From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
—
|
Punch the Clock
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Iman Lababedi
|
Punch the Clock is an horrendous mess. Easily the worst (including Almost Blue) LP he has ever put his name to, and the major disappointment of the year. He had the songs. From the album proper, "Let Them All Talk," "The Greatest Thing" which we didn't know, and "Shipbuilding" (not as good as Wyatt's — but good enough). "Pills and Soap" (not as good as the Imposter's), and "Everyday I Write the Book" (all right but nothing special). Off the album he could have called on "Heathen Town" and a marvelous cover of "Night Time" from the 12'' single, and "Party Party." "Imperial Bedroom" which came out as a 45. He doesn't use 'em, and so the second side is a washout. Has he forgotten how to write a melody? Worse, on crap like "Love Went Mad" and "T.K.O. (Boxing Day)" he's forgotten how to write a song. These are unsongs just the way Synchronicity is filled with unsongs. Subversive? Don't make me laugh. Clever? Self-pitying, apologetic, heart-on-sleeve mumbo-jumbo. An aberration? Number one in England but I doubt the Yanks will buy it for an instant. I hope he does make a lot of money — the obvious aim — then maybe he'll drop that bastard Clive Langer and get back to work.
|
|
Clipping.
Cover and page scans.
|
|
|
|
External links
