parties, severed heads and bodies and accidents, all in addition to the | Such reduction doesn't do justice to the songs, however. They are all these things and more. And less. A series of shared images, including political and high school parties, severed heads and bodies and accidents, all in addition to the military and corporate entities running throughout, the songs explode off into different directions and back upon each other. | ||
At the same time, Costello continually plays word games within the tunes. Changing choruses. Reviving cliches. Constant puns. (''"I get hit looking for a miss."'') Scrambling the I's and you's. Costello is precise in his ambiguity. He stands amid, but not always behind, his words. | At the same time, Costello continually plays word games within the tunes. Changing choruses. Reviving cliches. Constant puns. (''"I get hit looking for a miss."'') Scrambling the I's and you's. Costello is precise in his ambiguity. He stands amid, but not always behind, his words. | ||
In the music, Costello's slashing guitar has given way, under the production of Nick Lowe, to various keyboards. They have mobilized straight classical phrases, '60s quotes (the ''Abbey Road ''tag on "Party | In the music, Costello's slashing guitar has given way, under the production of Nick Lowe, to various keyboards. They have mobilized straight classical phrases, '60s quotes (the ''Abbey Road ''tag on "Party Girl") and Devo-like riffs into action. Playful melodies often couch the most threatening lyrics, further masking Costello's true aim. | ||
Vocals are layered, in probably the most effective use of overdubbing rock has heard. No one would accuse Costello of possessing a "pure" voice, but, again like Dylan, he's a great singer, taking lyrics to places that a more technically proficient voice might disguise. | Vocals are layered, in probably the most effective use of overdubbing rock has heard. No one would accuse Costello of possessing a "pure" voice, but, again like Dylan, he's a great singer, taking lyrics to places that a more technically proficient voice might disguise. | ||
The direct power clashes that struggled on ''My Aim Is True'' and ''This Year's Model'' have evolved into a more complex | The direct power clashes that struggled on ''My Aim Is True'' and ''This Year's Model'' have evolved into a more complex psychological warfare on ''Armed Forces''. They are no less brutal for that complexity, however, and fit well within the album's slogan and original title — ''Emotional Fascism''. | ||
Elvis Costello's music possesses power and lucidity, steeped in a healthy mockery of not only the word but himself. It's hard to ignore him. | Elvis Costello's music possesses power and lucidity, steeped in a healthy mockery of not only the word but himself. It's hard to ignore him. | ||
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{{n}}''and I want my slice <br> | {{n}}''and I want my slice <br> | ||
{{n}}''but I know you got me <br> | {{n}}''but I know you got me <br> | ||
{{n}}''and I'm in a grip-like vise | {{n}}''and I'm in a grip-like vise | ||
Ends up like a trance. Elvis is king. | Ends up like a trance. Elvis is king. | ||
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{{tags}}[[Armed Forces]] {{-}} [[My Aim Is True]] {{-}} [[This Year's Model]] {{-}} [[Bob Dylan]] {{-}} [[Oliver's Army]] {{-}} [[Goon Squad]] {{-}} [[Senior Service]] {{-}} [[Green Shirt]] {{-}} [[Two Little Hitlers]] {{-}} [[Chemistry Class]] {{-}} [[Nick Lowe]] {{-}} [[Party Girl]] {{-}} [[Emotional Fascism]] | |||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
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{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1979-02-02 White Plains Journal News page | [[image:1979-02-02 White Plains Journal News page 05M clipping 01.jpg|350px]] | ||
[[image:1979-02-02 White Plains Journal News page | <br><small>Clipping.</small> | ||
<br><small>Page scans.</small> | |||
[[image:1979-02-02 White Plains Journal News page 14M clipping 01.jpg|350px]] | |||
<br><small>Clipping.</small> | |||
<small>Page scans.</small><br> | |||
[[image:1979-02-02 White Plains Journal News page 05M.jpg|x120px|border]] | |||
[[image:1979-02-02 White Plains Journal News page 14M.jpg|x120px|border]] | |||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Journal_News Wikipedia: The Journal News] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Journal_News Wikipedia: The Journal News] | ||
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Revision as of 14:59, 16 January 2020
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