Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
by Daniel Cressey
published: 16 / 9 / 2005
Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
In the latest in our 'Re :View' series, in which our writers re-examine albums from the past, Daniel Cressey looks back on Elvis Costello's classic 1979 album 'Armed Forces'
Released in 1979, 'Armed Forces' is probably Elvis Costello’s most commercially successful album and one that has produced more classic Costello staples than arguably any other. Although it lacks probably his greatest ballad, ‘Alison’, and possibly his greatest song, ‘Watching the Detectives’, it would be a strange best of album for this artist that didn’t feature at the very least ‘Accidents Will Happen’ and ‘Oliver’s Army’. The later shows Costello at his best, laying bitter lyrics about the British army in Northern Ireland over a truly brilliant pop melody. Admittedly this song's piano line – by Costello’s own admission – owes more than a little to Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’. In fact it is perhaps part of the pleasure of listening to this track that the saccharine-though-pretty pop song has been fused with lyrics condemning the slaughter of the Irish underclass. Costello’s brilliance has always been to fuse brilliant lyrics about often controversial subjects with songs that everyone would sing along to. From ‘Accidents Will Happen’ all the way through to (my personal favourite here) ‘Two Little Hitlers’ every song here is musical crack. Initially simply fun pop songs they soon become lodged in your mind, requiring frequent replays. Sometimes 'Armed Forces' can be impenetrable, sometimes it can be wonderful. It is always a classic.
Track Listing:-
Band Links:-
http://www.elviscostello.com/https://en-gb.facebook.com/ElvisCostello/
https://twitter.com/ElvisCostello
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-
features |
Unfaithful Music (2015) |
Despite its length, Lisa Torem enjoys reading about British singer/songwriter/producer Elvis Costello's colourful life in his newly released memoir and offers commentary in her monthly column, 'Raging Pages' |
photography |
Photoscapes (2021) |
Andrew Twambley photographs Elvis Costello on his recent UK tour at the Blackpool Opera House. |
soundcloud
reviews |
Spanish Model (2021) |
Remarkable new album from Elvis Costello who had reworked his debut album 'This Year's Model' in Spanish |
Hey Clockface (2020) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Prisoners - Interview
Barrie Barlow - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart