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Rating:
THE REVIEW
"My vocation in life is to be irritating! Not something actively destructive, just something that irritates, that disorients".
"The two things that matter to me, the only two motivations for me to write all these songs, are revenge and guilt. They are the only two emotions I can feel. Love? I really don't know what it is, it truly does not exist in my songs". 1977
"Almost all the punk bands couldn't play in time. It was all a cacophony that meant nothing. On the contrary, The Attractions knew how to keep time and make it musical. Plus, we were truly terrible with people... In fact, we were much meaner than all those groups. In fact, we were like all of them combined". 1989
I took these quotes from Elvis Costello from Tony Clayton-Len's book, "Elvis Costello, a biography", which to my knowledge has not been translated into Italian. And the songs of young Mac Manus in the late '70s were indeed truly harsh, caustic soda corrected by vitriol.
Probably the most famous song from the album remains "Less than zero", picked up by Ellis as the title of his book. A song far more memorable than the novel itself, which is rather mediocre:
"Turn up the TV, no one listening will suspect
Even your mother won't detect it, so your father won't know
They think that I've got no respect but
Everything is less than zero
Hey, oo hey-ey
Hey, oo hey-ey
Oswald and his sister are doing it again
They've got the finest home movies that you have ever seen
They've got a thousand variations, every service with a smile
They're gonna take a little break and they'll be back after a while
Well, I hear that South America is coming into style
A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor
Mr. Oswald said he had an understanding with the law
He said he heard about a couple living in the USA
He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet
Let's talk about the future, now we've put the past away"
I still marvel that when he went on tour in America they didn't lynch him. Besides, I believe that when he got off the plane he declared that his intent was to corrupt American youth! A man like that, in my humble opinion, can only be considered a hero.
Another great track remains "Alison". The music sounds like a romantic ballad, almost sappy. The lyrics are as cynical as you can imagine:
"Oh it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl. And with the way you look I understand that you are not impressed.The girl arrives and claims that Mac Manus got her pregnant. He denies it and would like to shoot her. The best part is that it's unclear how it actually went.
But I heard you let that little friend of mine take off your party dress.
I'm not going to get too sentimental like those other sticky valentines, cause I don't know if you've been loving somebody. I only know it isn't mine.
Alison, I know this world is killing you. Oh, Alison, my aim is true."
Among the meanest and nastiest records in the history of rock. The beauty is that if you don't pay attention to the lyrics, it all sounds syrupy! It makes you wonder if the world wouldn't be better if we were all meaner and less hypocritical.
Dedicated to all those who make cruelty an art. If you hate benevolence and political correctness, I think you'll love it.
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Summary by Bot
This review praises Elvis Costello's debut album 'My Aim is True' for its harsh, witty lyrics emotionally rooted in revenge and guilt. It highlights the album's memorable tracks like 'Less Than Zero' and 'Alison', noting the contrast between melodic music and cynical words. The review admires the band's musical competence and Costello's rebellious attitude. It appeals to those disenchanted with hypocrisy and political correctness, celebrating the album's raw honesty and mean-spirited artfulness.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Elvis Costello
English singer-songwriter and bandleader who emerged from the late-1970s new wave with razor-sharp lyrics and restless stylistic shifts, from rock and country to chamber and classical projects.07 Reviews
