Prince George Citizen, April 27, 1978: Difference between revisions
(+template) |
(fix scan errors) |
||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
{{Bibliography text}} | {{Bibliography text}} | ||
With punk rock dying and disco music melding into the mainstream of pop | With punk rock dying and disco music melding into the mainstream of pop, critics and musicologists are looking for new trends in the medium. | ||
Power pop appears to be the most promising entry, a style that blends chunky rock chords with funky, uncomplicated rhythms and a predominant melody line, usually played by a rhythm guitar or keyboard instrument. Among its practitioners are Foreigner, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Elvis Costello. | Power pop appears to be the most promising entry, a style that blends chunky rock chords with funky, uncomplicated rhythms and a predominant melody line, usually played by a rhythm guitar or keyboard instrument. Among its practitioners are Foreigner, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Elvis Costello. | ||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
It goes without saying that Britain is in the forefront of power pop and North American bands are quickly adopting the sound. | It goes without saying that Britain is in the forefront of power pop and North American bands are quickly adopting the sound. | ||
Of the three acts mentioned | Of the three acts mentioned, Costello offers the most interesting story. A former computer operator for Elizabeth Arden, the 22-year-old Londoner is married with one child and comes on like the anti-hero figure of a contemporary novel. | ||
Born Declan McManus, he is a look-alike of the late Buddy Holly but his songs lack the romanticism offered by the Texas crooner. They are full of the bittersweet realities of alienation and rejection and evoke the British working man's plight. | Born Declan McManus, he is a look-alike of the late Buddy Holly but his songs lack the romanticism offered by the Texas crooner. They are full of the bittersweet realities of alienation and rejection and evoke the British working man's plight. | ||
As a performer | As a performer, Costello is a master of the deadpan grimace behind his black horn-rimmed glasses, locking his legs together as he strums an oversize guitar. His hands gesture almost spasmodically and an illfitting suit gives him the appearance of a drunkard. | ||
It is difficult to dig beneath these surface impressions because Costello is reluctant to talk in interviews and tight-lipped about his past. | It is difficult to dig beneath these surface impressions because Costello is reluctant to talk in interviews and tight-lipped about his past. | ||
Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
The record became an underground hit and launched him on a tour with porn-rocker Ian Drury, The Damned and Ian Lowe, formerly of Ducks Deluxe. The tour was recorded and will shortly be released on this continent tinder the title of ''Live Stiffs''. | The record became an underground hit and launched him on a tour with porn-rocker Ian Drury, The Damned and Ian Lowe, formerly of Ducks Deluxe. The tour was recorded and will shortly be released on this continent tinder the title of ''Live Stiffs''. | ||
Costello proved his ability to sell himself last summer when he performed on the pavement outside the London hotel where CBS Records was holding its annual convention. | Costello proved his ability to sell himself last summer when he performed on the pavement outside the London hotel where CBS Records was holding its annual convention. | ||
A bobby hauled him off to jail for a couple of hours as a public nuisance but some of the conventioneers must have been impressed. Within a month, Costello's name was on the CBS roster. | A bobby hauled him off to jail for a couple of hours as a public nuisance but some of the conventioneers must have been impressed. Within a month, Costello's name was on the CBS roster. | ||
Having just completed his first North American tour and with ''My Aim is True'' doing exceptionally well on the ''Billboard'' charts, the next test is the release by CBS of his second album | Having just completed his first North American tour and with ''My Aim is True'' doing exceptionally well on the ''Billboard'' charts, the next test is the release by CBS of his second album, cynically titled ''This Year's Model''. | ||
It is doubtful that Costello will become a media darling like Rod Stewart or Leif Garrett. | It is doubtful that Costello will become a media darling like Rod Stewart or Leif Garrett. |
Revision as of 17:46, 11 April 2017
|