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439.0. "Some Pop/Rock Reviews" by PNEUMA::WILSON () Tue Aug 26 1986 09:41

    I'd like to review some CDs I bought recently:
    
    "Special BEAT Service" by the English Beat -- (IRS) I like the English
    Beat. I've listened to this CD dozens of times. These guys are great
    musicians and there's a variety of music here: new wave, pop, reggae
    (who wouldn't like "Paco and Roger A-Go Talk"?). Twelve songs, none
    longer than four minutes, and a variety of instruments (accordion,
    banjo, sax). Grade: B+
    
    "Bookends" by Simon and Garfunkel -- (Columbia) Just abouteveryone
    has heard the classics from this one ("Fakin' It," "A Hazy Shade
    of Winter," "Mrs. Robinson"); but it's refreshing to hear the duo
    in digital. The digital recording of the analog master tapes does
    justice to this album. Only about 29 minutes of music, but great
    stuff. (Remember when music from the sixties had real poetry for
    lyrics?). Grade: A-
    
    "The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions" -- (Columbia) A
    wide sampling of Costello tunes (18 in all), including "Alsion,"
    "Pump It Up," "Radio Radio," "(Every Day) I Write the Book" and
    my favorite "(The Angels Want to Wear My) Red Shoes." I was
    disappointed though to find some of his newer, country stuff on
    this disk ("A Good Year for the Roses"), and some stuff that doesn't
    do a thing for me ("Shipbuilding"). I wish they had included more
    songs from the "Get Happy" album, and one tune called "From a Whisper
    to a Scream." Grade: B-