Elvis Costello - This Year's Model

 

The second album by Elvis Costello was his major breakthrough, building on the ground work of "My Aim Is True". The formation of The Attractions as a real band added a distinctive new wave sound to supplement the anger, cynicism and clever word play, with an emphasis on dramatic keyboards, and a deep and powerful rhythm section to create one of the most memorable albums of 1978, with at least 6 outstanding tracks and not a dud anywhere to be seen. Surprisingly, only two singles were released in the UK, and even more surprisingly neither were top 10 hits. All the songs have a powerful edge to them

Early buyers like me also received a free 7" single with the country music "Strangers In The House" from the "My Aim Is True" recording sessions on one side and a live cover of The Damned's "Neat, Neat, Neat" on the other side. 

Like "My Aim Is True", the albums starts with the shortest song on the album, "No Action" being  frantic, energetic and sneering , leading into "This Year's Girl" probably the best song on an outstanding album.  With vaguely off-beat reggae drumming, scratchy guitar and swirling organ the tale of desire on the latest fashion icon is easily hidden by the gorgeous melody.

"The Beat" has a old fashioned feel, slightly 1960's and with a happy summer feel, but leads into bass driven "Pump It Up", the most hi-energy/punk track on the album. The tempo slows for "Little Triggers", a piano based ballad that is the "Alison" equivalent on the album, and contains some of the most clever lyrics on show here. Side one closes with "You Belong To Me" another frantic, punk song rescued by its hook and organ.

Side Two opens with "Hand in Hand", another fabulous song with more sneering lyrics "If I'm gonna go down, you're gonna come with me", and "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea", the hit single from the album, follows. With a reggae style similar to the earlier hit "Watching The Detectives", and more commentary on the fashion industry, "They call her Natasha but she looks like Elsie, I don't want to go to Chelsea", it was famously parodied by impressionist Alistair MacGowan as Sven-Goran Eriksson denying he was about to leave his job as coach of England to join the Roman Abramovich revolution at Chelsea.

“Living in Paradise,” is another pop song, in a similar vain to "The Beat" and “Lip Service” continues the melodic theme of most of the the rest of the LP. "Lipstick Vogue” has more manic enegy and less melody, before the slightly unnerving album closer “Night Rally,” with imagery of the Nuremburg Nazi trails and an abrupt ending.

Overall though, "This Year's Model" is still an outstanding album.

Listing :

Side 1 

1. No Action
2. This Year's Girl
3. The Beat
4. Pump It Up
5. Little Triggers
6. You Belong To Me

Side 2
1. Hand In Hand
2. ( I Don't Want To Go To ) Chelsea
3. Lip Service
4. Living In Paradise
5. Lipstick Vogue
6. Night Rally

Released 1978
UK Chart Position : 4

Singles :

( I Don't Want To Go To ) Chelsea ( No 16 - 1978 )
Pump It Up ( No 24 - 1978 )