Perhaps frustrated by the lack of commercial success
Imperial Bedroom
encountered,
Elvis Costello
enlisted British hitmakers
Clive Langer
and
Alan Winstanley
to produce its follow-up,
Punch the Clock
. The difference between the two records is immediately noticeable.
has a slick, glossy surface, complete with layered synthesizers, horns, studio effects, and the backup vocals of
Afrodiziak
. The approach isn't necessarily a misguided one, since
Costello
is as much a
pop
musician as he is a singer/songwriter and many of the best moments on the record --
"Everyday I Write the Book,"
"Let Them All Talk"
-- work well as shiny
singles. However, the problem with
is that
is entering a fallow songwriting period; it is his least consistent set of original songs to date. The best moments, the antiwar
ballad
"Shipbuilding"
and the eerie pseudo-
rap
"Pills and Soap,"
are as articulate and effective as any of his past work, but frequently
falls short of meeting his standards, particularly when he's trying to write a song in the style of his older songs. Nevertheless, the sheen of the
Langer
Winstanley
production makes
a pleasurable listen.
's uneven writing means that only portions of the album are memorable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine