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Product Description
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Less hot under the collar than This Year's Model, Armed Forces was partly inspired by Elvis Costello and the Attractions' 1978 American tour. The songs are set to deceptively poppy arrangements that use plinky ABBA keyboards ("Oliver's Army," a hit single about mercenaries), Beatles-ish devices (the fade on "Party Girl"), and whimsical waltz-time signatures ("Sunday's Best") to mask their core cynicism. "Goon Squad," "Busy Bodies," and "Accidents Will Happen" are among Costello's most melodically powerful songs to this point, leading the way to the masterful Get Happy!!. --Barney Hoskyns
Product Description
2007 remastered reissue of his pop-textured 1979 album in digipack
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At the time of its release I liked a few songs but didn`t appreciate this album as a whole. Bought it recently because of the few good tunes I remember liking only to be surprised at how good the other tunes are. This relates especially to what used to be B-side material when records were the music media; notable tracks being Sunday`s Best and Two Little Hitlers.
I recently read that Costello listened a great deal to ABBA shortly before recording this album. This is evident in the fluency of the songs, many very catchy tunes that is maybe disguised by the more organic production style. The style of singing by Costello is marvelous, a very descriptive way of expressing the words as in "...add to your collection" in the brilliant Accidents Will Happen. The texts are, by the way, well worth going through with a booklet in hand while listening.
A highly recommendable album that has aged well, a must have for anyone liking Elvis Costello.
I recently read that Costello listened a great deal to ABBA shortly before recording this album. This is evident in the fluency of the songs, many very catchy tunes that is maybe disguised by the more organic production style. The style of singing by Costello is marvelous, a very descriptive way of expressing the words as in "...add to your collection" in the brilliant Accidents Will Happen. The texts are, by the way, well worth going through with a booklet in hand while listening.
A highly recommendable album that has aged well, a must have for anyone liking Elvis Costello.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is still my favourite Costello album. With Nick Lowe producing, Armed Forces turned out to be an album of very catchy tunes which masks the bitter satire of the lyrics. The arrangements are especially great on songs like Busy Bodies, Green Shirt and Big Boys. My favorite track is the lilting ballad Oliver's Army, but every single song has a unique pop appeal. Costello is amongst the most literate and versatile of rock musicians and especially on this album, the tight writing and clear melodies are prominent, whilst The Attractions must be the best band he ever recorded with. Of the new tracks, the inclusion of Alison, Watching The Detectives and Tiny Steps was a smart move. Armed Forces is classic of late 70s acerbic poprock
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
With Nick Lowe producing, Armed Forces turned out to be an album of very catchy tunes, which masks the acerbic tone of the lyrics. The arrangements are especially great on songs like Busy Bodies, Green Shirt and Big Boys. My favorite track is the lilting ballad Oliver's Army, but every single song has a unique pop appeal.
Costello is amongst the most literate and versatile of rock musicians and especially on this album, the tight writing and clear melodies are prominent, whilst The Attractions must be the best band he ever recorded with. Armed Forces is a classic of late 1970s punk rock, but has always been accessible to pop fans and timeless in its melodious appeal.
Costello is amongst the most literate and versatile of rock musicians and especially on this album, the tight writing and clear melodies are prominent, whilst The Attractions must be the best band he ever recorded with. Armed Forces is a classic of late 1970s punk rock, but has always been accessible to pop fans and timeless in its melodious appeal.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great purchase
We have this album on vinyl, but over the years has gained a few scratches.
Well pleased with cd, brought back some great memories, and wondered where the years had gone. Read more
Well pleased with cd, brought back some great memories, and wondered where the years had gone. Read more
Published 2 months ago by blackrat
Still a great album after all these years
I bought this album on it's realease and was knocked out by it at the time. Being a Costello fan from the begining (went to see him at Eric's in Liverpool), I looked forward to... Read more
Published 7 months ago by davidmc
Armed and ready
I'm not Elvis Costello's biggest fan, and I probably wouldn't be interested in his music at all were it not for a friend who bought into his music from the start. Read more
Published 17 months ago by D. J. H. Thorn
Pop Costello at the peak of his powers
Despite his previous album This Years Model as being seen as the his finest album, 1979's Armed isn't far off from being labelled as his finest album, it's probably more pop than... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2009 by T.K
The "legendary" Live At El Mocambo set
Great live album, with audience atmosphere and presence. Stand-out tracks are Accidents Will Happen, Oliver's Army, What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love And Understanding. Read more
Published on 16 April 2003 by S. Phipps
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