Armed Forces

Goon squad

I have a conflicted relationship with this artist. Some of his music cuts me to the core, whereas the other half, fades into the background. Overall i dig his rocksteady roots on his early albums. But my attention constantly wanes on this album and many of his other contriubutions.

46 million listens on oliver's army, and 23 million are people rewinding after a double take

I've always liked Elvis Costello and I enjoyed quite a few of the songs on this album and some of the songs were just okay to listen to

Another day, another album that I wouldn't object to if it came on the radio but probably wouldn't specifically seek out when trying to decide on what to listen to that day.

Ok

Elvis Costello is good, but this is almost indistinguishable from his earlier stuff except for the fact that it’s lost some edge. I liked his first two albums, but this one gives me the sense that he had a good sound but never really grew or evolved as a musician. The album ends on a very high note - "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" is great - which helps it. The casual slur in “Oliver’s Army” has aged incredibly poorly. I’ve now listened to three Elvis Costello albums. I don’t think I need three more from this list, especially given the fact that I’m pretty sure I’ve already gotten his best ones.

Good pop

This is better than I was expecting, but still not exceptional.

Never listened to a full Elvis Costello album. It was fine.

More consistent than the the first album, but it doesn't match all of it's peaks. B

Fun and easy to listen to!

Fails to move me one way or the other. It's fine music that I can listen to but to no particularly large enjoyment. I can't fault it nor would I recommend it. The voice doesn't do much for me nor the lyrics. I can see this being on during a road trip while my mind is otherwise occupied.

i enjoy the musicianship on this album quite a bit both on its own merits and due to personal bias as an enjoyer of new wave. the thing that brings this down is that costello's voice sounds like shit from a butt

Yup. Sounds like Elvis Costello

I wanted to like this album but I just don't. The only song I can name by Costello before listening to this is 'Pump It Up' (s/o rockband), and I like that song better than any of the songs on this album. I recognized Oliver's Army once I heard it (thought I didn't recall THAT one line), but I'm not sure I'd say it's a song I care for that much. It's one of the better songs on this album though so take that what you will. There were some of the songs I liked, but costellos voice (or should I say how he sings) grates on me a little in many of the songs. Idk how to describe it but to me it sounds less like he's being "whiny", which I saw in other reviews, and more like he's singing "goofy". I'm not sure what I mean by that but it's like he sings in a way that I expect what he's singing to be a parody. And it's not. I'm stuck between rating 2 or 3, and I think I'll go with 3 but it's closer to a 2 than a 4.

I usually can only listen to maybe two or three Costello songs in a row before I need a break. I like a few of his songs a lot, his voice is just a bit much after a while. I actually enjoyed this album a bit though. By the end I was ready for it to be over, it went on a little too long. There are some really cool songs on here though, I really liked Senior Service. I’m marking it a 3 but it’s a solid 3.5

The last song I knew and is a fav, the rest is just a bit much for me.

What if Talking Heads was irritating?

Meh

Enjoyable, inoffensive, probably not going to pull it up again later.

The sound is sharp but playful. It’s a mix of pop and punk, with a hint of ska, like The Clash got a bit more polished. The lyrics bite, full of clever wordplay, but the music softens it. There's energy, but it doesn’t quite grab you like some of the best new wave albums. Still, there’s charm in the offbeat rhythms and catchy choruses.

pretty good. crazy he said that one thing. Overall not my thing but I did really like Senior Service

Declan is back in the building with some solid pop tunes, carrying his ever-witty sensibilities and a little bit of ska underpinnings. Excellent singles, but not every tune is memorable, and, compared to the explosion of excitement in his earlier work, this one doesn’t quite have the energy.

Solid album with good energy. Didn't love the vocal performances on some tracks. 3.5/5.

This is alright - pretty slick with a couple of notable songs (Oliver's Army) 3.5/5

Listened to this album for the first time recently. It's an interesting thing to attempt to tie national politics with the politics of relationships, but in the end I don't think he did justice to either. Too crafty for it's own good. A couple of good songs. Rated as a 2 without (WSF'B) PL&U and a 3 with it.

I feel like this was more inventive, more musical, and less whiney than the previous Elvis Costello albums we listened to, but it still feels too much like a punchy marching music with regular beats and rhymes that don't vary.

A couple nice hits, but nothing else really resonated.

I have always liked him but this LP feels like he isnt where he was gunna be yet.

This record has a few classic tracks but I like other albums from these folks better.

This was a fun album. I'm not a huge fan of Costello's voice, but it works with the quirkiness of the album. Again, busy at work, so the album flew by for me. I really liked Goon Squad. I'll give this one a 3.75

This is my first listen-through of any Elvis Costello album, although I'm a bit familiar with him from hearing some singles over the years. I like the cover art. With the title it makes me think of Colonel Hathi from The Jungle Book. This music is kind of hard for me to categorize neatly in one specific genre; I detect so many influences but they are all well-blended like a stew that's been simmering all day. It's really its own distinct thing, especially Elvis Costello's voice, unmistakable. I was trying to think of how to characterize it. I detect shades of Buddy Holly's phrasing, but there is something in the timbre that reminds me of Woody Allen's voice, or at least people's impressions of Woody Allen (without the Brooklyn accent of course). After an entire album it really starts to sound repetitive to me, but it's definitely distinctive. And what the voice is singing is kind of reminiscent of Woody Allen, too, in its nerdy, intellectual, yet vaguely disdainful critique of relationships and society at large. I can see why he is known for being a lyrics guy; the writing is clever, wordy, and has a lot to say. His band sounded good, but I feel like some of the songs could've been mixed better. A three feels too low for this and a four feels too high. I've been rounding down, so I guess I'll stick with three.

I don’t have much exposure to Elvis Costello, despite him being what I would consider “up my alley”. At first I was a bit off-put by the vocal affectations. It strikes me as an approach someone would take to mask their lack of talent. But as the album marches on the songs get more diverse, I find myself more impressed. His impact on future music is apparent. I hear disco-funk, punk, ska, and 80s crooning. I particularly liked “Two Little Hitlers” and “Sunday’s Best”.

It's fine, but I didn't find myself really captivated by any of the songs. The vibe is enjoyable, but kind of background music.

I still not sure if I'm truly an Elvis Costello fan or not. I really like his first 2 albums a lot, there excellent. I've listen this one multiple times and it just feels duller and lacks the life of the first two. I probably would have never listen to this album again if it wasn't for this list. So how do I rate this? I'd say a 3.5.

This was good, but his voice was wearing on me after a few songs. Would still be interested in listening to some of his other music

Solides Rock-Album der späten 70er Jahre. Es bietet eine brauchbare Mischung aus Rock und New Wave, ohne jedoch sensationelle Highlights zu setzen. Der Stil und die Abstimmung der Songs sind ordentlich und gut durchdacht. Besonders hervorzuheben ist der Track “Busy Bodies”, der sich als persönlicher Favorit herauskristallisiert hat. Auch “Party Girl” sowie die Singles “Oliver’s Army” und “Accidents Will Happen” sind angenehm zu hören und runden das Album gut ab.

Justo fine

I still don't really get the hype about this guy. I think Next Year's Model was a bit better, but Oliver's Army is such a great song that I'll numb this up 1 star.

A couple of gems. A couple of average. A few meh. But overall likeable. Split the difference. 3 stars.

Correct

Fine, exactly what you'd expect from an Elvis Costello album, nothing mind blowing, just fine.

Elvis Costello is one of those artists that I was aware of without being familiar with. My initial thought is "meh." Solid music, but not really great. 3.5, but rounded down for being over-hyped

This album is pretty cool and enjoyable although some lyrics are repetitive.

5/10

I kind of like Moods for Moderns, I almost like Oliver’s Army

I am starting to think I don't like any British music made after 1980. Just fine, but I am not choosing to listen to this outside of this.

Fun listen, nothing stands out though…

I don't understand a lot of the references but I latched onto Elvis Costello's songwriting. His use of asymmetric bars, his lyrical stylings, and not least the arrangements (big props to the band). Will return to educate myself on the UK and WWII

Interesting listen but nothing really jumped out. Probably a 3.5 but on the three side.

Un album enjoué et solide où les arrangements mettent en valeur la voix et le rythme de la mélodie

Not sure what it is, but something about Elvis Costello’s voice just grates on me

It's in no way bad, there are far worse albums on this list. But there's also absolutely nothing that stands out as being good or interesting. Are people actually fans of this and get excited by it?

I really like the album cover. The album is a good length, however, I couldn't get into it and the only song I can remember is Oliver's Army, as that's one i have heard before

I’ve tried listening to this a few times and just got bored. That said it’s not bad it just didn’t grab me

Good

3 - I can’t believe it but this album is actually alright. His voice was much more bearable on this album (the annoying voice would still shine through occasionally) and some of the songs were actually interesting for once. Did drop a hard-R tho

This was good, but I think I liked This Year's Model better. I don't know that this is one I would seek out to re-listen to often, but it made for a nice upbeat drive in to work. 3.25/5

Meh. C-

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve gone so long without hearing him so my ears have had time to settle, if this is a different sounding album than the rest, or if I trying just don’t remember him, but this wasn’t bad at all. Don’t get me wrong I barely remember specifics, however I recall it being easy to listen to. The length was incredibly tolerable as well.

Never understood the Elvis Costello hype. I get he has an image that goes along with his style. And at times he can write some nice melodies with interesting lyrics. But most of it comes across as average to me. 6 Elvis Costello albums on this list is insane

C’est vraiment un album de tout les temps

Alright, whatever Elvis Costello, I'll give you this one, motherfucker. This one's pretty good. Still don't get why he's Jesus Christ incarnate for British music magazine reviewers though.

Consistently nice songs with not a single track to really stand out. But for me it is always something fundamental missing?! Maybe it´s his inexpressive voice. 🤷‍♂️ favourite: "Green Shirt", "Goon Squad" worst: "Senior Service", "Moods For Moderns" 3,5

maybe my tolerance for Elvis Costello isnt waning as much as I thought, this wasnt bad, nothing too outstanding either though.

- Never listened to an Elvis Costello album; my point of reference is mainly "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." - Not a total fan of him in this more New Wave era, though I have to admit that a lot of this sounds like a 50s throwback. I like the fact that he sounds like Billy Joel with way more personality. - Enjoy "Party Girl." - Found "Sunday's Best" to be annoying. But the rest of the album was pleasant.

Expected I would like this more than I did. A couple of good songs, but pretty average overall.

A bit to sing-song-y for my taste

Never listened to this album before. It's an interesting thing to attempt to tie national politics with the politics of relationships, but in the end I don't think he did justice to either. Too crafty for it's own good. A couple of good songs. Rated as a 3- without (WSF'B) PL&U and 3+ with it.

First time listening through. Ended up listening several times and it went from a 2 to a 3, but no higher.

Das Cover ist unfassbar hässlich und seine Stimme ist irgendwie punchable aber das ist das beste Album von ihm soweit also verdient es 3 Sterne

Like the concept feel. Goon Squad is awesome. 3.5 stars.

Now, I grew up in the West of Scotland and I've heard 1,001 names for Irish catholics that would make your blood boil and your toes curl, and the N word WAS NEVER ONE OF THEM. "Accidents Will Happen" is a bop though, as is "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"...

Бля внатуре моя аналогия с Риверсом Куомо имеет место быть. Как и группа Визер, очкарик Костелло выпустил после лёгкого дебютника то, чего никто не ожидал. Политические песни какие-то, хотя и завёрнутые в приятный музон

Classic!

Hey man...I don't think we NEED to say that word to make a song catchy. Slurs aside, this album is right down the middle for me, not unlike the rest of Costello's discography. Some catchy pop tunes with a lot of fluff that gets lost in the mix.

A bit pretentious. A few very catchy songs though.

Good, but nothing extraordinarily great

Much like the elephants on the cover (or the splattered paint in others), Elvis Costello's truest ambitions stampede to life on the appropriately titled Armed Forces. No longer encumbered by the punk rock ethos, Elvis saw an opportunity to spread his and the Attractions wings musically while still spewing on about the way the world was heading by the turn of the decade. With the emphasis on accessibility and wherewithal, the aim most certainly can be true after all. Favorites: Accidents Will Happen, Senior Service, Oliver's Army, Green Shirt, Party Girl, Goon Squad, Chemistry Class, Two Little Hitlers.

Strange album but I didn't dislike it. Sidenote: How do you name a song "Two Little Hitlers"?

oliver's army goon squad busy bodies

I've enjoyed every Costello album on the list but I'm beginning to wonder why they are all there.

помню какой-то мне очень не понравился, но этот норм. поменьше страшных слов и можно на олди вечеринках ставить

Upbeat and light, Elvis Costello's "Armed Forces" is a basically a pop rock album. While this album is regarded as one of the artist's best works, the songs are unmemorable and have been forgotten over the past years.

Nearly a 4. There are Elvis Costello albums with better non single tracks.

Lite konstig röst, inte riktigt min grej men vissa låtar var definitivt före sin tid och låt som mycket nyare. Får kanske lyssna igen och då är det säkert bättre.

One of the best that they put out

Eh generic pub rock, wasn’t as into it as other Elvis Costello. Above average lyrics. Standout is catchy cover of “(What’s so funny ‘bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”

Costelloooooo

My standard problem with Costello. Some fantastic songs but I can't take a whole album of it. I should love it as British new wave but I've never managed quite to be sold on him. He's got a greatest hits album many would beg for, but his albums are not very compelling.

Last time I got Costello I rounded it up to a 3, and my main complaint was that there was too much filler. This one did not have a ton of filler, and I’m rounding it down to a 3 instead. The numbers look the same but trust me it’s a different three. I imagine there’s like half a dozen more Costellos on here, maybe he’ll crack a 4 yet.

It’s okay. Not really into Costello. There are a few songs on here that I’d consider cult classics. I’m just not a huge fan.

Unique voice for sure. Sort of rock, sort of pop. No idea what he was saying but it was ok overall.

Can’t decide between 2 and 3. Would go 2.5 if possible. Pretty interesting musically. Rounding up to 3.

It's a popular criticism of this list that it has too much Elvis Costello. While I agree that six albums is a lot and that some were particularly average, I am glad that Costello is featured on the list. 'Armed Forces' may not be the strongest release overall but it does feature some of his best work, including 'Oliver's Army' and '(What's so Funny about) Peace, Love and Understanding'. Unfortunately there's also a lot of filler here that's less memorable.

It was okay

It’s a shame they wasted a cover artwork this great on such a mediocre album. There are certainly highlights like “Goon Squad” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout)…” (not on the original track list, not an original Costello song), but I still don’t get the extreme hype surrounding Elvis Costello.

i would rather be anywhere else than here to-oo-oo-day (well, not really)

Rock, americana, pop, folk, male, mid/fast, keys, lovesongs, solid - but not mine

Listened.

Good enough.

5 / 10 Pop simple y aburrido.

Wow I don’t like Elvis Costello’s voice. For the most part a perfectly fine album

Этот альбом мне понравился меньше чем My Aim Is True, но работа хорошая. Музыканты прекрасные, да и музыка прекрасная. Но, кажется, далеко не самая колоритная и показательная работа Элвиса

альбом выглядит как паренёк в носках со смешным принтом и очками с желтыми линзами. выделю гун сквад и частые предприпевные клавиши

It aight. Also good PUBG music. - 6/10

First few songs were find. His voice got kind of annoying

It was fine 5.5/10

Another early release by Costello, a mix of Beatlesesque power pop with early New Wave, consistently built upon simplistic synth usage and catchy commercial-oriented rock music borrowing from punk (especially the vocals and tempo) and disco (especially the bass). It's formulaic, based around some wacky self-repeating gimmick, usually related to a keyboard setting. The first 5 songs do have good variety and creative ideas with replayability, but nothing too incredible. Other than that, the production is nice and does have points for consistency and innovation, but it's not something I'll be returning too unless specifically looking for a refreshing chill sound.

Pretty nice album.

Elvis Costello would come up on the radio a lot growing up, but except for the hits I hadn't heard this one before. It's a solid record. You can hear how much influence he had on later indie rock. Unfortunately this is also the album with the song where he said the n-word which was uh... ill-advised to put it mildly. A shame because I think otherwise Olivers Army might be the strongest track here, it's a great vocal hook.

Hat seine Momente. Mag insbesondere den 1. Song.

It's a little bit croony. Not my favorite.

3eme album. Ce mec a ses entrées. Album sympathique mais sans grand éclat. “Oliver's army” a l'air d'être le tube. Pourquoi pas. Je n'ai pas trouvé les tubes accrocheurs de deux premiers albums.

Really can’t stand the vocals or cheesiness of this album. The production is pretty good though. I really couldn't stand the first half of the album but the second half is much better. This seems like the influence for a lot of 80s music which I can appreciate. I'm hearing some ska sounds on the back half of the album which is interesting. What's So Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding is a great album closer. Final thoughts are that the first half of the album is a 2 star album but the second half is a 3-3.5 star album. If I were to listen to this album again I'd probably just start at Party Girl.

An Elvis Costello album I don’t entirely hate. What an accomplishment! He still has his moments of sounding like a giant cheese ball, but he manages to keep it in check for the most part. Somehow. Again, amazing.

I like

Just ok. Lots of styles that are permutations of dad rock

The production on this is insane, and the writing is great. I didn't always gel with the vocal delivery, but I might warm up to it more on future re-listens.

Elvis Costello er fínn en hann skorar samt aldrei eitthvað hátt hjá mér. Fín lög og allt en það er bara eitthvað sem mér finnst vera bara meh

Not really my kind of music. I bought this album 30 years ago and listened to it many times. I could never like his voice. The music always lacked something to make it good.

No sabía que esperar y superó mis expectativas.

Not my favorite EC, but still very good stuff. I feel like he hit his stride later, maybe with Imperial Bedroom.

This was ok but I prefer the solo effort from Costello on My Aim Is True.

Ok, not my preference, not terrible.

Elvis Costello AGAIN. How many albums does he have on this thing - are all of his albums worthy of consideration? I guess this is the "hits" one with Olivers Army & Accidents Will Happen. I would probably have enjoyed it more if it had been the first one I'd listened to, rather than pondering why he has multiple entries. It's Elvis Costello - you know what you're going to get right.

Elvis sounds a lot like Bob on a few of these songs. Some super songs amongst this lot, but not my favourite Elvis Costello album in the 1001.

Oh, I just don't know where to begin Love doesn't wait forever It's now or never But she keeps 'em hangin' on The silly champion She says she can't go home without a chaperone Accidents will happen They only hit and run You used to be a victim now you're not the only one Accidents will happen They only hit and run I don't want to hear it cause I know what I've done 3/5

Good music, easy to listen to

This was good, but don't remember much to be honest

Enjoyed it Best song - not too sure but maybe "Accidents will happen"

3/5 not quite there yet

More of getting exactly what you expect from an Elvis Costello album. Oliver's Army despite the dated lyrics, and Accidents Will Happen are the best well known and standout tracks. Other less well known tracks like Green Shirt and Party Girl also hold their own. Overall solid.

Hmmm interesting. I didn't dislike it at all but it didn't particularly keep my interest. I'm not going to be seeking it out but it was nice to listen to once.

Fun and solid in his usual quirky way. Several great tracks.

Not much to say about this album. I grew up with my grandpa loving Elvis Costello so I have some nostalgia for it. Mostly pretty standard music but a unique singer. Sounds like Randy Newman if he knew how to sing. 5/10

Really nice! I have to listen to it more often. At the first glance it didn’t catch me as - I believe - it should be.

Ooooooh look at those big elephant trunks! Reminds me of my own massive dick. Nellie the Elephant fucked your wife and said goodbye to your marriage.

A few really good tracks. Accidents will Happen is great, and Senior Service was stuck in my head all day.

Fun zany album, but doesn't feel like anything particularly special. The vocals get a bit grating on some songs. Also the slur on Oliver's Army hit me like a truck. The songs are very catchy, though, there's almost a carnival-like aesthetic throughout which is fun. Favorite(s): Accidents Will Happen, Senior Service, Green Shirt, Goon Squad, (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

This is better than the last Elvis Costello - album I came across on this list. I quite like the opener "Accidents Will Happen" and a couple of other tunes. Still, there is too much filler here to make for an even listening experience. 3/5

Listenable and all, but didn’t grab me

Classic Elvia Costello sound throughout. Not much variation. Oliver’s Army was a good one, and can hear why it stood slightly above the rest of the album.

This was pretty good! More in line with his first two albums than the underwhelming Imperial Bedroom and just fantastic songwriting all round

He did one great album - his first. It was downhill from there as his massive ego slowly consumed him.

Controversial opinion warning - overrated album from an overrated artist

Some nice tracks but his mid tempo nasal delivery can be a bit samey

This album is quite tolerable for being Elvis Costello, but the credit here will go to The Attractions for that. There is nothing remarkable about this album for this listener, but to retain a good mood after a listen says enough.

slurs caught me off guard, otherwise okay album

disliked his voice:/ music was very inspired by beatles and such but wasn’t really it

Contains the singles "Accidents Will Happen" and "Oliver's Army", but the rest of the album isn't bad either.

Not bad. I know he's rather overrepresented on this list but this list but I like several of his tunes despite never loving his voice. (Joni Mitchell Syndrone) Decent but I don't like him.

Good, but not for me

Some interesting songwriting but musically seemed very similar song to song

The album cover was the best part of this album. It wasn't bad but can someone please explain to me how this was something I needed to hear?

Nothing about Elvis Costello impresses me. He’s fine and at times I’m surprised that he’s not from the 90s. But it’s just not anything I’d ever listen to voluntarily.

You could make a best of Elvis Costello record and it would be one of my favorite albums. But his regular albums have to much filler besides the couple of great songs. Nothing bad, but just not that great. Favorite song: Accidents will happen.

This is a distinct step forward in musicality from "My Aim is True." Definitely leans a bit more into the pop sound but still has all of the sharpness and interesting styles you want from Elvis Costello. The Attractions add a lot of depth to the record, as does the increased level of production.

Pretty sure they remastered this album only to get rid of the slur in the most popular song. Also lost my respect because they missed the opportunity to rhyme “class” with “ass” in Chemistry Class (Rhymed “class” with “mind” instead. Weak.). But I still kinda liked it.

heard better heard worse

BL: second Costello album I’ve got. Will see how I find this one AL: didn’t like this as much as blood or chocolate. Had some very strong high points but a lot of it felt very same-y, I know Costello’s main appeal is his songwriting, which is on point here as always, but this didn’t do as much for me. FT: “senior service”, “Oliver’s army”, “goon squad” 3/5

A nice listen, sounds great for being 40! But nothing jaw dropping.

The author of this list really likes Elvis Costello as this is the third or forth of his albums featured on here. I like Elvis’ uniqueness and weird but his music isn’t really my thing. I don’t mind it but it’s not my favorite.

I don’t dislike it at all but the way he sings does make it hard to love

This was a bit better than I expected. I heard one or two EC albums in the past and thought they were so-so. This one had some decent stuff. On first listen, "Accidents Will Happen" and "Goon Squad" were standouts. I really liked the basslines. However, this is not an album to throw on at a party, with some questionable lyrics if taken out of context. "white n*gger," "darkies," "final solution," and "Two Little Hitlers."

I like Elvis. His stuff pretty easy to have on and chill

It was listed as experimental rock, something experiments fail as this one certainly didn't hot the mark, my brain just shut off most of the time as vocally it was just grating.

Genres: New wave, post-punk Formed: London, England in 1977? Run time: 13 songs, 39 min, 55 sec The third studio album by Elvis Costello, and his second album with the Attractions. The general theme of the album seems to be “us” and “them”, the “working man” and the “establishment”. Costello has an amazing ability to narrate the struggles we encounter in life. His songs are full of metaphors, some less obvious than others. The least popular song has 480k plays, whilst the most popular song is track 3, “Oliver’s Army” with over 40M plays on Spotify. Listen Again?: No. I’ll possibly explore a “Best Of…” My Rating: ***

Sounded okay, but no real stand-outs, apart from maybe the single Oliver's Army, and Costello's voice got a bit irritating after a while.

Another ICONIC album cover supporting an album that is just ok. I've made no secret that the only Costello I'm a fan of is Lou. This album doesn't change my opinion at all, but this was a more bearable one than some from the past. I can't say much more than that since I didn't connect to this one at all. Minus that AMAZING album cover.

3+/5

‘Accidents Will Happen’, ‘Senior Service’, ‘Green Shirt’, ‘Party Girl’ are my favourite songs on the album and reinforce that the first half of the album is stronger than the second. ‘Mood’s For Moderns’ is the pick of side 2. ‘Sunday’s Best’ grates. Good overall, and better than I was expecting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this!

Pop rock album with new wave and post-punk influences. Musically many of the songs are too poppy for my taste and for some reason Costello's voice doesn't fit with the songs. Lyrically it is heavier than the more commercial music. Overall it is a listenable record but it won't be an album that I'll relisten soon.

Not as good as This Year’s Model

Hard to rate too many versions

Good! Oliver's Army is my favourite track.

Very good

It’s a good album but I just don’t enjoy Costello.

Weirdly forward-sounding and backward-looking at the same time.

Don't really get on with Costello's voice - few stand out tunes here though "Accident's will happen" starts the album out well with a big promise which doesn't quite materialise, however Oliver's Army is good and maintains energy throughout.

See my other reviews, but the TL;DR is: 3 good songs, 5 mediocre songs, 5 bad songs, just like every Elvis Costello album.

Lyric focused albums never really hit for me, not a fan of the vocals. Whole album blurred together to me, was fun to listen to but don’t think I’ll come back to it

I have to admit I've never really got Elvis Costello. The musicianship is great. The songs are well-crafted. I don't hate any of them. I really enjoyed the singles, which I was already familiar with. In the end though I found it starting to get samey; the same songwriting tricks being employed over and over and, I'm sorry but, I find his voice really annoying after a while. Is that a real accent or a put on? I enjoyed listening to the album but it's not making into my regular rotation. I expect there'll be more Costello on this list. Maybe I'll discover one which will help me understand why he's so loved.

Just a straight up pleasant listen from a really accomplished performer but not something I'll listen to again or remember. And that's fine sometimes, just maybe not in a book reviewing the best of all time.

Listened to this twice, both times I stopped noticing it about halfway through. There's nothing that's memorable (either good or bad), just straight down the line rocky pop with a vague military theme. 3/5, straight down the line, like the album.

It was ok, not super interesting but not insultingly bad

This is pretty alright. Nothing really jumps out as super great, but not extremely boring or bad. Another 3/5

My second attempt at Elvis Costello and The Band and I'm now 100% sure I won't need another try, I have made up my mind about them. Alternative music with a rock'n'roll feeling about it, usually upbeat and taking you straight to a dance floor. The lyrics don't match up with instruments, being about political and humanitarian themes. But it all doesn't matter in the end, because one thing I can't stand on this album (and any other album by them) is Elvis Costello's vocal. He has such a weird voice that it always make me too conscious and I can't focus on the song at all. He has original style for sure, but unfortunately, I'm not able to appreciate it. 3 stars for good effort, that much I can admit.

There's a high bar set with the singles. The rest of the album fails to catch up. Nick Lowe's production is superb and holds it all together. I wasn't expecting Peace, Love and Understanding at the end - a highlight.

Pop, maybe with some rock leanings

I can appreciate Elvis Costello, but I just can't get into him. I've tried. I give up.

Generic rock that sounds surprisingly modern.

Two Little Hitlers, Hyvä nimi ja ihan hyvä biisi. Muuten ihan ok

Listened Before? No Honestly kind of sounds like listening to the same, almost-obnoxious song on repeat for 40 minutes. It would be fine as background music I guess, except for the slurs… Added to Library? No

Was okay, couldn't understand a word he was saying though

Interesting, sort of post-punk rock. Good melodies, some of the bass lines were excellent. I enjoyed the last track the most, some of the middle songs were decent as well. Overall it wasn't bad

I've always heard of Elvis Costello but never sat and listened to him before. While a good portion of this album didn't speak to me directly, I could easily picture how different his music must have felt at the time. His voice is full of swagger and confidence, so much that I wondered where it came from. His backing band perfectly balanced the front man, keeping up without overstepping. I was a little uncomfortable with the unexpected slur, I know it was a different time but still...I'd be interested to know if Costello has commented on it since then.

declan mcmanus, international art thief

Apart from Olivers Army and Accidents Will Happen, this was entirely new to me. Good album and a couple of real gems in there. One or two sound dated and would skip onfuture listens. Particularly liked Busy Bodies and Chemistry Class. Will definitely go back to this album.

It’s alright

Started listening to this, and I was wondering why this album was on the list. Then I saw the last song on the album and I knew why. "Peace, Love and Understanding" is perhaps Elvis Costello's greatest song. So it's not easy for the rest of the album to hold up to that. I think the first few songs do okay, but "PL&U" is... just at another level. It kinda detracts from the other songs in that way; they just can't compete. "Smoke On The Water" does that for Deep Purple's album "Machine Head". A really good example for me is Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper". Everything else on that album "Agents of Fortune" is just... meh. But "Reaper" blows everything else out of the water on the album. Where was I? Oh yeah, Elvis Costello. So "Peace, Love & Understanding" makes the other songs sound worse, it's like an outlier it brings up the rest of the album, but you don't really want to hear the other songs, you just want to hear that one song. Doesn't bode well for the rest of the album.

Not sure this one deserved to be on the 1,001 list. It's a decent listen, but it's just not as good as his first two albums. Side One highlights were the two singles Accidents Will Happen and Oliver's Army (Senior Service and Big Boys also solid). Side Two was a bit rough around the edges. Goon Squad (as an opener) tries too hard and the vocal / musical combination was a little off, despite some good lyrics. Sunday's Best and Moods for Moderns were not good, although Busy Bodies and Chemistry Class were not bad. Two Little Hitlers is a nice piece of Costello lyrical creativity. So, solid side one, middling side two. Peace, Love, and Understanding (a great song) doesn't count because it's a single that someone decided to throw on the American album release (surely to drive up sales). If this was the only Elvis Costello album I ever heard, I probably wouldn't go looking for more.

I generally liked this album, but definitely liked "This Year's Model" much more. Some of the tracks and singing made me think of XTC (not a bad thing). I don't know how much I'd seek this album out again, though, and that makes it a 3 in my book. Tracks that caught my ear: Accidents Will Happen (really like the outro), Busy Bodies, Moods for Moderns, and What's So Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding.

Well, that wasn't as bad as I was expecting my second Costello album, with me originally thinking one was enough, but this still wasn't anything special. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's alright, or it wouldn't be getting three stars, but I really don't see what some see in this album. Just was boring most of the time and a lot of the good bits were a bit covered up. Only saving grace is it feels a bit more like its own thing, where I can see where someone may start to say "I like Costello because of this!", but not totally for me. Would rate lower, but I'm feeling nice, I guess. Very low three stars.

2/2- Driving to school

I don't like his voice

Muuy melodico, me gusta mucho como queda el piano en canciones como Oliver's Army. Noto cosas de Bowie y especialmente de Phil Collins cuando canta el chabon, lo cual es curioso porque el pelado cantando aparece mucho despues. Capaz Phil tiene cosas de este?????? Idk Por otra parte, hay canciones como Green shirt o Party Girl q me hacen dar ganas de dormir. All in all, "no esta mal!!!" aaH y me encanta la tapa del disco 6/10

Cool. Lots of Nazi references tho?

Disco normalito, bastante empalagoso y típico. Nada destacable.

Tuve que averiguar que género era, para mi sonaba solo a algo de los 80s tipo Phill Collins. Ni fu ni fa pero safa algunos temas

Other than two hit tracks on this album, it's pretty flat and samey, rearrangements of a basic formula of their sound.

Never really been a fan of Elvis Costello. Listened to the 24 bit remastered version on Qobuz and had a great sound. Enjoyed the music just his voice is not for me.

Very Elvis Costello

Once again, talented artists, i’m just not their audience

I did like one song. I wish I could listen to just an instrumental version of this album because that part slaps.

Not Costellos best effort but a good one nonetheless. There’s a lot of same sounding songs but when Elvis shines here is in the micro moments. The ones that see past the bombast of the overall project.

Never heard of this artist before. I enjoyed the album nevertheless

I'll admit that Elvis Costello has written some great songs, but overall his sound just doesn't jive with me. This album hasn't offered me any new insights. The two songs I love are still alive, but the rest of the album grates at me. Since I understand that I have a personal distaste and this album does seem thoughtful and well made, (What's so funny 'bout) a three star rating?

3/5

I've heard a bit about Elvis Costello, but not much of their stuff - didn't even realise he was in a band. Throughout the album, the theme of political effects on human relationships was quite prominent and not hard to mistake. Their overall sound does sound quite modern for the time it was released, however coupled with the themes the lyrical content feels slightly dated. Best: Oliver's Army Worst: Chemistry Class 2.5 stars

I thought the first few songs were a bit boring and I was worried I'd like this less than the Elvis Costello album I reviewed. But, after those songs, the album picks up. My favourite songs were Busy Bodies and Sunday's Best.

Very groovy, never really listened to new wave rock. Head bobber

Still not crazy about this guy's vibe. The loosy goosy nerd thing just doesn't quite land for me. This is the second Costello album I've gotten, and I think I liked the other one a little better. It's not terrible though, the more I replay it, it grows on me a bit

I definitely enjoyed listening to some of these tunes, but there were also moments or complete tracks that felt a little too... plastic? overdone? circus-y? Some of that definitely had to do with Costello's unique voice, which didn't always sound great to me.

Liked the early stuff from Elvis Costello. Still do :-)

3.5/5

The third of Elvis Costello's debut trilogy of albums. Like 'My Aim Is True' (1977) and 'This Year's Model' (1978), this is a collection of instantly likeable and catchy guitar pop songs. A slight law of diminishing returns from the previous two records and tails off after a strong start, but very good overall. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Accidents Will Happen Date listened: 17/11/22

3.5 - I skimmed through the reviews and was excited for another “My Aim is True” caliber record but after putting this record on repeat all weekend, I feel very ambivalent about it. Costello’s technical proficiency as a songwriter is clear. The song architecture is consistently intricate with plenty of interesting guitar riffs. At times there are interesting turns of phrase, as on “Sunday’s Best.” But I find most of the songs overly complex in a show-offy sort of way. And there’s a nervous pacing to the whole thing - each song presents a slew of ideas at a frantic pace (see “Moods for Moderns”). Standouts: “Green Shirt”, “Party Girl.”

I said it before, and I'll say it again - Elvis Costello is a cool cat. This isn't my favorite album of his, but - top to bottom - solid stuff.

I don't get it

Honestly I was not looking forward to this album. I didnt like the last solo Elvis Costello album we had on here. This album was wayyyy different than the other. I'm shocked this one only came out 2 years after. Olivers army was a great song. The last song was also really good. All of these songs were solid but I really didnt know where any of them were going. Elvis has a very interesting voice. Good album 6/10

it’s fine

This album is pretty good, I think the songs were enjoyable. The n-word being thrown out in one of the songs completely caught me off guard. Product of it's time and all that, but still felt weird. But besides that, I think the songs are decently catchy. Favorite song: Two Little Hitlers (feels weird putting a song with this title as my favorite) Worst song: Oliver's Army (purely for the n-word)

Decent enough, I guess, but I'll not be going back to it. Probably too "of its time" - particularly Squeeze took the style and made it better.

Just kinda is.

Classic. But the language.

6/10 Parecen las canciones que aparecerian como transición en las peliculas de disney channel

Clever lyrics, and... Not much else to write home about. I don't really like his voice. I might've really liked this in 2002, but it's not really doing that much for me now. 🤷

Nothing to really dislike, kind of generic pop album. Ali Express David Bowie.

Its Elvis Costello. Great job at the same album I heard before

Kinda monotone after a while but gun vibes.

An enjoyable album, nothing too special here but still got its moments

I've listened to a few of Elvis Costello's albums and they all sound... the same? Not particularly fond of his voice which I know he can't do anything about, but his music all kind of sounds the same. Not great, but also doesn't make me want to raise the volume, either. 6/10.

Kinda a weird dude

Some great pop rock songs, but a bit too bland for me.

4/13, 31%

🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️ mm meh

This was alright. I’ve never listened to Elvis Costello before so I was eager to get in my car and start listening. It felt somewhat repetitive to me but I didn’t hate it. I just can’t see myself listening to it again. Not a big fan of his voice. The only standout track for me was "Moods for Moderns," and I think that’s because it reminded me of Talking Heads.

Not his best period, but a great songwriter

Yeah idk about this one

Oliver’s Army

This is what The Atlantic has to say about the American tour that followed this record: "Live recordings included in the box set give a good sense of what an Armed Forces–era Attractions concert was like: Every song seems about 15 percent faster and 30 percent more punk than the album version. To an unsympathetic listener, Costello can sound twee in studio, especially surrounded by Nieve’s filigrees. These tapes show that the concerts were rougher affairs." Man, oh man, I wish Elvis Costello had used a producer who could understand the point of making these very formated songs rock HARDER than they do here, just like the live versions. You can't believe Nick Lowe produced the Damned debut when you're listening to *Armed Forces*. Don't get me wrong: the Attractions were a great backing band for Costello, and all of the songs are at least interesting. "Accidents Will Happen", " Senior Service" or "Goon Squad" all have amazing chord progressions and lively performances going for them ("Oliver's Army" is a more famous cut, admittedly, but its rococo piano flourishes are quite annoying and predictable in comparison). I also understand that what Costello fans like about this record is the contrast between the mellow sounds (even poppier than the ones of the previous LP "This Year's Model") and the snarling lyrics... But if you start listening to Costello fans, they'll tell you that seven or eight of his most cheesy-sounding records deserve to be on this list anyway (and I think Dimery listened, unfortunately--if he is not one of those guys himself). So maybe we should all remain cautious here... Besides, and this is something that already rubbed me the wrong way for *This Year's Model* (as smartly-written as its lyrics were--just like the ones here, generally speaking), I think there is something deeply flawed in the borderline-incel energy Costello displays in some of his lyrics. That strange congruence between takes on personal relationships and political references is indeed very awkward stuff (that congruence can be mostly found on "Chemistry Class" and "Two Little Hitlers"--the latter clearly inspired by another tune with a very close title written by producer Nick Lowe for his own *Jesus Of Cool*). Here I disagree with The Atlantic, whose writer sees those lyrics as prophetic genius. Nah, it's not. They just prove Costello was way over his head and didn't really know what he was talking about, and this whether it's about the personal and the political. When you're only equating love and dysfunctional romantic relationships with the dynamics of fascism or unmitigated capitalism, I think you're missing many important points about all of those things... And in any case, it shows how lost and cynical you are as a person. Therefore, I'm not surprised Costello then somewhat ruined said American tour with those awful drunken racist "jokes" about James Brown and Ray Charles, ones that went from private to public to everyone's outrage (thanks to Stephen Stills and his entourage--by the way, check out Ray Charles' high class reaction to the news, the man just saved Costello's sorry ass, and this without pandering to his slurs either). The question is: was Costello's passing confusion such a big surprise after all? In a way, it could already be sensed in some of *Armed Forces*' lyrics. Maybe that "new wave Bob Dylan" thing hurled at the British singer thing made him lost all sense of perspective and restraint... What really matters is that Costello apologized for the racist slurs right away and said there was no excuse or cohesive explanation for them. Astonishingly, he had played a Rock Against Racism concert right before the tour--so he *really* looked stupid, to boot. I guess he was lucky that this incident occured during pre-internet times, otherwise *more* than the tour and his charts ascent in the US would have been compromised. Costello now seems to consider the whole situation as a case of hubris, a case of ambition-going-dead-wrong. He says that he had it coming somehow, and that the setback such a public revelation triggered was actually beneficial to him in the end, both as a person and an artist. But one can sense this strange "hubris" of his was already doing weird things in this particular record, both musically and lyrically speaking. And for one, *I* could sense it before I even knew about this particular incident. It's like an elephant in the room, clearly. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 826 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 95 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 44 (see explanation below) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 37 Note to myself -- I remember giving a harsh 2/5 grade on *This Year's Model*. Or was it a 3? In any case, I've taken some time to reconsider the overall artistic and mostly *musical* intents of this other Costello record, and I get them a little better now, in spite of my early reservations (some of whom I still agree with). So I can bump up that grade to a 3 or a 4 now, and include the album in my own list of potential contenders. Costello is weird in many ways to me. My personal experience of his songs is that they are *always* slow growers, even if a lot of them are worth it in the end. That's why I'm gonna stay cautious with *Armed Forces* too, and give it a neutral grade for now. I still think the man's whole career is *way* overrated. But I can be reasonable, contrary to some of his most hardcore fans...

I just had Randy Neuman surprising me with a certain slur and now Elvis Costello. Does one word ruin an otherwise good song? I mean yeah, kind of. Does it ruin the whole album? No I don't suppose so. I have never listened to an Elvis Costello album all the way through and now I get the hype; I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Musicalement c'est bon, et la production est très bonne. Je pense que mon principal problème avec Costello est son chant, soit dans la voix ou son style de mélodie, mais je ne vois pas comment certains trouvent sa musique unique, ça sonne très rock safe à mon oreille.

3.5. Really great

Reminded me of scrubs.

Timeless classic and very enjoyable.

Not bad, just a little dull for me. Not a fan of his voice though which doesn't help

Fun

.ok, voice a tad much

Elvis had one great album in him and he got it out of the way with My Aim is True. After that he got eaten by his giant ego and pretty much everything else he did was pap. It's not that his stuff was terrible, it was just kind of mundane. I always wondered what would happen if you got Elvis's and Van Morrison's egos together - probably some kind of fusion chain reaction that could destroy civilization.

Was okay, some lovely parts.

ok kinda middling - may be a grower

My palate is not sophisticated enough to truly appreciate Elvis Costello's catalog. Is it blue or periwinkle? My Aim is True or This Year's Model? Which are both better than this.

The lyrics were pretty odd and the music itself was meh.

This is the 3rd Elvis Costello album coming past on my list, and I'm only 140 albums in. Side A has two highlights: opening song "Accidents Will Happen", with its lovely melody, and Party Girl, a somewhat languid song, different from the rest of the album with some nice piano work. On the B-side, Busy Bodies in particular stood out, with a faded intro, uptempo and this albums characteristic organ; again that fresh new wave atmosphere. And yet, the other songs do much less for me, even after repeated rotations. While at the same time, they do rise above the average, I hear that. I don't really understand why they bore me faster than most of the songs on the other 2 albums I've heard. This album is a great, fresh, up-tempo and razor-sharp produced record, to which I nevertheless and to my surprise can only award 3*

i like positive songs

Não me pegou muito, legalzinho só.

Jolly. I really like the album cover (with the title)

Enjoyed it more than other Costello albums

Upbeat but a bit samey

Elvis Costello is just not my thing, but I do think his writing is good.

Denne Elvisen sin stemme irriterer meg litt, når han tydelig gjør til stemmen sin. Synes det er mye kule sekvenser, men så bytter det kjapt over til at noe annet skjer. Skulle gjerne strippet det ned litt, så melodien og hovedtemaene er tydeligere. Ser for meg at dette blir bedre jo mer man hører på det, hvor man klarer å sortere ut melodien bedre. Favoritter: "Peace, love and understanding", "Green shirt" og "Olivers army" - gladsang med tydelig melodi. Har lyst til å gi den 2.5.

This is Elvis Costello's third album and the backing band is The Attractions. This album's music is more commercial, which results in a pop / new wave sound instead of Costello's past albums of punk rock. This album is considered one of Costello's best, and it received many favorable reviews. The production of every song is superb and Costello's lyrics shine through to bring it all together. This was an awesome album to listen to, because the smart, political lyrics give your mind something to think about while your body is dancing to the beautiful pop music.

Similar to the last Elvis Costello album, it doesn't feel like there's anything particularly unusual going on, just good solid songs. I'm definitely more of a fan of his thanks to the generator. The first and last few songs are really strong (the version of Peace, Love & Understanding being the highlight) but there's some more average stuff in the middle. 3.5

Few very good songs and a fair bit of average.

Some good songs and some average but a not bad listen

So, yeah racial epitaphs They weren't ok then, still not ok. Makes it difficult to objectively judge the music. Part of the problem is time and place change and I can't know what the context was without Elvis giving an explanation. From a perspective 30 yrs in the future, they seem out of place and unnecessary in the context of the rest of the lyrics.

3 stars. I just can’t get in to Elvis Costello. I tried. Maybe when I’m older and more wise?

This is now my 2nd Costello album and it's fine. I don't get why this guy is on the list so much. The music is okay but it never really felt challenging at all. The songs just feel a bit bland and meld together.

Good

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (1979) Elvis Costello’s third album, Armed Forces (1979) is not quite as good as his debut album My Aim Is True (1977) or even close to his next release This Year’s Model (1978), because, in my view, it tries to do too much and still make a broad appeal to mainstream listeners. It’s too pop. The record has been described as “a cross between The Clash and Abba”, which is apt, but I wish he had left both The Clash and Abba out of it (and David Bowie while we’re at it), and just given us Elvis Costello. Lyrics (with the exception of “Oliver’s Army”, which is excellent) don’t have the ‘edge’ of either his earlier albums or his later Imperial Bedroom (1982). His backing band, The Attractions, seems willing to follow Costello wherever he wants to go, and they do it with skill, if not passion. “Hey, guys, as long as we’re getting paid to do pop, let’s do good pop.” But I can’t imagine they were all completely happy about it. It’s no wonder the atmosphere was tense as they toured these tunes in America. And Costello’s use of highly offensive language aimed at the Irish (in “Oliver’s Army”) to drunkenly insult James Brown and Ray Charles didn’t help matters. I won’t go into details. Now the most representative track on the album is the very good song, “Oliver’s Army”, which ponders the internal contradictions and sundry miseries swirling in the minds of young men who find themselves serving in the British armed forces in the late 1970’s (full disclosure: This reviewer spent the mid-1970s in the US armed forces, so that may account for some of the appeal here.) It treats a serious subject in a pop vein, which I think is Costello’s point in this album as a whole. But this song is the only one that does it well. And it does it very well. Without this track, Armed Forces would not rate a 3/5. So the record falls short as pure pop. On some tracks (especially “Accidents Will Happen”), chord progressions and meter are all over the compositional map, even though they are well executed. Hard for kids to follow. Hard for adults to swallow. In short, the album is good (barely), but at the same time it’s perplexing and disappointing. I was hoping for better. 3/5

I'm cautious with yet another Elvis Costello album, as so far they have all been passably average. This, at least, has Oliver's Army on it, which is above average. It's probably the best of the three(!) Costello albums this far. Still very much Everton rather than Man City though - OA and the Nick Lowe cover at the end are the highlights, and between this, there are good, more piano led cuts which don't drag, even if they don't blow you away.

Meh

bättre än elvis costello, men det kanske fortfarande inte är det bästa jag vet.

bit better than the "My Aim is True" for sure. not bad album but I won't relisten it soon; 3-

I enjoyed the last couple of tracks?

I’ve liked Elvis Costello going way back: I don’t think this is his best and forebodes his being another artist who is frustratingly over-represented on this list. His worse tendencies as a writer are on display here: over-written lyrics that fall short as songs per se, resulting in a kind of plodding delivery.

3 1/2

some classics on there. Glad i listened to this.

Concept album, mediocre

Too poppy for my taste, but not bad otherwise. 2.5/5

Did I just hear the n-word?

nondescript

Estilo y voz muy definidos. Especie de mezcla entre pop y rock suave, algo de rockabilly. Buenos temas, pero un tanto parecidos entre sí

Not exactly my cup of tea

promises fun! 3. not my favorite e costello, but great, high energy music overall.

I'm not super familiar with this particular Costello album, I mostly know it as the one with (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding and that song where Costello drops the N bomb. It's pretty good. I would call it mid-tier Costello. A little too smooth to be the top of the barrel for his early work, but it's got some serious highlights.