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 Hitler’s" 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.
