We're Not Who You Think We Are
Album: This Year’s Model (U.K.)
Year: 1978
I think I’ve already written how the import soundtrack to an obscure film called That Summer! was a key for me discovering a variety of great songs by punk rock new wave alternative whatever artists.
As it turns out, that soundtrack was where I first heard Elvis Costello & The Attractions twisted “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea,” which was left off of This Year’s Model here in the U.S. Of course, they added “Radio Radio,” so I guess it’s a draw.
Album: This Year’s Model
Year: 1978
It took me awhile to fall in love with “Lipstick Vogue.” At first, it was too hard and shiny for me to get a handle on.
Unlike things like “Pump It Up” or “You Belong to Me” (neither of which I’m not writing about but I very well could), there seemed to be no antecedent for “Lipstick Vogue.”
And that all comes down to the performance of Bruce Thomas, Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve, who were on fucking fire from the first drumbeat.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #400: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “Lipstick Vogue”
Album: This Year’s Model
Year: 1978
“I don’t wanna kiss you, I don’t wanna touch” sings a lonely Elvis Costello from the left speaker, but even before he finishes the line, the whole world has exploded.
Thus begins This Year’s Model, one of all-time greatest punk rock albums which is also a singer-songwriter albums, and one of the all-time greatest singer-songwriter albums which is also a punk rock album.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #399: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “No Action”
Album: This Year’s Model (U.S.)
Year: 1978
As it turns out, the first time I ever heard Elvis Costello was exactly 38 years ago today.
By late 1977, Saturday Night Live was pretty much my favorite thing in the universe, so damn straight I was watching live (or “live” since I’m on the best coast) when Elvis Costello did his infamous Lorne Michaels-pissing-off stunt of stopping “Less That Zero” and launching into “Radio, Radio.”
I’d read about Elvis, whose debut album My Aim Is True had just come out in the U.S., but of course in 1977, I didn’t believe that anybody who looked like he did in his pictures could actually, you know, rock.
Rock stars looked like Steven Tyler, not some dude who wore big glasses.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #398: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “Radio Radio”