Look Sharp!!
I'm The Man
Since Wilson or Alroy, one of the two, couldn’t make it through Joe Jackson’s intro without mentioning Elvis Costello, I will just not even try to do the same. They were both British Angry Young Musicians from the late ‘70s, both expressed their venom in their music, both got wrongfully categorized as punk, and both went on to experiment like crazy after getting bored with their game.
Now the differences: Joe Jackson is not on the same creative level as Costello. His lyrics tended to be too straightforward, whereas Costello used metaphors and whatnot. Jackson’s backing band Arms and Legs was competent for sure, but it don’t have no standout a la Steve Nieve like Costello’s Attractions did. And while Costello’s voice isn’t ‘pretty,’ I actually enjoy listening to it, as it adds a new dimension to the music. Jackson, on the other hand, sticks to unimaginative whining most of the time.
But why is there a Joe Jackson page? Well, Look Sharp! is a really cool album. I’ll explain it more in my review. As far as expansion goes, I will be getting into Sharp followup I’m The Man sometime. I hope to get my hands on Night & Day one of these times (the one with “Steppin’ Out”) and mayyyybe Body & Soul. But I don’t have much interest in his experiments. His hyper new-wave sound is cool enough for me. And to a lesser extent, his soft rock material.
1979
I already spent the intro naming Joe Jackson’s main weaknesses, why I don’t I concentrate on some positives here? This album is certainly one of the fastest and catchiest I’ve heard in a while. Not really New Wave, or maybe it is. Doesn’t sound too much like that of the Talking Heads, at least. And Jackson’s ‘poor-man’s-Costello’ lyrics hit home with me more often than Costello’s, if not being as clever.
This album was moderately successful, at least in the U.S. Unfortunately, it was bad timing for Jackson. By 1979, Elvis Costello was already established, not to mention other AYM like Graham Parker and Nick Lowe. But Jackson did crack the Top 40 before Costello, with “Is She Really Going Out With Him”? It’s somewhat well-known today, thanks to appearances in movies and a cover by the now-irrelevant Sugar Ray. I like the song all right, with the line ‘pretty women out walking with gorillas’ being a classic. Being the lone ballad on Sharp!, it’s his own “Alison.”
Oh wait, I got more Elvis Costello comparisons. “Happy Loving Couples” is pretty hard-hitting, as it contrasts the happy music with some pissy lyrics. Yet it vaguely steals some melody parts from “Less Than Zero.” At least I like that one, I don’t like the slow reggae “Fools in Love,” which I cannot hear without singing “Watching the Detectives” over it.
But enough dissing! The words ‘fast’, ‘catchy’, and ‘bitterly lovelorn’ apply to almost every song on here. It certainly does on “One More Time,” “Baby Stick Around,” and the title track. Well, the title track is more social commentary than women commentary. Same with the light reggae of “Sunday Papers,” though I find it slightly overrated.
Even better! My favorite songs of all are “(Do the) Instant Mash” and “Pretty Girls.” The former skewers dance crazes AND working in supermarkets in a country-disco setting. And the latter is a catchy reading of “Do Wah Diddy” with oh-so-true lyrics. Jackson’s like every guy, he can spout against women and relationships all he wants, but man he can’t help but look at them when they’re hot! That’s me all over! Hey! Eyes right! Best song on here.
Look Sharp! does have a few low points, like “Fools” and two unconvincing ‘punk’ numbers “Throw it Away” and “Got the Time.” On the latter, I still think that Joey's saying ‘Taco Time’ instead of ‘Got the Time’ (Taco Time being an Oregon-based fast-food taco joint that is so much better than Taco Bell it's not even funny). And that fast catchiness can result in the songs running together. But the album as a whole is a good listen, and I don’t mind giving it an 8.
1980
Second album for Joe, same as the first you know. Well, there are a few subtle differences between I’m The Man and Look Sharp!!. I’m The Man has a tinge less reggae and no punk misfires like “Throw It Away.” Then again, the songs score lower on my catchy-o-meter, and there ain’t no classic like “Instant Mash” nor radio hit like “Is She Really”?
The only song on here that can compete with the best in Look Sharp!! would be the snappy opener “On Your Radio,” which is really catchy despite the somewhat immature lyrics. Other notable fast songs include the bass-happy “Friday,” a much better album closer than “Got the Time,” and the retro title track. Alas, “Don’t Wanna Be Like That” and “Get That Girl” are fun and bouncy when they’re on, but not nearly as catchy as a good deal of Look Sharp!
As far as other tunes go, “It’s Different for Girls” is his first ballad, and it works. Although right when that bass comes in, I keep mistaking it for that of “Dreams.” Wouldn’t that be great??? Joe Jackson covers Fleetwood Mac?? The sole reggae nod “Geraldine and John” tells of a ‘happy loving couple’ who are cheating on their respective spouses, and it’s good. On the not-so-good side, “Amateur Hour” is just boring, “The Band Wore Blue Shirts” is failed commentary, and “Kinda Kute” sounds like something off of Urban Cowboy, if you know what I mean.
Geez, recently after I prattled on about Quadrophenia, I have little to say about I’m The Man. It’s still a nice album, but you just get a whiff of ‘been there, done that.’ Joe must have felt this way, because he shifted gears and never made an album like this again. I think. The album gets a 7, as I may warm up to “Get That Girl” and “Don’t Wanna Be Like That” eventually.