{"product_id":"elvis-costello-punch-the-clock-lp","title":"Elvis Costello PUNCH THE CLOCK (LP)","description":"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. Punch the Clock 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 pop singles. However, the problem with Punch the Clock is that Costello 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 Costello 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 and Winstanley production makes Punch the Clock a pleasurable listen. Costello's uneven writing means that only portions of the album are memorable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 11\/06\/2015\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 11\/06\/2015\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Elvis Costello","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51530501685537,"sku":"TM8LLQ-04WC-4Z","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0723\/5099\/0625\/files\/elvis-costello-punch-the-clock-lp_mFEnv.jpg?v=1753822254","url":"https:\/\/birds-nest-records.myshopify.com\/products\/elvis-costello-punch-the-clock-lp","provider":"Bird's Nest Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}