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In one of the surprises of this pure pop year, Elvis Costello swept back to chart prominence with two of his most pointed statements ever.
"Shipbuilding" and "Pills And Soap" are hardly easy listening; one stressing the end of work for many, the other comparing Britain to a concentration camp.
These songs, as well as the more accessible "Everyday I Write The Book" plus ten others are all found on Elvis' first for RCA.
As usual the density of the material is impressive. The attractions move from the breathtaking rock of "Let Them All Talk" to the jazzier "Greatest Thing" and barely break into a sweat. This is a hot record for a hot summer but Elvis is his customary cool self.
Costello's songbook includes love and hate because you've got to be cruel to be kind. No one is better at sticking in the poison pen.
Hurt and hatred aren't the only ink he uses. "Charm School" and "Love Went Mad" are full of wit and wisdom, too.
These are all songs of the highest quality, mean, moody and magnificent. Special mention must go to the new TKO horns (ex-Dexys and Bureau), the girls of Afrodiziak and Chet Baker's trumpet on "Shipbuilding."
Punch The Clock will knock you out.
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