Armed Forces

by Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	05/01/2007
Label:	Hip-O / Universal
UPC:	0602517260818
Rank:	63065

Tracks

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
13. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Elvis Costello & the Attractions   Primary Artist
Elvis Costello   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Guitar
The Attractions   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Nick Lowe   Primary Artist
Bruce Thomas   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Steve Nieve   Keyboards
Dave Edmunds   Vocals (Background)
Billy Bremner   Guitar
Pete Thomas   Drums

Technical Credits

Michele Horie   Reissue Producer,Producer
Nick Lowe   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Roger Bechirian   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Joe Camilleri   Composer
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Sebastian Krys   Remix Producer
Peter Walker   Engineer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering Engineer
Elvis Costello   Producer,Composer
Tony Colton   Composer
Alvaro Cadavid   Remix Engineer
Raymond Barry Smith   Composer
Jeff Burstin   Composer
Chalkie Davies   Photography
Daniel Hersch   Mastering
Bill Levenson   A&R
Keith Walker   Recording
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Adam Starr   Product Manager
Brian Griffin   Photography
Keith Morris   Photography
Walter "Biff" Daws   Engineer
Tony Faehse   Composer
Coco Shinomiya   Design
Ray Smith   Composer
Barney Bubbles   Cover Design