Costello's second LP doesn't sport as fine a collection of songs as his first, but the playing by his band, the Attractions, more than makes up for it. Their cheesey electric organ and undistorted guitar sound owes more to American Yardbirds, imitators of the Sixties (Count Five, Shadows of Knight, Question Mark & the Mysterians) than to any of what's currently called punk, and when he wants to be, Costello is still the most brilliantly spiteful lyricist and singer since early Dylan: Check "Living in Paradise," "You Belong to Me" and the final crusher, "Radio, Radio," the real untold story of what broadcasters think of you and me, and him.
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