Another @jasontoon triumph. Voted No Action as I put it on a mix for my brother’s wake like three days ago, but this whole playlist is a generational sweet spot winner.
signed love boris parsley 9/11/61
I never realized there were so many Elvis Costello soundalikes.
At the time, I probably just assumed they were all Elvis.
Never owned an album by any of them except Joe Jackson, and that was Jumpin’ Jive, which was swing jazz and not the AYM paradigm.
(And it’s a fantastic album that I still enjoy when it comes up in my random playlist.)
@jmendenhall I never really lumped Nick Lowe in with the AYM crowd in spite of all the work he did with Elvis Costello. I always considered him more pop/pub rock.
His current manifestation as rock’s Jimmy Stewart (which, don’t get me wrong, I adore) certainly doesn’t lend itself to any claim of AYM.
It was tough to choose between Elvis and Joe Jackson. These songs all came out while I was in high school. At the time I wasn’t so into Elvis but I was a huge Joe Jackson fan so I let high school me vote for Joe. It wasn’t until after high school that I was able to recognize Elvis Costello’s genius. In one of my boxes in storage I still have the I’m the Manbox set of five 7-inch singles.
I agree with @jasontoon that Graham Maby is most likely the best musician on any of those albums. As a bass player he’s been a huge idol of mine since those days. His brief stint with They Might be Giants during their transition from duo to band was awesome.
I couldn’t choose between Elvis, Joe Jackson, Graham Parker, and John Hiatt, love them all.
Does Marshall Crenshaw fit under the ‘Angry Young Men’ umbrella too?
Just the fact John Hiatt showed up in a list made me immediately vote for him.
Love him.
Another @jasontoon triumph. Voted No Action as I put it on a mix for my brother’s wake like three days ago, but this whole playlist is a generational sweet spot winner.
signed love boris parsley 9/11/61
@borisparsley Sussman Lawrence! I’m agog.
@borisparsley Aw, thanks! I was born in 1974 myself but I memorized every word in my Trouser Press Record Guide.
I prefer angry young women.
@mfladd I prefer this to anything on that list.
@mfladd
She’s completely amazing. But as a musician, not so very much around 1980. I got into her more in the mid 90’s.
@mfladd @RiotDemon I love this song, but John Hiatt is better
@mfladd You may have touched on a perfect topic for a future @jasontoon Sunday Playlist.
@mfladd Yes! Or…
Some good ones. I’m going to have to actually play them all.
I never realized there were so many Elvis Costello soundalikes.
At the time, I probably just assumed they were all Elvis.
Never owned an album by any of them except Joe Jackson, and that was Jumpin’ Jive, which was swing jazz and not the AYM paradigm.
(And it’s a fantastic album that I still enjoy when it comes up in my random playlist.)
No love for Nick Lowe or Billy Bragg?
@jmendenhall I never really lumped Nick Lowe in with the AYM crowd in spite of all the work he did with Elvis Costello. I always considered him more pop/pub rock.
His current manifestation as rock’s Jimmy Stewart (which, don’t get me wrong, I adore) certainly doesn’t lend itself to any claim of AYM.
It was tough to choose between Elvis and Joe Jackson. These songs all came out while I was in high school. At the time I wasn’t so into Elvis but I was a huge Joe Jackson fan so I let high school me vote for Joe. It wasn’t until after high school that I was able to recognize Elvis Costello’s genius. In one of my boxes in storage I still have the I’m the Man box set of five 7-inch singles.
I agree with @jasontoon that Graham Maby is most likely the best musician on any of those albums. As a bass player he’s been a huge idol of mine since those days. His brief stint with They Might be Giants during their transition from duo to band was awesome.
What about “Angry Young Man” by Billy Joel?
I’ll always vote for Joe Jackson.
Leave it to Meh to present a list of angry young man new wave that’s actually smart and informed!
Although I’d go with John Hiatt’s “Slug Line” over your choice. THIS was the epitome of his Elvis Costello mimicry (and a damn fine song).
This was my favorite week of songs. Thanks, @JasonToon!