My Aim Is True

Bruce Springsteen without the hope. Short, sharp, no filler. Enjoyed it. Loved the opener welcome to the working week...

This is background music playing in a diner scene in a Netflix original series. Nope. I'm devastated to learn that there are five more of this guy's albums on the list. So many spots that could have gone to literally anyone else! Fav songs: N/A

Costello's reputation can make this album sound more uniformly brilliant than it actually is. There are plenty of excellent songs here, but not every sharp lyric represents a profound insight, and a handful of tracks work better as spirited pop than as lasting statements.

Elvis Costello is another one of those artists who I admire in his aesthetic and attitude, but never got quite as into as I feel like I should have. I like punk-adjacent stuff, I like rockabilly, I like all of it. Very little of it transcends any of those forms for me personally. I feel bad saying it! I want to like this more!

Elvis C is probably the better Elvis, but he doesn't half seem like a nasty little prick. Great tunes though, and the lyrics are dead smart, though maybe overly barbed and cynical. It's a cracking album that I already loved, but he is in this list too many times.

Elvis Costello’s music has never disappointed me and today was the same. Not a lot of songs that I must play again, but not any songs that I skipped either. Really tolerable music but you almost gotta be in a positive mood to want to listen to it. Mainly, that’s because it’s hard to be sad and listen to Costello. Rating: 7/10 Stars: 3/5

He's not so bad, that Elvis guy

Enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Never listened to a ton of him, didn't love what I had heard. This is really good.

Lots and lots of fun

Great album by the superior Elvis

It's the better Elvis.

Not good, not bad. Two stars…

Just a masterpiece. Not a bad track on the album with Sneaky Feelings, Alison, Red Shoes, Blame It On Cain and Mystery Dance being particularly fantastic. Just pop sensibilities all over the place.

An enjoyable rock ’n’ roll record as background music. I don’t think I’ll ever listen to it again. Elvis Costello completionist list: 2/6

Came to this knowing the stand-out tracks (Alison, Watching the Detectives), and was not disappointed. Was surprisingly impressed with the remainder of the album and the variety of musical styles covered.

Improvement over previous offerings from the artist…at this point I presume we’re going to have to listen to his entire back catalogue but I doubt anything will get above a three for me.

Not good

Skip this debut for something far better, like (my personal favorite) IMPERIAL BEDROOM (1982), SPIKE (1989), GET HAPPY!! (1980), TRUST (1981), PUNCH THE CLOCK (1983) or KING OF AMERICA (1986). 3.5 stars

Another Elvis Costello album… I’ll be surprised if there’s not another album on that list, but it’ll received the same rating. I have more fun learning about the process of that record than listening to it. 2/5. Welcome to the Working Week: 2,5 Miracle Man: 2 No Dancing: 4 Blame It on Cain: 2 Alison: 2 Sneaky Feelings: 2 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes: 2 Less Than Zero: 2 Mystery Dance: 2 Pay It Back: 2 I'm Not Angry: 2 Waiting for the End of the World: 2

This one's tied with Armed Forces as my favorite Elvis Costello album. It's short and sweet and has several of my favorites: Alison, Blame It On Cain, Red Shoes and Watching the Detectives.

Really trying to figure out if this is a spoof. If it is a spoof, then I don't think we really needed this. If it's not a spoof... fuck

4*5

Maybe this is one of the Costello albums that could be swapped for another album to show the breadth of his work or allow space for later artists. But … it’s still a 5 star lp.

The weaker of the Rockabilly Elvises. Fun enough of an album but just doing nothing for me personally. Looking forward to a dozen more Costello albums. Fav tracks: Welcome To The Working Week

Fun songs, I like the A-side a lot more

Très cool c'était bien rythmé je m'attendais pas à ça !

C’est ok

Pas ma came

I'm down with this Elvis, sorry I guess

Been listening to this tons lately and there’s nothing to prevent me from doing so again although I might keep delving into the extra material on the new box. It’s a blast. Early Elvis is pretty unstoppable and the additional material on here is neatly well worth the listen.

ok

Opening with "Welcome to the Working Week" was a bit too fitting for this Monday morning. It's a good listen but something I would only listen to once. "Blame it on Cain" had a good rolling beat. To me this is Ruby's Diner music coming from the jukebox in the back with the rainbow lights and bubbles floating up. 2/5

Funky

Liked this easy listening , some groovy choons

meh

Really liked Blame It On Cain, also liked Alison

it actually wasn't bad. but still a 2.

ANOTHER Costello album? asdsdfaasdfgertgeiprgh I'm very jaded at this point (1024 albums in) because I don't think he deserves that many entries on this list. Pick 1-2 and move on. This is mid at best.

oh my god shut up

The last song was alright, the rest of them sounded like they were trying to be older than they were? Maybe it would have been different if he wasn't named Elvis and wasn't trying to sound Elvis-ey. Who knows. 2 stars

Not objectionable at all, decent background music, but I really just don't understand what the big deal about Elvis Costello is. He's fine and that's it.

I found this to be rather boring.

Fun and silly. 3.5 rounded down to 3.

this album does not feel dated in the slightest, could come out in the modern day and be right at home (in my opinion). love the guitar and the vocals from elvis

Kinda loved it. You can tell it was made with the aim of finding a radio hit. 13 songs only 36 minutes long. Short and sweet. Loved the sound and style.

Liked it more than I thought I would. Started slow, but got grooving along eventually. Pretty good debut.

Always knew the name, but not the man or music behind it and gotta say this was a fun debut record. Definitely can hear how later acts would pull from this, yet this doesn't feel like just an unpolished version of what would later come. This is fully realized and I'd say holds up really well. Costello has a great voice and cadence in his delivery that make this record really catchy and entertaining. The instrumentals sound really smooth and clear and fit this sound perfect. Nothing here feels too over the top, its just right the whole wat around. I really liked Blame It On Cain and Alison. Pleseantly suprised here with an honestly great rock album.

Something surprisingly "Bruce Springsteen" about the vocal performance and lyrical content in these. That kind of surprised me since I wasn't expecting to get that impression out of Elvis Costello. Not that I had anything to compare it with. On that note, I surprised myself even more by kind of liking it. Fav Tracks: "Blame It On Cain", "Alison" and "I'm Not Angry".

Loved this album.

Good start for the Elvis Costello discography. I liked this album, very 70's, some great songs (didn't know that Alison is his). Its a 3.8 grade album.

I just complained about getting another Elvis Costello album last week so imagine my surprise seeing this one come up. If I was being overly biased, I'd rate it lower, but I'll be fair. It was an okay listen, but I was mostly indifferent to it. I just can't believe there's this much representation from such an at-best alright artist.

I think that approximately 70% of the enjoyment of this is in the lyrics. Since I don’t really listen to the lyrics, it is hard to appraise. I will put this under the list of things that I can understand why people like it but don’t really do much for me.

As Elvis Costello gets, this is probably up there with his peak output, but it’s still a bit ‘meh’. I know there’s more to slog through of his on the list but this one is still relatively by the numbers. ‘Watching the detectives’ stands out due to its syncopation and seemingly reggae inspired drums and it’s at least a bit different to his norm. The rest very much is not.

Pleasant surprise

I like this despite something about it being corny. I could definitely see myself coming back to this

Compared to the other shit I’ve been forced to listen to, this was amazing. Hearing lots of influence on current alternative and indie. Lots of Dawes etc.

I was dreading this day. My first Elvis Costello album when I know he takes up about 25% of this list. I've never heard any of his music, what if he sucks? Luckily this was really great. Lots of Rockabilly/Ska/Punk vibes throughout. If the other 20 albums of his on this list are as good I look forward to them generating. 4*

Several really good songs (Alison, Red Shoes, Not Angry) and good production but the album tracks are all just decent and don’t draw me to relisten.

uh meh

Very easy listening; not knocking my socks off but a pleasant listen

Since the 1001 albums to hear before I die list absolutely adores Elvis Costello, I thought I might as well give him a peep before I get to more of his projects. I have seen My Aim Is True around local record stores quite a bit, but never decided to give it a listen until now and I am honestly quite surprised at just how good it is. I honestly thought this would be some of its' time music, but surprisingly Elvis' wordy nature and really fun instrumentation makes for quite a refreshing look at New Wave as a whole for myself. Elvis really knows how to draw the line between a fun song and a serious and surprisingly enjoyable and thoughtful song as he flips and flops all across this album while keeping a really consistent feel to it all. If his music continues to be this tight then I totally understand why the writer of these books loves this guy so much.

Decent enough but doesn't quite hit for me for some reason I'm not entirely sure of. I think I enjoy his compilations more than his albums or something.

The good part about having been tasked to listen to 5 out of 6 Elvis Costello albums in the first 300 is that the rest of the list will be smooth sailing. This is actually one of his best, and I have no objection to it being included in the list, given how influential it was on the New Wave movement. 8/10 [KEEP]

3.5 if I could! Really solid stuff with some great lyrics, but for whatever reason this didn’t really grab me. Never listened to Elvis Costello, so I’m left wondering if this was the best introduction to his work. Still enjoyed!

Giving Wedding band?…. In all seriousness, I liked this! I think there is some good stuff here but there are also some duds. I feel like for 1977, there are other better artists I’d rather go to for fun and feel good.

I want to like this more than I do. But what I do like is the energetic, punky style. Waiting For The End Of The World was my favourite. 3.7/4

4.0/5 - Really didn't like Armed Forces, so coming into this I had low expectations. That said, this was honestly pretty good.

306. not bad

Only one Costello album left, thank God. I can't stand his Candy Ass voice. Though this one is pretty tolerable in comparison to absolute garbo like Brutal Youth and Blood for Chocolate. Alison is a nice song.

The album started off strong with "Welcome to the Working Week" but quickly fell off with "Miracle Man" and never recovered. Most songs on the album sound the same, due to 90% of the album being in the same 4 keys, D major, E major, F major, and G major, with very little deviation. Most songs end with a lazy fadeout with there's no coherent transition from song to song. The album is over 2 hours. Way to long. For an album released on 1997, its very 70s-esque. 2/5

This is a very underrated album, though I suppose not if it’s in? Love it, magical, Elvis at his finest- bought this album many years ago, though not played for ages, but I can singalong to it all, with the fabulous “Alison” love, love love it🥰

1977 power pop, start of elvis, first takes Miracle man Alison (The angels want to wear) my red shoes Less than zero

A really great debut. Well formed but you can see how he can grow. Elvis Costello is great.

Pretty solid album, but I like best listening to it in chunks - couple songs here and there, so it doesn’t wear out it’s welcome

I didn't hate the album, but this guy really shows up way too much for my tastes.

This album cover hurts my eyes. I'm not really a fan of Costello.

Good stuff. Not my favorite, but good.

I think this is one of Elvis's better albums.

Ben c'était sympathique, mais aussi franchement osef. C'est le deuxième Elvis Costello sur lequel je tombe, sur 5 ou 6, donc autant dire que s'il a jamais rien sorti de plus intéressant, on va bien s'enquiquiner. Enfin, je veux dire, si cet album était sorti en 1957, je dis pas, ça aurait été impressionnant pour l'époque, mais on est en 1977 ! En quoi cet album est particulièrement important ou marquant pour son époque ? Pour l'intégrer à une liste de 1001 albums à absolument connaître ? Et une fois que celui-ci est dans la liste, est-ce que c'est si important que ça d'en intégrer 6 autres ?

Today I learned that Declan Patrick MacManus was performing under the stage name "D.P. Costello" at the start of 1977. His management suggested updating his image and changing to "Elvis Costello." He debuted his new name and look on May 27, 1977. That was two days after the release of Star Wars. My Aim Is True followed two months after that. Although, I have never been a huge fan of Elvis Costello, this album has grown on me with repeated listens. It is a brisk and jaunty listen, harkening to a post punk soundscape. It is also another fine entry in possibly the best year music has known: 1977.

pretty good - listening through another costello album has made me realize his voice really straddles the line between grating and benign. got to the end of this album wondering "do i hate elvis costello's voice?" and maybe i do. maybe i don't. the world may never know.... highlights - miracle man, no dancing, blame it on cain, (the angles wanna wear my) red shoes, less than zero, mystery dance

Second listen this year. Solid.

Third EC album from the random generator and another perfectly listenable three stars from me.

I check the daily 1001 album early on Monday 5th October and there’s Elvis C. welcoming me to the working week. The most poetic moment yet and a very good album to boot. I liked EC saying he couldn’t listen to Pink Floyd after Syd left in a recent UK media interview and I very much enjoy that a song on this LP provided the name for one of the bands on “Dunedin Double” (how about something from Flying Nun RGP), my partner is called Alison and a vinyl day, what’s not to love? Anyway, good album, if not in EC’s own personal top drawer. Towards the top of the two stars, which from memory is a position he may already occupy. Tom.

Did I need to l need to listen to this again to rate it? No. Did I listen to it again through a haze of nostalgia? Absolutely.

Sometimes, the List gives you a surprise - something you vibe with but have never heard of before. But then sometimes, it gives you complete rubbish that you force yourself through. And sometimes, it gives you an album you've listened to probably since before you can speak, and lets you just jam out at work for half an hour while singing at the top of your voice :)

His unique sound is standing out together with his voice. Also the lyrics are sometimes really cynical...I like it.

This was ok. I think the following album is the high water mark of the 3 albums in a row that are on this list. I maybe need to give it another listen though. Still haven't got to the bit where I think Elvis Costello is a great songwriter yet.

Old school. Unique vocals. Jam like. Great intro song. Unfortunately not exactly my taste but the songs were fun and danceable. Funky and swingy. Would listen to again but not for a little while. Also I like the album cover.

Alison undoubtedly Elvis Costello’s great song. The is great party in the kitchen music.

1977 - punk, new wave and British pub rock to elements of 1950s rock and roll, R&B and rockabilly - debut album - he was working a day job as a data entry clerk and recorded this in six sessions; changed his name and look to match Elvis; 3 singles failed to chart in the UK but in US opened to acclaim, "one of the best debuts in music history" Loved this, especially "Welcome to the Working Week," "Waiting for the End of the World" (original 1st and last tracks), and then the 4th single added "Watching the Detectives." This sound has become so ubiquitous, it's great to hear the early DNA.

Standard, inoffensive, middle of the road, fine

algumas muuuuito boas, outras mais ou menos. gostei muito de Alison!

Good album. Very funky

Very fun, very cool, not very different from song to song. I perfectly fine album in my opinion.

Killer classic!

Not on Apple Music. Rating based on other album.

Finally hit by the Costello. Not bad. Not good. Not really anything. Kinda felt like the next step on from early Rock and Roll. I get why this would be here as a must listen to, but didn't do it for me.

Чувак, который этим альбомом открыл дверь the smiths, the cure, blure. В общем всему, что я не особо люблю. Альбом назвали панком, но это чистый рок-н-ролл и рокабили. Типа группа Браво. При всей гаражности , запись неплохо звучит, даже без смягчения. В музыкальном плане, хрень полная. Чтобы проникнуться надо хорошо владеть английским.

lovely monday