My Aim Is True

I think the editor of 1001 Albums must have lost his first virginity to Elvis Costello or something. Every album is just incredibly okay. Not unpleasant, but pretty good. But he keeps popping up! I am learning that Elvis Costello has existed fairly consistently. But this is meant to be 1001 of the best albums to hear before you die. On my deathbed, of I even remember listening to this, I don't think I'm going to think "I wish I had listened to more of Costello's consistent but dull music.

Is Elvis aim was to produce an album with 13 songs that are exactly the same, he has achieved this.

A pretty cool style for the time period. Didn't love anything here, but nothing excruciating either Side note; whether intentional or not, this is one of the ugliest album covers I've ever seen with my own eyes

Yasssssssss. Not sure anything more needs to be said, but this is in my top 20 ever albums based on the line "she's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake" alone, much less Alison, Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes and everything else on this goldmine.

One of my all-time favorites. Packed with great songwriting. An incredible debut album. I love how confidently he uses different genre styles throughout the album. There’s some doo-wop on “No Dancing,” country twang on “Blame It On Cain,” old fashioned rock n roll on “Mystery Dance,” and reggae in the beat of “Watching the Detectives.” Most of all Elvis Costello just sounds so cool. He’s a great performer. I remember listening to this in high school and even though I was too nervous to date girls at the time, this album gave me a little window into an adult world of relationships and sex. Hearing Elvis Costello sing about dating with a snarky attitude had a huge impression on me. He was smart and nerdy looking but still had swagger. A lot of songs went over my head — I still don’t know what “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” or “Less Than Zero” are about) — but I loved the style with which he sang them. Fun fact: I was Elvis Costello for Halloween in college once and I based my look on this album cover. I’m sorry to say no known photographs exist of this costume but I swear it was really good.

Another artist that I know is well-respected but that I knew little about. What a great album. And the Elvis moniker is very befitting - he's got his own sense of rockabilly for the modern era. Very cool. Some perfect examples were Mystery Dance (sounds like Elvis Presley reimagined) and No Dancing (sounds like a modern cross between the King and the Beach Boys). Welcome to the Working Week might be the coolest 90 second song ever made; it doesn't feel that short with all he packs into it. I still don't love Alison, other than to jokingly sing the title like Costello does. Still, side one is brilliant. Great energy and great arrangements, with neat wordplay. Side two isn't far behind. The singles Red Shoes and Less than Zero are solid, but I really like the tempo and beats in Pay it Back.

What an overrated, low-talent hack. Elvis Costello has hung his whole career on leveraging the misplaced, rose-tinted-glasses nostalgia of white middle class America. And they've eaten it up thinking that this plastic imitation is the real deal.

I would say its at least twice as good Blood and Chocolate so that makes it a 6 on a 5 star scale? I feel like this album has a ton of personality and is fun to listen to. A variety of sounds that all still carry Elvis's style without being an album of songs that all sound the same

Now this is some grade-A power pop.

Wow, I really enjoyed this album. I've heard of Elvis Costello, but can't say I ever listened to his music (at least if I did, I didn't know about it). This was just a fun, high quality album. It's like a more modern version of classic rock 'n roll (and songs like No Dancing and Less than Zero sound like pure old fashioned Rock n' roll). Favorite tracks were Miracle Man, Waiting for the End of the World, and Pay It Back (which really got stuck in my head). Least favorite were Alison and I'm Not Angry. Both were just a little cheesy, but still enjoyable (and the guitar on I'm Not Angry was pretty good). Looking forward to listening to more of his stuff.

What a debut! Costello came out of the gate running. Pure anger, spitting power pop. BT: Welcome To The Working Week, Alison, (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

Really like the album, both songs I knew and loved, and others that I had never heard before. To this point, this is my highest rated album.

Just like all his other stuff I like it but don't find it too interesting, feels like he has 1 or 2 songs on an album that are really nice to me and then lots of fillers which I don't mind but are very forgettable

Better than the other album but I still don't really get what is so important/significant/brilliant about Elvis Costello. 5/10

Wow, it’s hard to believe this is his first, and not a greatest hits album. Lots of really good tunes, and “Alison” just gets better and better with age. “Watching the Detectives” still has an incredible base line and punchey drums, “Less than Zero”, and “Blame it on Cain” still hold up 45 years.

I dug this one a lot for some reason. It’s got this earnest nerdy rock vibe to it that feels like a precursor to more modern stuff I like, like weezer, lcd soundsystem, the strokes. The songs are fun and energetic but also feel genuine and homespun and have a rebellious youth vibe to them. Allison is an all-timer, Welcome to the working week is a great opener, the stretch from blame it on Cain to mystery dance is pretty killer. I don't love watching the detectives as the closer but otherwise I like the album from top to bottom. Probably a strong 8 for me

This guy is such an asshole. Best track: Alison

I really liked this album. Such a good debut record!!

A classic. I don’t love Elvis Costello’s later stuff, but this holds. It’s a unique, angsty kind of punk that was very unique at the time.

My fave album by the Other Elvis.

My first time hearing Costello was in December of last year, with the album "This Year's Model" with his band The Attractions. This isn't quite as strong. Something about his voice frustrates me, like it's in an uncanny valley between a few other, better vocalists. He sounds *kind of* like Billy Joel, the better Elvis, the Strokes, and a few other rock bands from various eras mashed together. Another problem, related to that one, is that the music doesn't really bring anything new to the party, other than some decent compositions. The style is an odd sort of soft-punk, with clear 50s/60s R&B and rock influences. (My friend and I argued briefly about whether this counted as rock, and we couldn't come to an agreement. But being "genreless" isn't necessarily a good thing.) There's a lot of filler music and poor mixing on the album too. As for the positives: Watching The Detectives, Alison, Red Shoes, and Less Than Zero are really fun little tunes, especially when paying attention to the instrumentals only. Watching The Detectives has a great bassline that really holds the song together. Alison is an enjoyable sort of chill power pop, featuring a chorus that sounds exactly how you'd expect based on the title and genre. Throughout the album, the guitar and drums are generally pretty good, and the bass is pretty killer. 3/5 Key tracks: Alison, (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, Less Than Zero, Watching The Detectives

Not a huge amount to say about this. Enjoyable for the most part, nothing to write home about though. Just a good 70s album, nothing more or less.

Another album I was dreading this week that was much better than expected, this time thanks to Costello opting to nOt dO waCkY gOofY thInGs WItH hIS vOicE.

I honestly don't get the hype. Would this guy even be famous if he hadn't changed his name and have the fortune of having an album gain popularity in the wake of [the other] Elvis's passing?

I dunno man, sometimes shit just rocks

Elvis Costello crosses so many genres here you’d think it wouldn’t work. Not only does it work, it works in such a way that creates a sound that is unique to Elvis Costello. I can hear a strong Beatles influence as well as elements of reggae, punk, laurel canyon folk, and new wave. Elvis Costello’s vocal delivery is energetic and unique as well

First Elvis album, either Costello or Presley. If we're including "Watching The Detectives" on this album (and there's no reason not to, it was on every United States version of the LP), there's a chance this could be the best Elvis album (although not overall if we include Presley). What a debut album, from the moment the killer Track 1 kicks off through the end. Oh, and "Alison" is on this album. This is the power pop you're looking for. There's a ton of Elvis on this list, and if I could only have one (Costello) album, I'd be hard pressed choosing between this one and "This Year's Model".

Great record. Throwback to 50s/60s rock and r&b but with 70s punk vibe/influences. Also somewhat of a landmark for alt/indie rock.

No one writes or sings like Elvis Costello.

Better than I expected—especially because I didn’t like the last EC album.

I discovered and started to like (as much as possible) Elvis Costello on the 1001 list. After five (5!) albums, I feel he can achieve the impossible. He can sound very repetitive, and very repetitive, even though it has one of the widest ranges of styles on the list. How is it possible? I don't know. I prefer his work with "The Attractions," but I didn't dislike this debut. The rawness that is only possible in a debut album saves it from being just "another (but different)" Elvis Costello album.

this was a bit hit and miss and when i did like a song it was really good as oppose to songs i didnt really like which were fine but not like fine when you see an attractive person and elongate the i in fine

Well you know what it didn't rile me as much as usual. I still find it bland really don't get the ES hype. But still surprisingly ok

See previous Costello reviews.

This album would have been 5 stars if it was written by Declan Patrick MacManus and not Elvis Costello. Walk into a Johnny Rockets or Hard Rock Café and I can guarantee you hear one of these songs playing. Middle of the road and as vanilla as it gets from the late 70's. Some good hits but nothing special.

Living up to my usual tropes re: Elvis Costello, debut albums and Greatest Hits. The tracks from here included on Girls, Girls, Girls are wonderful, the rest very meh particularly those that take a dead end into pop country and rockabilly. Keep trying Elvis!

Off-brand Elton John?

overall: feels like every awkward dance scene in a teen rom com. elvis costello to me sounds like a guy trynna be someone else like drowned in water and thrown across a field? i cant put my finger on it but it just doesnt sound right. the instrumentals arent bad especially for the time. take this album, tweak it for the 90s and it would slap

Inte min musik

I’m not a stickler for authenticity but Elvis Costello just comes off so fake.

Great album. Yes, he’s is very well represented on this list, but we’re not taking his debut off. My mum listened to a lot of Elvis when I was growing up (I fucking hated him for years) and I wonder if it plays a small part in making me the cynical bastard I am today? The fact this album is rather short and a few songs are pretty similar did make me consider four stars for a while. I think the addition of Watching the Detectives pushes it to Five because it shows how talented and varied has the potential to be.

"My Aim Is True" is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. Wiki lumps it in the musical genres of new wave, pub rock, punk rock and power pop with elements of R&B and rockabilly. The album was recorded at London's Pathway Studios over a six-hour session with country rock band Clover as the backing band and Nick Lowe as the producer. The lyrics are motivated with guit and revenge descrbing relationship struggles, politically charged situations and misogynistic characters. The album received rave reviews with some labeling it as one of the debut albums of all time. Commercially, it hit #14 in the UK and #32 in the US. "Welcome to the Working Week" opens the album. 50's doo-wop backing vocals and handclaps. A fast beat definitely in the new wave and power pop categories. Costello is expressing frustration at the ruthlessness of business. "Miracle Man" gets more of a guitar groove going. Costello's vocals are more biting and cutting as a man is dominated by his girlfriend. A melancholy guitar opens the ballad "Allison." Soulful. Costello is after a supermarket checkout girl who's in a poor marriage. "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" is another song with a melodic guitar open. Lyrically, it's a harder take on "Allison." A heartless woman may persecute men but she's also a victim. A woman seeking freedom (red shoes) but is blocked (angels). "Less than Zero" was Costello's first single. More a 60's rocker. It's about 1920's British fascist leader Oswald Mosley. I'd have to read more to say anything intelligent here. Was he that guy in "Peaky Blinders? "Worth mentioning, "Watching the Dectives" was released on the US album version. A mysterious spy-like guitar and reggae beat. A lover who rather watch tv than....? One of my favorite Costello songs. This album flies by with short, catchy songs. He does cover multiple genres: 50/60's pop, new wave, rock, blues, punk. As with mostly all the Costello albums ive heard, the lyrics are sarcastic, cynical, touching at times and brilliant. I might like his next few albums better but this one is still great. Even today, I still hear all six songs mentioned above fairly regularly on US rock radio.

Welcome To The Working Week: Love the tempo and the background vocals here hell yes. Wow what a great song right off the bat, I WISH IT WAS LONGER. This was a great song. Miracle Man: Love his vocal riffs (idk anything about music but I think I used that correctly) I love this attitude. Great lyrics. Guitar solooooooooo. Ya this is great, I’m loving this vibe or I’m just loving the 70’s, you tell me. This is another great song, back to back. The last song should have been 3 minutes long as well! No Dancing: Omfg these vocals are so good. Wow I’m just loving sitting back and listening to his lyrics and just how much fun these songs are so far. Great pacing in this song. Great song! Blame It On Cain: Damn the soul in this song, classic 70’s. Great voice, this is such a fun song. BLAME IT ON THE CAIN, DONT BLAME IT ON MEHEEEE!!! Love the bridge. Wow this is another great song. Alison: First major tempo change on the album, and it sounds like he knows what he’s doing. OH ALISON, MY AIM IS TRUE (ALBUM TITLE DROPPPPP!). I’m halfway through the song and I totally know why this is one of his most popular songs, so so so so good! Sneaky Feelings: Love the chorus here, great instrumentals, they are fun and light but punchy, which is complimented so well on those emphasized notes within the lyrics. I love those like cymbal high hats oh ya. I STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. Great freaking song brother. (The Angels Want To Wear My) Red Shoes: Woah that harmonization. This just feels so timeless I love the sound of this song. This is great, no other comments. Less Than Zero: This song is the first time I kind of thought back of his style throughout the album and I’ve realized how good of a story teller he is. I feel like it’s so hard to tell a good story, even a non linear one while having a comprehensive chorus and he seems to kill it. EVERYTHING MEANS LESS THAN ZERO HEY. Great song! Mystery Dance: OH SHIT JAILHOUSE ROCK TYPE SHI. OH YAAAAA STANKY LEGG. I know I’d get down to this down at the sock hop omfgggggggg. GUITARRRRRRRR SOLOOOOOOO. I want to know about the mystery dance. This song was so good it needs to be longerrrrrr. So good! Pay It Back: ONE OF THESE DAYS IM GUNNA PAY IT BACK PAY IT BACK ONE OF THESE DAYS. Jeez idek what to say anymore, I mean this is so good. He ain’t paying it back any time soon I know that. I’m Not Angry: WOAH… jeez these instrumentals. So strong and rich. When he brings down his voice and starts to build I’m so interested because I know it leads to a satisfying drop into a reliable chorus. Wow they going crazy on the guitar. What a great song!! Waiting For The End Of The World: More story telling on Costello’s part. Super compelling and fun. Ya this is such a fun song, really good. Watching The Detectives: Woah love the bass here, and then the guitar, hell ya. Ya even better story telling on this one, great instrumental and lyrical effects. SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT. Great song! No Action: Woah these drums and the build up. This usually isn’t my thing but I really like this. Not my favorite track on the album but still super good. Living In Paradise: He seems to use a more toned back use in his voice on this track, and it’s super smooth and I like it for the story he’s telling here. HERE WE ARE LIVING IN PARADISE. Ya this is great, I have nothing to add. Radio Sweetheart - Outtake: Love the guitars but LOVE THOSE SWELLING BACKGROUND VOCALS YES. And then back into that swing he brings, so well put together. PLAY ONE MORE FOR MY RADIO SWEETHEART! Great song! Love the call and response, so fun! Jeez why was this thing an outtake?? Stranger In The House - Outtake: Love that piano with his voice, so simple and calming. Love the story telling here, I can’t believe this thing is an outtake, I mean it’s great. And those like chill country like instrumentals are so fitting. This was great! FINALLY IMPRESSIONS: I can’t believe I have not listened to Elvis Costello until now. I’ve always known his name (mainly because of my parents) and I may have heard one or maybe two of his songs before, but I know nothing about him. I love his style and the way he fits into rock, it’s just so catchy and cool. If I had to describe this album using one word I would literally use the word “fun.” This album is just so fun, and it sounds like he’s having fun with it as well. Costello’s story telling also got stronger as the album went on and I even found myself gravitating towards his two outtakes, which were actually flawless tracks. You know your album is good when your outtakes are flawless. I usually have to play a game or do something while listening to an album, not this one though. I just chilled in my bed and listened and it was great. This album had absolutely 0 skips, and was such a fun listen. I could not have died without listening to this album.

One of the many great Elvis Costello albums

4-5

I remember when this album came out when I was in high school - fantastic then and this album still is fantastic! I will have to go back and listen to some of his contemporaries- Graham Parker and Joe Jackson to round out the English Angry Young Men group!

Finally a good Elvis Costello album :)

Being around music for his entire young life, it should be no wonder why his freshman album is so well written and full of classics. It’s stil an impressive feat.

Among the best debuts in rock history, played in a day and featuring a fully mature voice, rich in subtle harmonics and laced with biting and hilarious lyrics.

4.5

Really cool pub rock classic. Highlights are "Alison", "Mystery Dance", "The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" and "Watching the Detectives". 4.5 stars

I can imagine Elvis Costello ending up in my “controversial artists” list, but for a good reason. It’s not that the quality of his work is ever poor. It’s that Elvis is not afraid to explore different musical genres according to his personal interest over the years. I have seen him several times in concert, some were “amazing!” and some were “meh” to me, because the musical styles were very different. Sometimes he and I are not on the same wavelength. Not the case with this album though! This is his 5 star album for me. He truly hit the target with this one.

I ALREADY LOVE THIS ALBUM

Welcome to 1977 where punk is already becoming post punk and we get a new wave of artists such as Elvis Costello and Talking Heads. I used to wonder what the fuss was about. This is what the fuss is about. Elvis Costello’s sound and style would shift and vary and mature, but this debut album is potent. It’s fun, varied, and energetic. Enjoy!

Hell yeah love this album

I absolutely loved this album It's a brilliant debut, songwriting is great, I've seen the term power-pop used. It's a meld of so many genres and honestly blew me away. I knew I enjoyed Costello before this but hadn't done an album in full.

Wonderful! I was surprised to read that this album produced no hit singles yet three of Costello's best loved songs are on hear. Alison is just a great ballad and Red Shoes is another brilliant song and on the American release the album included Watching the Detectives which I rate almost as highly as Olivers Army. As a debut album they don't come much better than this

Having seen Elvis Costello play an acoustic show recently I was very excited to listen to this album again! I started to play this album on Monday morning at 9:30 and welcome to the working week came on loud!, great song, and a great welcome to another week. So many good songs on this album, I love Blame it on Cain, Alison, and the angels wanna wear my red shoes. This is just a fun pop album that is easy to listen to. Favourite song: The entire album is superb Least favourite: There is not a bad song on the album Album artwork: Cool cover

One of the most accomplished debut albums of all time, and one of my favorite songwriters. Truly terrific.

This has always been a favorite of mine and this listen was great.

Takes me back 👌

Just awesome. What a great debut album. The weakest song on here, maybe Mystery Dance, would be the best song half the albums on this list. Bonus 6th star for the first song I heard on this Monday morning being Welcome to the Working Week.

One of my faves growing up, and it doesn't disappoint after all these years. just a great album start to finish.

Utterly brilliant and made me happy.

This is in my record collection. Fabulous album. Great debut album. Alison was thought of as one of the first punk love songs.

My Aim is True Back when Elvis Costello’s songwriting was exciting and energetic with loads of great ideas, before he settled into writing rather flat and boring ’mature’ music. I do know this album somewhat, but I haven’t listened as much as This Year’s Model and Armed Forces, so it's nice refreshing my memory. It really is a great album - a direct, sharp, neurotic, wired and edgy 32 minutes (if you don’t include the excellent Watching the Detectives), with an engaging and exciting blend of punkish energy combined with classic rock, country, soul, 50s rock n roll and 60s pop influences. Welcome to the Working Week is a great burst of cynical energy, etMiracle Man has that great guitar motif, while No Dancing has the Spector drum pattern and vague soul feel with some nice acoustic guitar texture. Blame it On Cain is great and very Springsteen. It’s not something I’ve connected before and I’m not sure if that’s just because Springsteen has Adam Raised a Cain but I feel like there is a lot of Springsteen influence here, albeit through Costello’s more cynical British lens. Great song though. Alison is rightly a classic, a melody I could imagine Smokey Robinson singing in the early 70s, and just a lovely song, with a tenderness in contrast to much of the more bitter and angry lyrics elsewhere. Sneaky Feelings is a nice counterpoint to Alison’s more simple directness, a sweet little tune with a nice theme of secretiveness and mistrust. Red Shoes is a great track, one that just feels right in it’s construction, melody and lyric. Less than Zero uses the Twist and Shout riff and is another great 50is rocker with a great lyric. Mystery Dance is even more 50s and again has some Springsteen about it. Pay it Back has some great guitar and great energy. I’m Not Angry is perhaps the only misstep for me, the guitar is a little too sub-Mark Knopfler classic rock and feels slightly out of place. Waiting for the End of the World though is superb, a great finish. Love the groove in the riff and the drum sound is excellent. Great track. Overall this is an excellent album, a great distillation of early Costello, some great, if mean spirited, lyrics and some superb songs. 5. 👠👠👠👠👠 Playlist submission: Alison

Yes!!!!

I love this album, from its punk energy to its country rock roots. Elvis's voice was fully formed from the start and the songs are all singalong bangers (even Alison, which is way overplayed on classic rock radio).

Peak Elvis Costello - Alison is easily my favorite song of his. Lots of great stuff on here, no complaints at all

One of the all time great debuts. Alison alone is worth the price of admission

A true classic. What an album!

cool

good stuff

Classic

Hit my taste

sincerely one of my favorite albums of all time. i like a lot of elvis costello's stuff but i can't say i am a super fan. but this one always stands the test of time for me. every song here, to me, is like an exercise in writing short, great, hooky power pop tunes. every song has a hook and they have all gotten stuck in my head at one point or another. of course, it wouldn't be elvis costello without his signature lyricism style, and i really do love the production here from nick lowe.

I never listened to Elvis Costello before 30 seconds into the 2nd track I gave this album 5 stars and I was not disappointed.

Excellent! Great sound.

A pretty amazing collection of crafted angsty punk with pop sensibilities. Engaging lyrics and Elvis' delivery is sneery and gives what is singer-songwriter level content a great punch. There not a bad song on the album, with lots of catchy hooks and great variety.

My favourite Elvis.

Album 478 of 1001 Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True Rating : 5 / 5 Though I've never owned this album, It has crossed my path several times over the past (almost) half century and I have enjoyed it every time. Think I appreciated it more this time. He writes some good tunes.

Having listened to this album at times throughout the years, I was prepared to give it a 4⭐️ review, but quickly found that I enjoyed it more than that. Classic.

His best album.

Incredible record, still in love with it after all these years

It was quite good. I knew almost all the songs already.

Even though I am not fond of Costello's tamber and stylistic idiosyncrasies, his song writing is impeccable. I grew up on this album and it's incredible

Another easy 5 star. The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes, and Waiting for the End of the World are perfect songs for X-Day! They are on my saucer Playlist. Praze "Bob"

own

I am so excited to review another Elvis Costello album. I am so glad there are 57 Elvis Costello albums to review for this exercise. I look forward to each one more than the last. Costello reinvigorated the literate, lyrical traditions of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison with the raw energy and sass that were principal ethics of punk, delivering passion and intelligence with equal measure. I love it when Elvis Costello covers relationships with biting sarcasm and wordplay, combining jazzy guitars with soulful vocals. I love his hats, almost as much as I love Jamiroquai's. His dress style is so rockabilly, which is aces. To think, this was his debut album, in 1977, setting off a career without comparison. His aim was surely true.

Great

Can't go wrong with early Elvis.

One of my favorite albums from that time and still today. Great lyrics, great pace and Elvis At his best!!

I ised to not like Elvis Costello when I was a kid in the 80s they would play his stuff every now and them in Puerto Rico he was not as big but I only liked a handfull of songs over time. I looked at him and he looked goofy and like a character created based on Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. Now as am adult Im really into his music and his albums as wholes are amazing. Just clean fun pop rock musis for everyone with songs the length of a punk song. Very unique style and good writing. I listened to this 2 times in a day. Would have mever listened to it as an album if it werent for this initiative. Everyone should have some costello in their playlists. Everyone.

my favorite costello ❤️❤️❤️

This one was fun AF! Costello really came out of the gate swinging.

One of my all time favs

Love this album

El debut del legendario Elvis Costello es tan espectacular como sus primeros 10 años de carrera (gracias a la colaboración con The Attractions). A pesar de no interpretar con sus icónicos acompañantes, Costello nos muestra tremenda habilidad para escribir letras irreverentes que llenan canciones sumamente pegajosas, catapultando el subgénero del Power Pop a niveles que previamente se creían desconocidos (Con fracasos comerciales como Big Star y Badfinger). Mis canciones favoritas del trabajo son Miracle Man y Allison.

Never realized how many classics came off his debut album. His whole sound and brand came out fully formed and fully trained. It’s such a lovely tribute to different styles of music. Retro made into something fresh. And so well written. Crazy impressive. Seriously, no wrong notes. Like this a whole lot more than I thought I would. How tf is this a debut?!

Still my favorite Costello record. "But the Attractions aren't with him yet!" Yes, I know, and I do love them too. But not only is the pub rock energy of this album so damn good, but the *songs* just can't be argued with. I love it. Probably should be a proper 5-star. At the very least, it gets the bump for this website. 4.5/5