After releasing and touring the intense This Year's Model, Elvis Costello quickly returned to the studio with the Attractions to record his third album, Armed Forces. In contrast to the stripped-down pop and rock of his first two albums, Armed Forces boasted a detailed and textured pop production, but it was hardly lavish. However, the more spacious arrangements -- complete with ringing pianos, echoing reverb, layered guitars, and harmonies -- accent Costello's melodies, making the record more accessible than his first two albums. Perversely, while the sound of Costello's music was becoming more open and welcoming, his songs became more insular and paranoid, even though he cloaked his emotions well. Many of the songs on Armed Forces use politics as a metaphor for personal relationships, particularly fascism, which explains its working title, Emotional Fascism. Occasionally, the lyrics are forced, but the music never is -- the album demonstrates the depth of Costello's compositional talents and how he can move from the hook-laden pop of "Accidents Will Happen" to the paranoid "Goon Squad" with ease. Some of the songs, like the light reggae of "Two Little Hitlers" and the impassioned "Party Girl," build on his strengths, while others like the layered "Oliver's Army" take Costello into new territories. It's a dense but accessible pop record and ranks as his third masterpiece in a row. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Rovi
収録内容
構成数 | 9枚
合計収録時間 | 03:13:03
1.
[LPレコード]
1.
Accidents Will Happen
2.
Senior Service
3.
Oliver's Army
4.
Big Boys
5.
Green Shirt
6.
Party Girl
7.
Goon Squad
8.
Busy Bodies
9.
Sunday's Best
10.
Moods for Moderns
11.
Chemistry Class
12.
Two Little Hitlers
2.
[LPレコード]
1.
Accidents Will Happen
2.
Mystery Dance
3.
Goon Squad
4.
Party Girl
5.
Stranger in the House
6.
Alison
7.
Lipstick Vogue
8.
Watching the Detectives
9.
You Belong to Me
10.
Chemistry Class
3.
[LPレコード]
1.
Goon Squad
2.
B-Movie
3.
Green Shirt
4.
I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea
5.
Opportunity
6.
So Young
7.
High Fidelity
8.
Lipstick Vogue
9.
Watching the Detectives
10.
Big Boys
11.
Pump It Up
12.
You Belong to Me
13.
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?
4.
[LPレコード]
1.
Clean Money
2.
Talking in the Dark
3.
Wednesday Week
4.
Tiny Steps
5.
Crawling to the U.S.A.
6.
Big Boys
7.
Green Shirt
8.
My Funny Valentine
5.
[LPレコード]
1.
Oliver's Army
2.
Waiting for the End of the World
3.
Big Boys
4.
This Year’s Girl
5.
You Belong to Me
6.
Pump It Up
6.
[LPレコード]
1.
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
2.
No Dancing
3.
I Stand Accused
4.
(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?
7.
[LPレコード]
1.
Oliver's Army
2.
Big Boys
8.
[LPレコード]
1.
Accidents Will Happen
2.
Busy Bodies
9.
[LPレコード]
1.
American Squirm
2.
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding