My Aim Is True

I did not like this album. Singing was very irritating and difficult to listen past

I hate it. I hate him. I sometimes also hate this list.

In keeping with the theme where I listen to the same 10 artists or songs over and over like a continuous stim, I once again have never heard an Elvis Costello album in full. In fact, I'd go so far to say the only EC song I know is Alison thanks to it's continuous playing on Smooth Radio. Notwithstanding, I have heard of Elvis Costello. And normally with praise. So I was quite excited to get an EC album, maybe add an 11th artist to my rotation. What in god's green earth was this? The second Welcome to the Working Week kicked in, I knew we were not in for a good time. It felt the same but weirdly inconsistent at the same time. The lyrics were poor. Was he meant to be an Elvis Presley tribute act? I didn't get it. I was going to give it 2 stars on the basis that I could listen to Alison again (again thanks to Smooth Radio) but, after flicking back through to write the review, I got annoyed by it all over again so downgraded. This was not a good album.

This woulda been just ok if it came out like 10 years earlier. I'm simply not impressed. Bland, bland, bland.

1. uueek - 1 2. miracle - 1 3. dancing - 1 4. cain - 1 5. alizon - 1.5 6. feelingz - 1 7. red zhouez - 1 8. zero - 1.5 9. myztery - 1.5 10. pay - 1.5 11. angry - 1.5 12. uuorld - 1.5 13. detectivez - 1

Not my favourite genre by any stretch but quite liked the short opener and the bass driven second track ‘Miracle Man’. But it’s the more pop/rock n roll/doo-wap-crap tracks that are bile inducing. And there are plenty of those.

I've always had a problem with Elvis Costello with both his music and his image. Not as bad as Shakin' Stevens with the old late 50's early 60's styling, but more of a 'secret lemonade drinker' sort of thing. He would have been more at home on Jimmy Saville's old record club on a Sunday afternoon. Musically, the first half fit my description above to a tee, even down to the wierd fake American accent. But the last 4 or so songs it got better and more contemporary (for 1977). One of his best songs the last, wasn't even included on the original release so if that isn't counted then it's a 1 star.

Not for me. 1/5

Geee, why am I still here? Just to suffer? Best song: No Dancing Worst song: (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

The Elvis Costello curse continues. 6% of my albums generated thus far have been Costello albums, help me. I have nothing new to say, just that I appreciated the reggae infused closing track. Best song: Watching the Detectives Worst song: Mystery Dance

No why are they all so bad The only song that didn’t make me want to bleach my ears was blame it on Cain

Very blah, I didn’t care much for it

Not good

Oddly felt like this was a parody album. Didn't feel genuine or moving at all. Gonna give this a 1.2.

Ew

70’s

I keep wanting to give this guy a chance, but man I find this so boring and inconsequential, almost grating. I just can't. Too many of his records on this list, I hope this is the last one.

I'm not listening to another Elvis Costello album.

MID

This is the epitome of “butt rock” to me. The songs do nothing for me and the tinny production makes it unlistenable.

No

So this is where Jonathan richman got it. Not really my thing. The white guy blues-rock doesn't speak to me, I've heard so much of It. I don't love his voice either.

I don't get the appeal. Guessing I'm wrong here but I don't see the quality difference between this album and many of the opening bands on a mid-level popular band's tour. It's fine, certainly not my vibe at all though. Also, not every song needs to fade out, like, songs can just end, and that's better.

I found this to be a pretty boring album! The only track I loved was the last track (watching the Detectives), which didn't even appear on the original album, so it probably doesn't count! 1 star for the bonus detective track.

Did I actually need to hear this before I die? No.

Ich kenne den Knaben nicht und trotzdem kommt mir jeder Titel irgendwie bekannt vor. So als hätte ich alles schon Mal früher gehört - nur von anderen. Schon als ich das Cover sah dachte ich: Huh, hat Buddy Holly ne neue Platte gemacht?

Not my cup of tea

Nicht meine Musik

Endloser, grottiger Punk Rock.

Yeah no.

I don’t understand the appeal at all. It’s so boring and so bad. His voice is like Billy Joel’s to me. So bland and unpleasant so they just pronounce words weirdly and make a really unpleasant back of the throat drawn out vowel sound. It’s miserable to try to listen to. Hated it

Ебанный рот как же однообразно и не драйвово

God fucking damn it. Elvis Costello sounds like he is passing kidney stones every time he opens his mouth. The background music is fine if that is your cup of tea, it’s basically diner music to drink a milkshake and eat a burger to with a goofy ass motherfucker yelling over it. His voice really is extremely annoying and has no redeeming qualities. Now I want a milkshake but instead I just have this aggravating fucker making a fuss. 1/10

Confusing.

Eh. I just don't care that much. And they all sound the same to me tbh.

Not good. Grating vocals on boring rock and roll songs.

This one might be influential, but that didn’t make me like it. Felt like plain pop music. „Watching the detectives“ was the only song that I sort of liked.

nörtti, katso laseja..neljä silmä paskiainen.. mee pelaa nörttipelejä saatana... pois täältä tollaset...haluta täällä tollasia... mee takas nörttilään vittu... rillipää paskiainen. mee nörttimaailmaan, suu aukena takas. pysy kaukana vaan. tollane täällä...mee pelaa niit tietsikkapelejä...nörttivuoren maailmanmestari... mystery dance

Har grua meg til detta

Almost unlistenable. Like someone taking the mick out of 50s rocknroll, but badly. Thought it was one of those random mistakes you see on the 1001 list, maybe the inclusion of a genre pushing album that really doesn't deserve to be here. But looking at the album on wiki now, "wide critical acclaim", "one of the best rock debuts of all time", "frequently appeared on lists of the greatest albums of all time". Shame on you, human race.

not a fan at all

"My Aim is True" is what I always say to myself when I manage to hit the toilet bowl dead center despite being drunk out of my mind. And wouldn't you believe it, listening to this album feels like an inebriated Elvis Costello is wizzing into my ear from a meter away, with impeccable aim. Impressive as it may be, watersports aren't really my cup of tea, so Elvis, go make yourself useful and urinate on some forest fires or something, leave people's ears be. One toilet bowl out of five 🚽

This list is a bit Elvis Costello heavy surely he should have been bit more selective on number of Elvis Costello Albums. Original album has no hits on it. No stand out tracks for me

Robert Dimery probably dreams about this at night sometimes. He wants to write a new book. His editor and him agreed on a project, Robert has received a nice sum as an advance, so he turns his computer on and starts writing the title of his new project: *1001 ELVIS COSTELLO Albums You Need To Listen To Before You Die*. A nagging feeling of suspicion suddenly grabs Robert. He checks his notes again and again. Something's terribly wrong. He checks again, a horrified expression on his face. It seems like Elvis Costello has recorded a respectable number of records, it's true, but they're still far less that 1001! That's when Robert jumps and sits up in his bed, his breath cut short. What a horrible nightmare. --------- Changed my mind on *This Year's Model* and *Armed Forces* and will now include them in my own list (one of the very, very rare cases where I don't stand by a review I wrote since I've started to use this app). But it's as far as I'll go to follow Dimery and co.'s literal *obsession* with Elvis Costello (a running gag that has been noticed by a lot of reviewers in here, eliciting quite a few smirks in reponse). *Blood And Chocolate* has some very good moments (example: "I Want You"), but it's too patchy to be included in my own list. "Imperial Bedroom" is too damn chatty. I don't remember the name of that later album from the nineties, but I do remember it was a borefest. And this debut album here sounds very much like an early rock'n'roll pastiche, making it very hard to take it seriously. "Watching The Detectives" is a nice single, though, a reggae track with punky overtones pretty close to what The Police was playing around those years--even if Costello brings his own spin in that formula. But that good song is not enough to mitigate the overall feeling of boredom the rest of this LP inspired me. It's certainly not the worst record ever selected in Dimery's book, so maybe my grade is a bit harsh here--keep in mind that it translates to a 6/10 grade for an assessment that's not related to the purposes of selecting "essential" album (5+1). Let's just say that my 1/5 grading is also a way for me to protest about the fact that at least three slots in the original list could have been given to other artists. Have I forgotten an Elvis Costello album mentioned in the 1001 albums book, by the way? I probably have. Maybe it's my turn to have nightmares about the man with glasses... In the meantime... next please. Number of albums left to review: 532 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 224 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 108 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 137 (including this one)

Hard no. This turbo sucks. There is nothing new Costello every brought to the table. It's just bad.

meh

The aim is not true.

Just a not very good version of Springsteen’s first couple of records.

This record reminds me of the 13th time I had to clean the bathtub after shitting so ferociously that I tore my anus wide open. A remarkable way to come out to my parents.

Pretty Boring, seems like generic rock from the time, nothing to special the opening song was fun though.

Annoying

This was not it y'all. I would describe this album as if you went to see a 70s cover band and they played 0 songs you actually know. Not like the music was bad, there just wasnt anything going on that made me wanna listen again. Generic af 2/10

Don't get it - why is this Englishman doing American rocknroll cosplay? Why is every song the same and completely forgettable? Why are there apparently multiple albums by this guy on the list? Definitely not an album I'm be reflecting back on being glad I'd heard, listening to it actually made me angry at how boring it was! 1/5 - I can see how some people may enjoy this - but I never want to hear it again.

Mi sta sul cazzo qualsiasi cosa.

Mystery dance était l’fun.

Sorry, I just don't see the attractions.

... maybe a little too rock and roll for my taste i just feel like this decade has too much potential for my dude elvis to be making 60's beatles style music. .......... no. not. a song. with a woman's. name. on. the title. I'M DONE. PLEASE GIVE ME A GOOD ALBUM SOON I REALLY NEED IT PLEASE. god why. why. end. now. end, album. please. AGAIN. NOT ONE MEMORABLE SONG. really angry that every song is the same. really angry.

Alright this settles it! I am not an Elvis Costello fan, give me the regular Elvis over this guy any day.

Not my bag

Hmm, ziemlich mittelmäßig okaye Songs. Hätte für mich hier nicht wirklich einen Listenplatz verdient. Duh-hull 1.3

Niet geluisterd

Less Than Zero Mystery Dance I'm Not Angry Waiting for the End of the World

I don't really get Elvis Costello. Not for me.