Until now, I had never listened to a complete Elvis Costello. My knowledge was limited to a few popular songs here or there. By the way, the album I am referring to is the 1993 Rhino re-issue of Armed Forces which includes nine additional tracks. I will say, it took me a few listens for this album to catch on. About three complete listens, actually, before I found myself humming the songs in my head at work. Initially, I was not that impressed. Even now, I don't know if "impressed" is the word I would use concerning this album.
I feel that it is a good album and I definitely enjoy listening to it, but I'm finding a hard time stamping my "greatest albums" approval on it. The album definitely has some stellar tracks, especially "Green Shirt," "Sunday's Best," "Accidents Will Happen," and "Oliver's Army." I thoroughly enjoyed the other tracks, as well. Except "Good Squad." Something about the background singer who bellows "goon squad" during the chorus that rubs me wrong.
The two tracks that rubbed me the right way (don't you just love the unintentional raunchiness seeping off that sentence) are "Green Shirt" and "Sunday's Best." The former kicking off with a bouncing beat which leads into a minute machine gun rattle drum banging. The chorus is absolutely delectable, by which I mean you will have it in your head for days. Word is this song was written about a BBC newswoman who despite looking attractive and well-dressed delivers all the horrors of the day. Which brings me to my next point. Despite one's opinions about Costello's music, one cannot deny his lyrical genius. The man not only writes great melodies (some in which his voice cannot equally match), but his wordplay is intelligent and witty. Equally fantastic is "Sunday Best." The keyboard sounds like something you would hear while enjoying elephants under the big top. Here, Costello's warble seems right at home. Such a simple, but wonderful song.
The bass lines are jumpy and tight. The keyboards keep the listener bouncing. The musicianship is excellent, even to the point where it makes Costello's famous warble seemingly wonderful. At first, I found it a bit off-putting, but in the end I came to warm up to it. Perhaps, even enjoy its' sound.
I definitely recommend it to anyone who has an open mind about music and is not bound to the mindless drone of modern pop. I insist you give it a few listens to grow on you. If you do, I have faith you will find yourself sitting at your cubicle, making a sandwich, mowing your lawn, etc. while singing to yourself, "You tease, you flirt, and you shine all the buttons on your green shirt."
I am going to give this album a passing grade on the "greatest album" report grade. Partly, due to my sheer enjoyment of the album, but mostly because I believe a great album should be one you find yourself playing over and over and this one definitely fits that description. Not my favorite album, but still humming it throughout the course of the day.
This album's cover song comes to you from your local insane asylum.
-d.
One of the three ‘angry young men’ along with Joe Jackson and Ian Dury, Elvis Costello has had an unpredictable career. Whether getting himself banned from NBC for playing "Radio Radio" on Saturday Night Live despite being told not to, or recording standards with Burt Bacharach he has had little care for conventions. Armed Forces is not his most controversial work or his best selling, but it is debatably his artistic zenith. There have been several releases with different song orders, so I chose a version that compiled every song that’s been associated with the album. I won’t even try to get into each one.
I tend to weigh my reviews heavily on the music, and from that standpoint this is a great record, but the lyrical content here is second to none. Costello is far and away one of the best songwriters of the last 40 years. It’s worth checking out just for the poetry and storytelling. "Goon Squad" is an aggressive number, carrying a bit of a Blondie influence. I love this song but I can’t help thinking of The Princess Bride every time I hear the chorus. "Accidents Will Happen" was already known as a great single (in a bit of fun symbolism the cover was printed inside out) but has become famous to a new generation through its use as the title of an extremely controversial episode of Degrassi: the Next Generation.
Probably the most well known track here is a cover of Nick Lowe’s "(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding." It wasn’t included on the original British release but was switched in for "Sunday’s Best" on the American version. Outside of being insanely catchy, it seems to gain meaning every year, with it’s description of feeling so crushed by the state of things that you have to ask the title question. "Sunday’s Best" is in itself one of the more off the wall songs here. An almost off-putting carnival/calliope feel makes things feel a bit creepy. There’s really nothing bad on this entire album. A few tracks are a bit pointless, like the strangely funky "Moods For Moderns."Not a terrible song, it just doesn’t really fit in. Way to reminiscent of "Funky Town."
A little bit of local lore. Elvis met Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett at the Holiday Inn here in Columbus in ‘79, and after spending time in the hotel bar Costello became annoyed and tried to end the conversation. Drunkenly deciding the only way to get away was to be so shocking and rude that the discussion would have to end, he referred to James Brown as a “jive ass nigger” and Ray Charles as a “lazy ignorant nigger”. In spite of the incredible stupidity of the idea, he had been working extensively with the Rock Against Racism organization for years, and quickly was forgiven after making amends. Nonetheless, a black eye that embarrassed him for years.
Altogether a great album, and one deserving of making the list. I’d have put this in my top two hundred, if not higher. Look for the later releases which brought back tracks from a bonus disc that came with the original UK version. There’s a great live cut of "Alison," the original of which, along with "Radio Radio," would make my top twenty five of all time. It’s worth the time and effort to track down. Regardless, this man is an institution, and one of the all time greats. Just buy it.
Instead of the standard cover, here’s the Beastie Boys helping Costello recreate his infamous SNL performance. Enjoy.
-tfm
