University of Maryland Diamondback, April 13, 1978: Difference between revisions
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As established stars became "beautiful people," critics hailed punk rock as the wave of the future. Consciousness III, naively prophesized in ''The Greening of America'', turned into a quaalude and booze stupor before finally degenerating into a PCP nightmare. | As established stars became "beautiful people," critics hailed punk rock as the wave of the future. Consciousness III, naively prophesized in ''The Greening of America'', turned into a quaalude and booze stupor before finally degenerating into a PCP nightmare. | ||
Through it all — protest, acid, apathy, disco and the death of rock — rock 'n' roll survived. But by the mid-70s | Through it all — protest, acid, apathy, disco and the death of rock — rock 'n' roll survived. But by the mid-70s, the slashing guitars, booming basses and pulsing rhythms had become cliche. Popular comedians like Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin filled the cultural void with their rich celebrations of the absurd. | ||
Last year a short-haired, 22-year-old former computer operator merged the angry, high-powered rock of the 60s with the comic vision of the 70s. Elvis Costello's premier album, ''My Aim is True'', first gained popularity by word of mouth. | Last year a short-haired, 22-year-old former computer operator merged the angry, high-powered rock of the 60s with the comic vision of the 70s. Elvis Costello's premier album, ''My Aim is True'', first gained popularity by word of mouth. | ||
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{{n}}''You know the angels want to wear my red shoes." | {{n}}''You know the angels want to wear my red shoes." | ||
When he toured America after the release of the first album, audiences discovered his powerful, ominous stage presence. After silencing a drunken heckler by tossing a | When he toured America after the release of the first album, audiences discovered his powerful, ominous stage presence. After silencing a drunken heckler by tossing a drink into his face and brandishing a broken glass, Costello burst into a tense version of "Watching the Detectives." The song, on his first album, is a chilling description of a boy who tries to attract a girl's attention while she watches a TV detective show. | ||
Costello's second album, ''This Year's Model'', shows that he is no passing fad. As on ''My Aim is True'', he combines tight, stinging rock with some of the sharpest lyrics this side of ''Highway 61 Revisited''. The 11 songs infuse new life into classical rock themes such as young love, rejection and jealousy. | |||
Costello's second album, ''This Year's Model'', shows that he is no | |||
In the chorus of "Living in Paradise," Costello's voice, taut with emotion, rips through the music like a chain saw. ''"Here we are living in paradise / Living in luxury / Oh the thrill's here but it won't last long / You better have your fun before it moves along."'' | In the chorus of "Living in Paradise," Costello's voice, taut with emotion, rips through the music like a chain saw. ''"Here we are living in paradise / Living in luxury / Oh the thrill's here but it won't last long / You better have your fun before it moves along."'' | ||
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Costello does not talk much about his songs; he leaves the press to ponder their meanings. There is plenty to ponder. Ten years ago Elvis Costello might have been a fringe character in a Kurt Vonnegut novel. Today, this intense, awkward-looking new artist is being hailed by critics as a saviour of rock 'n' roll. | Costello does not talk much about his songs; he leaves the press to ponder their meanings. There is plenty to ponder. Ten years ago Elvis Costello might have been a fringe character in a Kurt Vonnegut novel. Today, this intense, awkward-looking new artist is being hailed by critics as a saviour of rock 'n' roll. | ||
He has the insights of an established artist and the vitality of a kid just out of high school. If he does not fade | He has the insights of an established artist and the vitality of a kid just out of high school. If he does not fade, future rock critics may one day be obsessed with the search for the next Elvis Costello. | ||
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[[image:1978-04-13 University of Maryland Diamondback page 12 clipping 01.jpg|360px|border]] | [[image:1978-04-13 University of Maryland Diamondback page 12 clipping 01.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
<br><small> | <br><small>Photo by [[Chris Gabrin]].</small> | ||
[[image:1978-04-13 University of Maryland Diamondback page 12.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1978-04-13 University of Maryland Diamondback page 12.jpg|x120px|border]] |
Latest revision as of 02:49, 9 December 2017
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