Music Banter - View Single Post - Bulldog's Armchair Guide To Elvis Costello

Bulldog · 11-03-2008, 03:43 PM

On with the thread!

This Year's Model
1978, Radar Records, Eden Studios

Almost as soon as My Aim Is True was released to rave reviews, Costello was back in the studio to record the songs he'd written and performed on that album's promotional tour. He did this with the aid of the band he'd formed for the tour; the Attractions (consisting of drummer Pete Thomas, bassist Bruce Thomas and classically-trained pianist/keyboardist Steve Nieve). The adoption of the Attractions as a backing band would ultimately (in my opinion at least) result in some of the most undervalued and breathtaking records of the next 10-odd years. This Year's Model isn't necessarily one of those records for me - there was much better to come from a truly talented singer-songwriter and a white-hot backing band.

That's not to play down this album though; it still is one of the highlights of a very large discography and the sound of Costello developing as a lyricist and performer. On top of that, as I've already mentioned, we hear the merits of the Attractions committed to tape for the very first time on a much more punk-influenced record than the work which preceded it...

1. No Action.
...and that sound is no more obvious than in the breakneck pace of the opening track. In essence it's a short, razor-sharp, punk-ish song propelled by Costello's typically simplistic guitar style and Pete Thomas' typically not-so-laid-back drumming. 9/10

2. This Year's Girl.
For the near-title track we're given our first true taste of the new-wave Costello was about to be renowned for, revolving as it does around the very prominent organ-playing of Steve Nieve. It's another very fine song indeed which just kind of rolls along to its conclusion. It's also one of my personal favourite lyrics from the man starting with;

See her picture in a thousand places
'cause she's this year's girl.
You think you all own little pieces
of this year's girl.
Forget your fancy manners,
forget your English grammar,
'cause you don't really give a damn
about this year's girl

Basically, it's another real winner of a song. 8/10

3. The Beat.
Following on from that we get our first example of the sublime, finger-picking talents of Attractions bassist Bruce Thomas. His bassline (one of many which puts him among my favourite ever bassists) underpins another finely crafted and fairly memorable new-wave song. 9/10

4. Pump It Up.
Easily one of the album highlights and indeed a career highlight for Costello. A powerful song driven by another wonderful Bruce Thomas bassline as well as another pretty cheeky (for want of a better phrase) lyric from its writer ('pump it up when you don't really need it, pump it up until you can feel it' makes for a pretty damn infectious chorus). 10/10

5. Little Triggers.
One of a few more musically gentle and down-tempo numbers on the album, it fits surprisingly snugly with the rest of the tracklisting (the dissatisfaction and angst in the lyrics certainly aren't exactly out of touch with its bedfellows). 7/10

6. You Belong To Me.
Another song heavy on the influence of punk and new-wave scenes of the time, it's a neat, musically upbeat tune, focusing again Nieve's organ and Costello's guitar but it's not really anything truly extraordinary and maybe the weakest part of the album. 5/10

7. Hand In Hand.
Not exactly one of my favourite songs this, and for me it rounds off that slightly weak middle section of This Year's Model. There's nothing wrong with the somewhat heavy-handed drumming style, the reined-in bassline, the flourishes of the organ or the singing, it just doesn't really do much for me. 4/10

8. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea.
But it doesn't exactly detract from the rest of the record's overall quality as right afterwards we're handed another sublime tune, this one in the form of the bass-driven punk stylings of '...Chelsea'. Another fairly ambitious and reasonably fast-paced recording, it's definitely one of the pivotal moments here... 9/10

9. Lip Service.
...and sits nicely before the furious 'Lip Service'. Over some wonderful performances from the Attractions Costello sings one of his most gloriously angry lyrics yet (eg the refrain in the chorus of 'lip service is all you'll ever get from me'). 10/10

10. Living In Paradise.
And then there's this little nugget just 'round the corner from it. More bitterly cynical wordplay in the lyrics, another great performance by the backing band, just another really good (though not quite spectacular), well-written and performed mid-tempo song. 9/10

11. Lipstick Vogue.
One of few punk-ish tunes of the day that I've heard which doesn't place emphasis on the guitar but instead Pete Thomas' virtuoso drumbeat. Short, sharp-as-nails, another one of my personal favourites on the album. 9/10

12. Night Rally.
The penultimate selection on the tracklisting features one more of the tighter performances from the Attractions underpinning a harrowing lyric considering the Neo-Fascism which the history books tell me was doing the rounds in Ol' Blighty in those days. It works well enough for me and builds up nicely to the closing track... 8/10

13. Radio Radio.
...which kicks into life with an explosion of noise. A brilliant performance from all concerned and another terrific lyric. Can't be bothered to go into it in much detail, I'll just let you hear for yourselves. 10/10

Outtakes

Big Tears: The only real outtake from the Eden sessions. It's a pretty decent mid-tempo number, featuring none other Mick Jones on guitar.

So, summing up then...

It's a genuinely fine album and, in my opinion, an improvement and a logical step onward from My Aim Is True. Whereas the previous year's effort dropped the odd hints of a punkier sound here and there, This Year's Model fully incorporates them where necessary. If you've only got My Aim Is True and you're scratching your head wondering where to go next, this is a pretty safe option. As I said earlier though, better was to come from Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

8.5/10

Tune in sometime in the near future for an Armed Forces review

11-03-2008, 03:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	On with the thread! This Year's Model 1978, Radar Records, Eden Studios Almost as soon as My Aim Is True was released to rave reviews, Costello was back in the studio to record the songs he'd written and performed on that album's promotional tour. He did this with the aid of the band he'd formed for the tour; the Attractions (consisting of drummer Pete Thomas, bassist Bruce Thomas and classically-trained pianist/keyboardist Steve Nieve). The adoption of the Attractions as a backing band would ultimately (in my opinion at least) result in some of the most undervalued and breathtaking records of the next 10-odd years. This Year's Model isn't necessarily one of those records for me - there was much better to come from a truly talented singer-songwriter and a white-hot backing band. That's not to play down this album though; it still is one of the highlights of a very large discography and the sound of Costello developing as a lyricist and performer. On top of that, as I've already mentioned, we hear the merits of the Attractions committed to tape for the very first time on a much more punk-influenced record than the work which preceded it... 1. No Action. ...and that sound is no more obvious than in the breakneck pace of the opening track. In essence it's a short, razor-sharp, punk-ish song propelled by Costello's typically simplistic guitar style and Pete Thomas' typically not-so-laid-back drumming. 9/10 2. This Year's Girl. For the near-title track we're given our first true taste of the new-wave Costello was about to be renowned for, revolving as it does around the very prominent organ-playing of Steve Nieve. It's another very fine song indeed which just kind of rolls along to its conclusion. It's also one of my personal favourite lyrics from the man starting with; See her picture in a thousand places 'cause she's this year's girl. You think you all own little pieces of this year's girl. Forget your fancy manners, forget your English grammar, 'cause you don't really give a damn about this year's girl Basically, it's another real winner of a song. 8/10 3. The Beat. Following on from that we get our first example of the sublime, finger-picking talents of Attractions bassist Bruce Thomas. His bassline (one of many which puts him among my favourite ever bassists) underpins another finely crafted and fairly memorable new-wave song. 9/10 4. Pump It Up. Easily one of the album highlights and indeed a career highlight for Costello. A powerful song driven by another wonderful Bruce Thomas bassline as well as another pretty cheeky (for want of a better phrase) lyric from its writer ('pump it up when you don't really need it, pump it up until you can feel it' makes for a pretty damn infectious chorus). 10/10 5. Little Triggers. One of a few more musically gentle and down-tempo numbers on the album, it fits surprisingly snugly with the rest of the tracklisting (the dissatisfaction and angst in the lyrics certainly aren't exactly out of touch with its bedfellows). 7/10 6. You Belong To Me. Another song heavy on the influence of punk and new-wave scenes of the time, it's a neat, musically upbeat tune, focusing again Nieve's organ and Costello's guitar but it's not really anything truly extraordinary and maybe the weakest part of the album. 5/10 7. Hand In Hand. Not exactly one of my favourite songs this, and for me it rounds off that slightly weak middle section of This Year's Model. There's nothing wrong with the somewhat heavy-handed drumming style, the reined-in bassline, the flourishes of the organ or the singing, it just doesn't really do much for me. 4/10 8. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea. But it doesn't exactly detract from the rest of the record's overall quality as right afterwards we're handed another sublime tune, this one in the form of the bass-driven punk stylings of '...Chelsea'. Another fairly ambitious and reasonably fast-paced recording, it's definitely one of the pivotal moments here... 9/10 9. Lip Service. ...and sits nicely before the furious 'Lip Service'. Over some wonderful performances from the Attractions Costello sings one of his most gloriously angry lyrics yet (eg the refrain in the chorus of 'lip service is all you'll ever get from me'). 10/10 10. Living In Paradise. And then there's this little nugget just 'round the corner from it. More bitterly cynical wordplay in the lyrics, another great performance by the backing band, just another really good (though not quite spectacular), well-written and performed mid-tempo song. 9/10 11. Lipstick Vogue. One of few punk-ish tunes of the day that I've heard which doesn't place emphasis on the guitar but instead Pete Thomas' virtuoso drumbeat. Short, sharp-as-nails, another one of my personal favourites on the album. 9/10 12. Night Rally. The penultimate selection on the tracklisting features one more of the tighter performances from the Attractions underpinning a harrowing lyric considering the Neo-Fascism which the history books tell me was doing the rounds in Ol' Blighty in those days. It works well enough for me and builds up nicely to the closing track... 8/10 13. Radio Radio. ...which kicks into life with an explosion of noise. A brilliant performance from all concerned and another terrific lyric. Can't be bothered to go into it in much detail, I'll just let you hear for yourselves. 10/10 Outtakes Big Tears: The only real outtake from the Eden sessions. It's a pretty decent mid-tempo number, featuring none other Mick Jones on guitar. So, summing up then... It's a genuinely fine album and, in my opinion, an improvement and a logical step onward from My Aim Is True. Whereas the previous year's effort dropped the odd hints of a punkier sound here and there, This Year's Model fully incorporates them where necessary. If you've only got My Aim Is True and you're scratching your head wondering where to go next, this is a pretty safe option. As I said earlier though, better was to come from Elvis Costello and the Attractions. 8.5/10 Tune in sometime in the near future for an Armed Forces review Last edited by Bulldog; 11-03-2008 at 04:53 PM.