Yale Daily News, October 28, 1983: Difference between revisions
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Melodies have always been a strong point in Costello's music. and ''Punch the Clock'' is no exception. There are all kinds of tunes, from the punchy, syncopated "The Greatest Thing" to the laid-back love-song-with-a-twist "The Element Within Her," to the wistful ballad "Shipbuilding," a disillusioned lament of betrayal and war. | Melodies have always been a strong point in Costello's music. and ''Punch the Clock'' is no exception. There are all kinds of tunes, from the punchy, syncopated "The Greatest Thing" to the laid-back love-song-with-a-twist "The Element Within Her," to the wistful ballad "Shipbuilding," a disillusioned lament of betrayal and war. | ||
One of the best songs on this album is "The Invisible Man," an upbeat, dizzy creation with generous doses of Costello humor and irony, along with a great source and a lot more beneath the surface. ''"But if stars are only painted on the ceiling above / Then who can you turn to and who do you love".. | |||
Costello's distinctive voice perfectly captures his sarcasm and wry outlook, but it also has a certain, raw, vulnerable quality which tugs the listener into the emotion of the songs. In "Charm School" and "Shipbuilding," two of the few non-upbeat songs, the disillusionment and bitterness of their message comes across with aching clarity. In his faster songs, Elvis crams more words than you would believe possible between trumpet fanfares and insistent drumbeats. | |||
''Punch the Clock'' is such an exhilarating experience that it's hard to sit still and listen to. Costello has never been more brilliantly musical, and he's certainly never been this positive. His songs admit the pain of betrayal, but he carries on with a new clear-eyed strength and optimism. ''" I punch the clock and it's OK / I know a girl who takes my breath away / And it's the greatest thing." | |||
Elvis is on top again with ''Punch the Clock'', a celebration of survival that should appeal to non-Costello fans as well as to the old guard. And isn't it the greatest thing... | |||
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Revision as of 23:28, 20 April 2015
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