Synopsis

Released at the start of 1979, Armed Forces was Elvis Costello's most ambitious album to date - both artistically and commercially. In this meticulously detailed book, Franklin Bruno tracks down musical reference points from the Beach Boys to Marvin Gaye, and examines the successes (and failures) of Costello's lyrical techniques. He also places the album in the context of Costello's career, and the era's charged social and political climate: this was the time of Rock Against Racism, the birth of Thatcherism, and the infamous "Columbus incident."

Biography

Franklin Bruno's criticism has appeared in The Believer, Slate, Salon, Best Music Writing 2003 (Da Capo), and Listen Again: A Momentary History of Pop Music (Duke University Press).  After several records as a member of Nothing Painted Blue and as a solo artist, his most recent musical project is Civics, the debut CD by The Human Hearts (Tight Ship); he is also a recording and occasional touring member of The Mountain Goats.  He has taught philosophy at UCLA, Pomona College, and Northwestern University; currently, he is Visiting Assistant Professor at Bard College.