My Aim Is True

This is my second Elvis Costello album to get on this list, and I enjoyed this one as much as I did Armed Forces, which I gave four stars to. I love late seventies and early eighties new wave, and My Aim is True was no exception. I know Elvis Costello's voice can be a big turn off to people, but I really love the unique way in which he sings. The guitar, piano, and organ playing were all fantastic, which I've come to expect from Elvis Costello. While his sound is distinctly new wave, he does a great job of creating his own unique tone, drawing influences from R&B and rockabilly, and I loved being able to pick out different elements throughout the album. The songs with the misogynistic lyrics were a little strange, and I hope that he's singing these songs from the point of view of a character he's created. I choose to believe that he is, because if he really held those views himself, I don't think he'd have had a career as long and successful as he has. I still enjoyed those songs, but I preferred it when the lyrics were more political in theme, like "Blame it on Cain" and "Less Than Zero." I don't know what it is about Elvis Costello, but I think his music is really fun to listen to. I'm looking forward to my next album of his.

So good

Love hearing this again. In the late 70's Elvis got lumped in the whole "New Wave" category (not fair) and he set up a new style of music. Sweet

Its funny listening to this after I just tore Morrissey apart for poor singing. Idk why - the scrappy garage feel to Elvis Costello works well here. I think the difference is that Elvis isn't trying to sing great ballads - he's a scrappy guy and owns it. Other than that, I have my standard love-ambivalence relationship with Elvis Costello: I dig him for the first 30 odd min of listening, and then I fall off a bit. I'm a fan of Welcome to the Working Week, Alison, Sneaky Feelings, and Waiting for the end of the World. In another contrast to Morrissey, Alison is a refreshingly honest tale about the heartbreak of seeing an ex with another man, but handles its emotions like an adult (as opposed to Morrissey's The More you Ignore me the Closer I Get).

Elvis Costello kind of gets on my nerves, but not today I guess.

Such a great vibe through and through! Costello's sound is uniquely him while indulging in the pop rock/new-wave/punk sound. His sound it not meant to fit into the genre of Prog rock, as it follows a general formula that aids in keeping his sound true to the style. I'm defiantly adding at least half of this album to my punk/pop-rock playlist.

I appreciate Elvis Costello more over time, because I can hear the bridge his music and energy was between the 70s and 80s. This is just a great record.

I first listened to this album in its entirety when an AI recommended it to me a couple months ago. It's fair to say this guy is my preferred Elvis. Sort of funny that its most well known track, Alison, is actually the most different from the rest of the album. The standout for me is the opening track, also the shortest, but it's just such a bop.

Bit surprised. Pleasantly. I have not been much of a fan of the previous 2 EC albums and kinda rolled my eyes when I saw this one come up. But, I liked it. Really solid writing and musicianship. Melodic. All the stuff I like in a good album!

might have been revolutionary for the time idk

Much like the previous Randy Newman suggested, many upbeat melodies, nice to listen to

Elvis Costello and his unique voice starts to grow on me the more I listen to his discography. His style, so awkward at the first glance, is getting more and more attractive, as is his band. I think I will have to listen again to other positions on this list, maybe I was too harsh for him at the beginning. But for now - a really good album!

Hm, I thought this would be like oldies type music. I think I confused him with someone else. I like this though. Short songs! 13 tracks and only 36 min long. I've really enjoyed the simple genuine rock an roll of this album! Lead guitar, bass, drums, and vocals! Just pure organic music. 4 stars

This is a great album. It fits along with the punk/glam? rock movement that started in the late 70s through the 80s along with groups like the cure, the clash, the cure, the talking heads, the velvet underground, and the pixies.

new to me. absolute bangers on here

Alright, so I have a bit of a controversial take. I think some terminology is not used very well. Bands like Joy Division are often considered post punk. Well, I think Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson are really post punk. It's basically the energy of punk music, plus a bit of a subversive or sarcastic edge to the songwriting, but with the musicianship and production of a more modern era. This is a fun, energetic album, and absolutely worth a listen. I fondly remember Elvis being banned forever from Saturday Night Live for unexpectedly performing "Radio Radio" against the wishes of NBC. That's punk!

Idk, sometimes you just like it.

A little uneven but generally wonderful

His best album I have heard yet

Could listen to this stuff all day

- Have heard of elvis costello and i feel like i’ve listened to him before -DAMN loving his voice -i am REALLY loving the guitar with his singing its perf -these songs are so catchy and fun, genuinely a good time -another solid 4 star album here for SURE -its dynamic and interesting and those are my fav albums -i’m not angry has a GREAT start -this is such a wonderful album. loved listening to it

Great album. Started a bit slow for me, but by the end I was hooked. While I do feel it is over verbose at times with its lyrics, the multiple genres that Costello is able to hit with espectacular results is nothing short of incredible.

Gives vibes like a mix of beach boys and Beatles with late 70s feel

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Welcome to the working week

Very catchy songs that take no time sticking with you.

A fantastically punky and energetic rock n’ roll record. The production is punchy and the performances are raw, but what shines the most is Elvis Costello’s charming vocals and personality. There is not a dull moment on the album, though one nitpick is that it could have used more variety. Standouts include “Welcome to the Working Week,” “No Dancing,” “Allison,” “Sneaky Feelings” and “Waiting for the End of the World.”

What I’d envisage everyone would imagine American rock n roll to sound like. I could easily see myself in a dusty, sweaty lonesome bar with this blaring in the background on a bluesy weeknight. It’s great.

Really loved the sounds. Major frequencies. Totally stellar

Darlin Companion and there’ll be peace in the valley were the standout tracks

Lovely stuff.

This was some fun pub rock. Not anything genius musically, but not objectionable. Standout for me was "Mystery Dance", which kinda encapsulates the album when it was at it's best: fun and fast-paced.

Costello slaps.

A couple of classic songs on here. Not something I’d normally listen to.

Armed Forces 3/5 ******************* Either Elvis Costello is growing on me or it's just this album in particular that I like more than his other stuff I've heard. I liked the 1950's vibe; it's just fun in general. I liked the drums. No real complaints on this one.

Big fan of Elvis Costello, and even though there are some great songs on this one, and it’s a solid debut, it’s not top-tier EC. He did good by getting The Attractions. Alison and Watching the Detectives are super solid songs. ...Red Shoes is catchy, very Costello. Blame it on Cain is pretty rocking'. Some throwback rock n' roll tracks which don't hold up as well. Still going with a 3.5 - 4 because I love the above songs, and it's still a good listen, especially to see the progression.

This might be my favorite Elvis Costello album. It is beautiful and melodic with great lyrical imagery.

- this album slaps tbh - sounds incredibly modern for something from the 70s - love the divey vibes, I'd jam to this

- great variety of sound

Really fun and diverse album. I really enjoyed his voice and thought it fit well in the song compositions.

Pretty good, liked a couple songs, and the overall sound.

There’s a balance between great good and ok mostly a nostalgic album

I'm not an Elvis Costello fan but enjoyed this album - very easy listen and short. 7/10.

i think i listened to this album like three and a half times and it was pretty enjoyable. i only knew radio radio and pump it up before this, but this album apparently has basically all his solo hits. the new wave energy on this album is impeccable, but elvis veers off into punk, ska/reggae, power pop, and other genres effortlessly. I'll definitely listen to these tracks again. favorites: welcome to the working week, alison, mystery dance, I'm not angry, watching the detectives

Digging it. One of the earliest albums from Elvis Costello I've listened to & don't mind it.

Great new wave album. “Allison” is the highlight for me

Good album, might need a fifth listen, but it's my favorite Costello album thus far! Catchy riffs, good singing, fun lyrics.

I loved this and was surprised (though I don't know why as it is from 1977) how young he sounded. Definitely adding to the playlist.

som massa, rockzao e pa

Very good, although I’ve heard most of it before.

One of the funniest opening lines there is. This is a very good album that falls just shy of a 5 for me.

The sound feels like punk and pop fighting, but also kinda great. In my uneducated head it feels like a precursor to contemporary alt rock. Really rather good.

Love this album Give it a listen Great cover

Costello on simppeliä mut hyvää pop-rockia, mitäpä siinä sen enempää sanomaan. 4/5

I enjoyed it! Easy listening for sure

Conspiracy theory: There can only be one Elvis in the world. July 22, 1977 - Elvis Costello releases his first album, receiving instant critical acclaim. August 16, 1977 - Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, dies in the fetal position on the bathroom floor. There are many possibilities here. Did Costello poison Presley? Did Presley pill pop for years because he knew his successor would come? Maybe Presley sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a set number of years of success. Or maybe the carbon monoxide detectors in my apartment are beeping for a reason. The world may never know.

Thanks to this list, I now have Elvis Costello trauma worth seeing a therapist over. I'm starting over with healthy boundaries; this album gets 3 songs to make its case and depending on how those go, the review is drawn there or I'll keep pressing. First thing that stands out is how stripped back the recording + production sounds compared to his later albums. Honestly I think I prefer this. Welcome to the Working Week is a fine opener -- his voice is as punchable as ever, but the instrumental is fun. Miracle Man makes for a solid follow-up -- I like the bright guitar tone. Okay this album clears the initial bar for me. Blame It On Cain is a nicely written song with an enjoyable sway about it. Also really enjoy the sweet guitar of Alison and find Less Than Zero to be surprisingly catchy. Mystery Dance is an interesting detour into rockabilly that works better than I would have expected. I'm Not Angry is a solid one -- probably my favorite on here with the guitar work. I do enjoy the dub vibes on Watching The Detectives, though something about it leaves me expecting another song -- just strikes me as a weird not to end the album on. Of the Costello albums on the list, and there are far far far too many, this is a gem. Really enjoyed about 85% of the songs here and appreciated the brevity of this exercise. For me this is a solid to high 4.

Ooooh this hit close!! Listened to this on an evil feeling work day and it was like agh. very good. RAW

The first of three great albums from Elvis Costello.

day 13. a name I recognize but I have no familiarity with his music. I really like this album! it has a good variety and flow, doesn’t really drag. Just a lot of solid tracks. I don’t really get the hype about Alison though, sorry … 4/5 would definitely come back to again faves: Welcome to the Working Week (loved it!!), Blame It On Cain, Pay It Back

Great energy, fun album!

very fun

Love this album! I have other Elvis Costello albums but I like this one more.

8/10

Catchy and good songs.

A very strong debut album. You can definitely hear the influence this must have had on the indie rock scene of the 80s and 90s.

Highlight was “I’m not Angry”. Good rocker. 3.7/5

I know a kid called Elvis, after Costello, but of course he'll spend his life telling everyone that. Poor kid. But Elvis Costello is one cool person to be named after. This album features the songs that made him a stand out to me - Alison and Watching The Detectives. And to be sure I'd rather pop on a Greatest Hits rather than an album, this is still fab.

Els primers discos de Costello amb The Attractions són per conservar i anar disfrutant any rera any. A cada escolta pots trobar nous detalls i noves cançons que destaquin de la resta. Els dos primers són dos obres gairebé mestres, epicentres de l'época més creativa en la història del pop rock

I know this world is killing youuuuu

Good

This is a fine album. Speaks to me.

First two tracks are bangers and start the album off really strong. I hadn’t listened to blame it on Cain in a while and forgot how good that song is and I like the energy and angst of that one and the first half in general. The four song run of Alison to less than zero mixes in some chiller songs and shows how crazy the songwriting is for a debut album. Second half slows a little bit for me and overall it doesn’t have something to bring it to a 5 but it’s still as solid of a 4 as you can get and paved the way for a lot new wave and post punk artists. Favorite song: Alison Least favorite: watching the detectives song is ok but white people doing reggae beats is never great

Absolutely loved this album, I know it wasn’t full of hits but this is the perfect easy listening album for me. I must have listened to this 2-3 times while working yesterday. The album has a good range of songs from poppy stuff like “less than zero” to slower ballads like “Alison”, both of which were my top two tracks. Least favorite had to be “watching the detectives” and “red shoes”

When I’m in a dick riding competition and my competition is Elvis Costello😮. Nah fr tho renaming yourself after another man is crazy work. Shaboingboing Olympics Gold medalist. The album was fire tho. My favorite album we’ve listened to thus far. Debating a 5 here we will see. Heard before: none i think 👍🏼: Alison, angels, pay it back, living in paradise( if it counts)

A classic! Great songs like Welcome to the Working Week, Less Than Zero, Alison compiled in a work that passes the test of time. You can tell that the music is good when the songs are Influential beyond the musical scene - I think Bret Easton Ellis’s first novel was named after a Costello song- Well, if you want to introduce anybody to New Wave here’s your point of start.

Fantastic

Alison, Watching the Detectives - classic timeless songs

It’s ok.Better than average.Reminds me of a lot of 50s songs.Doesn’t really sound “punky” to me the guys are too smooth.They lyrics didn’t really land with me though.

Favorites: -Miracle Man -Allison

So authentic and rawly demo-like that it feels sort of rootsy, but its early genius throughout, with five or six classics in notably different veins. So strong and a harbinger of all the strength and excellence still to come.

Solid debut album

Definitely a mood based album, but I found it quite enjoyable. It's the kind of album that you would listen to on the way to work to kill time.

First time listening to Elvis Costello and upset it took this long. Excellent album

Solid debut album! Lots of good songs on here.

I have listened to this album here and there over the years - I think my roommate had this record - and my perception of it has changed a lot. It used to be that I liked "Alison" the best and ignored most of the rest. But now some of the other songs sound way better, like "Working Week", "Blame it on Cain" and "Red Shoes." Must be a good sign if the songs are getting better with age and more listens.

Elvis's first, and one of his best. Some classic songs - Alison being one of my faves

8.5/10

Never used to like Elvis Costello that much, but he’s grown on me over the years.

A classic and certainly, Primal Elvis. How can you resist the hits?

Il reprend le truc là où Buddy Holly l'avait laissé. Très sympathique. Alison, Pay it back. Très cool sans être complètement renversant.

Good shit, although I like Next Year's Model a bit more. 4/5

Always thought he's a dick but this is good.

Starts of really nice with some 50s style rock/pop tracks, but loses a bit of steam on its way to the finish line. Still, it's 3.5/5

A little bit of 60s and 70s rock with a mix of new wave, and you got yourself an album that actually groves pretty well.

Rock setentero. Está bastante bien.

A pleasant surprise, I'd never really listened to EC before but I really enjoyed this album. More than I thought I would!

Very fun album to listen to. The music had a mix of jazz, honkey tonk country with a punk edge to it especially helped by some of the lyrics, which were also great with real world themes.

Jag önskar att den hade funnits i storebrors skivback när jag växte upp. Och lite annat i det här spåret som Nick Lowe, Graham Parker osv. Då hade jag nog fått in det i hjärtat som ett varmt spjut och varit hänförd - nu tycker jag bara att det är bra.

Right up my alley! Idel bra låtar, korta och fina.

JA! Äntligen mer i min smak! Rivig röst, bra GUNG i låtarna och ett simpelt sound. Känslan är att det skulle vara väldigt roligt att spela dessa låtar i en simpel sittning med bara en eller två gitarrer och sjöa lite sång. Direkt när albumet rullar igång med "Welcome To The Working Week" med långsamma ackord och lite harmoniserande sång för att sedan gå igång med tempot känner jag att det blir en fin stund. Albumets mest populära låt enligt antal lyssningar är "Alison" är en betydligt långsammare och mjukare låt än de flesta andra. Visst är den fin men det är inte den som gör albumet i mina öron. Det är det dock inte någon låt som gör utan det är nog bara en stabil helhet där det mesta fungerar rätt bra tycker jag. En annan låt värd att nämna är "Mystery Dance". Den känns verkligen Elvis, men den andra mer kända Elvis med efternamnet Presley. Får en väldig känsla av Presley och tyyyp lite Ray Charles:igt. Bra var det iaf, kul! Bäst: "Welcome To The Working Week" (kändes som den lade en perfekt grund för resten av albumet på nåt sätt)

Not like Elvis at all - great music, good vocals and lyrics. Awesome feel-good vibes

In Costello's debut, we get a punk-influenced power pop / yacht rock collection of songs with a touch of wild and jazzy rockabilly. Songs are cool and groovy with a stellar, recognizable vocal performance. Enjoyed it all. No bad tracks, but several fail to stand out. Favorites: Blame It on Cain, Alison, Red Shoes, Pay It Back, Waiting for the End of the World, Watching the Detectives

Not quite the perfect album he's about to put out a year later with The Attractions but pretty damn close!

I like it, and I see a lot if influences it clearly draws upon while I can also envision how it influenced a l0t 9f subsequent music. Pretty cool TBH.

4.25

Great vibe

I didnt expect to like it as much as I did

so so

Elvis Costello is consistently awesome.

ээээ ни знаю Нормик

Loved it!

It's a really solid album with plenty of pop appeal.

Yes was nice man

Of all his prolific output this is near the top

There's a lot of great songs here but a few that don't particularly grab me. A definite 4.

While not as entertaining as some of his later works, This is an excellent debut by one of the chillest Punk bands to ever cut a record.

It's hard not to like this album and impossible not to like the story about this album. Yup, the record company gave him a £150  advance and a tape recorder and that's all it took to sign a contract. Another £2,000 and, voilà, we have this album. It seems like he is overflowing with song lyrics. The chorus in Less Than Zero has enough words to be verse. Reminiscent of Neil's song Harvest. Great album. Good album and better is coming with his second album. I hope 1001 will Pump it up

I can't think of a more audaciously good debut album. I also think this is Costello's best album which is saying a lot since he's super prolific with over 25 studio albums. He read the room perfectly in 1977 when he put out this rockabilly/punk record that foreshadowed the New Wave movement that was picking up steam. Alison and Watching the detectives are two of my all time favourite Costello tracks, but this record is chock full gems like I'm not Angry, Mystery dance, Angels, Sneaky feelings, Miracle man and Welcome to the working week. This is just a solid solid record.

Le prime due molto belle.

Not as overwhelming as This year's girl but still very attractive.

Really fun, but kind of white and dated

Brilliant throughout

Great album

Hits the target 🎯

Allison - really good love song, heartfelt, calm, classic Sneaky feelings - continues the theme of this longing for love Mystery dance - very catchy, rhythmic song Red shoes - catchy melody, classic The album is chill, but heartfelt. A lover's whisper, although he portrays moments of happiness and passion. The instrumentation really emphasizes how he is feeling.

Good album. Better than This Year's Model. More melodic and flows better

I don't know too much about Elvis Costello before this and I was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed this album. Excited to listen to more of his discography.

Classic.

Great album

Songs are all pretty similar but it's easy to listen to with some catchy songs.

You can hear the burgeoning talent in this album, and it really comes to the fore in his next two albums.

I liked it a lot, I can't believe it was his first studio album. It was upbeat with solid tracks.

Fun.

Punk, 1977. A record with a great energy and a lot of fantastic songs. It is also one of the best debut albums of the 70s and a really good one for the lovers of punk music. In the end this project is very interesting and enjoyable.

Not sure about best rock debut ever, but pretty rockin' stuff.

like the album a lot - seems influential, hear remnants of this elsewhere

happily impressed, very good listen

I honestly enjoyed the blues infused rock that Costello puts forth here. It’s great storytelling by a great storyteller. Decent guitar here too.

7/28/2022 - ALBUM #182 Today's Album: "My Aim Is True" by Elvis Costello - The last Elvis Costello album I listened to from this generator was with his band, The Attractions, so it was interesting to hear what his music sounded like solo. On this album, in comparison to the other one, there is far more emphasis on Elvis’s songwriting and less on the sound of the record. That isn’t to say the sound of this is bad by any means, but I think it sounds pretty simple and stripped back in comparison. This tracklist is pretty full of good tunes, with every song holding a pretty decent chorus and a classic rock and roll vibe. There isn’t a ton to say with any of the specific tracks, really, aside from some standout funky vibes on tracks like Blame It On Cain, Sneaky Feelings, and Watching The Detectives. If I told you to imagine classic rock distilled into a scrawny white man with the voice of Frank Zappa, I’m sure you would be able to imagine something pretty similar to what’s on display on this record. It’s really just Elvis’s unbeatable melody writing paired with a chunky rock and roll groove on every track and there isn’t much more than that. I guess that’s what is really standout about this record: for how little it’s doing something new for it’s time. It’s such an enjoyable listen from front to back and it’s such a testament to how strong his songwriting abilities are. Overall, this is a solid rock and roll record with great song-writing and a bunch of banger choruses. Give this one a listen if you want to know more about the 2nd most famous person named Elvis. Highlights: Welcome To The Working Week, Miracle Man, Blame It On Cain, Alison, Sneaky Feelings, Watching The Detectives, Red Shoes, Less Than Zero, Mystery Dance, Pay It Back, I’m Not Angry Score: 8/10 A classic rock and roll record with quite the songwriting punch

Not a week goes by where I don't hear something from this album I'm sure. This album gets off to a great start with Welcome To The Working Week. And who doesn't love Alison? Top to bottom a great album.

It's an album of cool and collected bops

yeh thought that was right fun. good lark.

Rock.

At his beginning

Overall enjoyable record. Loved that there was some humour in the lyrics and vocal delivery. Some guitar parts were pretty slick too. Good listen

Nice clean style but with its own spin on everything. Minus a star because only about half of the album is good.

This was one of those albums that I could listen to straight through, uninterrupted while walking my dog. I don't remember if I had this album previously as none of the tracks sounded familiar. I can also say that I had never heard this album at all, period. I really enjoyed this album. I would have to listen 1 or 2 more times before I can give my opinion on what I believe the stand out tracks to be but overall the whole thing was very catchy. I could picture just having a lazy day at the beach with a cold beer in my hand and this album playing in the background.

Hot take: I might be ready to say that "Watching the Detectives" is my favorite reggae song of all time. Granted, I have not done my due dilligence (like, at all) and making this declaration would probably and rightfully offend the entire island of Jamaica, but... that's a damn good song. And to close out the entire album? Bold move that pays off in spades. It's so much moodier than most of what precedes it and the tempo/rhythm/instrumentation really support the story he's telling. Is dark reggae a thing? It should be if it can be done this well. Alas, I can't say I had the same experience with everything else on this record. In fact, while I like "Allison" something about it's placement in the track listing here didn't work for me. Also, maybe there's one too many tunes that sound like they could have been played by the band at the end of Back to the Future. This could be a shorter listen and I wouldn't complain. But still. Very solid record with an exclamation point at the end of the sentence. Costello has become one of the very few repeat artists on this list that I get excited to listen to again.

Really nice indeed!!!

Another good Costello album. He seems like a fun guy and I wish I could party with his younger self.

A great debut album: such a range of styles & mature subject matter.

LP

Very distinctive voice, but this means a lot of the songs sound pretty similar. Really good songs though, lyrically and musically, with production that lets them shine. Enjoyed it more than I expected, even though I knew enough of the songs to be confident it would be good. 4 🌟

I’ve herd of the guy quite a bit so I hope he’s good… The album starts with welcome to the working week, it’s a good enough song very short and a good reflection of the rest of the album. Next is miracle man It’s good and I don’t mind his vocal style, but it’s just not that distinctive from the opener. No dancing is a good slow down from before it’s also ( currently) the poppiest cut. I especially like the percussion on here. Blame it on cain is another slower paced track this time reminding me of a sorta 60’s-y kinda sound, the slow tempo of this song works well though as it feels like the sort of thing an audience would clap along to in a gig. Alison is a good slow track, I think I recognise the chorus but nothing else. A probable favourite! Sneaky feelings is a good ( but of it’s time) pop song. My favourite moment is probably the simple but effective chorus; while it’s not the best song I’am surprised it wasn’t a single. Now we have ( the angels wanna wear my) red shoes, I think I know this one. I like everything here from the backing vocals in the poppy chorus and the tidal wave of drumming that occurs. Next is the last single to appear on the album Less than zero, one that I don’t recognise, it’s a nice slower song, fine guitar work throughout and I would argue it’s some of his best singing. Mystery dance us just a short 60’s-y song also it’s probably the heaviest on the album with some loud crunchy guitars on the chorus. Pay it back’s piano line is kinda what I think would be played in a cowboy saloon. It’s actually good though with decent instrumentation snd some okay lyrics. I’am not angry has to be my favourite though as it’s the most directly rock inspired, and while you could view it as annoying the whispering of “angry” is quite cool to me. Also it has my favourite line from the album in “ cos there’s no such thing as an original sin”! The album technically closes with waiting for the end of the world it’s got a good guitar lick and the spiralling drums in the pre chorus is cool. Just doesn’t feel like a closer. The album also ends with watching the detectives, a much slower track with powerful drumming and a great guitar line, I think I recognise things one, what an amazing song! It was good the second half is a little better than the first ( but that often happens in albums) also while I know it’s 70’s there’s so many 60’s style tracks which is odd.

I guess it's a throwback to 50s but also a way forward?

catchy but not really my thing

This album sounds like it could've come out yesterday, what a timeless classic.

Most of these songs are so ingrained in popular culture that it's easy to forget that this is a debut album. It almost runs like a Greatest Hits. The pub rock production is great. I suspect the songs were even better when played live. Watching the Detectives should have been the album opener, not the final track. A minor gripe.

I find it hard not to at least be neutral on Costello, it's really hard to dislike him. It's just a fun rock album.

Raw, eclectic mix of styles with Elvis not quite into his stride as he is on Armed Forces say. Still proper music though.

Listened to on 3/29/22 4.5/5 Favorite song: Alison, Welcome to the Working Week, Living in Paradise This album was GREAT - a little all over the place in terms of a vibe but I loves how easy it was to listen to while being fun and upbeat. The lyrics are beautiful and I would absolutely listen to it again and again

Very fun listen all the way through. Really enjoyed No Dancing and Alison.

Not bad. Not music I listen to normally but upbeat and fun.

I really dig it

Delightful, and most of what I know him for.

Don't like most of it, but Alison and Red shoes are 2 of my favourite songs ever.

It's quirky, fun, uniquely written rock n roll album that's standout among other classic rock album in 1977~

“A phenomenal debut, capturing a songwriter and musician whose words were as rich and clever as his music.”

I'm glad there's a world where Elvis Costello works. What an original. Obviously, he is cut from the cloth of Buddy Holly, but that era of American music had such an influence on the greatest British acts like Elton John, The Beatles, Elvis and of course this Elvis...Costello. No Dancing is the song that I think ties it all together in terms of where Costello came from and where he's ultimately going. His roots are in a Motown/rockabilly/pop sensibility that will evolve in the same way as Bowie and Springsteen would. Alison is timeless and whatever it's about - it stops you in your tracks and makes you reflect on life a little bit. Great debut album here.

So, he "changed his name to Elvis after Elvis Presley and adjusted his image to match the then-rising punk rock movement." This Wikipedia sentence tells pretty much everything about this album. So he IS Elvis no. 2, and his debut album is much better than the mess made as Napoleon Dynamite. Like Elvis no. 1, it's consistently dull yet for some reason irresistibly catchy. It's like a cheap candy. Enjoyable, but not remarkable or anything. I could say that if his "aim" is to make a punk version of Elvis Presley, then he hit it. His aim was definitely true, whatever that means.

Fav songs: - Welcome To The Working Week - Alison - Waiting For The End Of The World

Hi- Welcome To The Working Week, Alison, Mystery Dance, Pay It Back, I'm Not Angry, Waiting For The End Of The World, Watching The Detectives Maybe it's my broken mind, but I have always thought that if Buddy Holly survived the plane crash and went hard, we'd get Elvis Costello (I'm not alone in this, btw)...Anyways, My Aim Is True opens with a confirmed hit ("Welcome..."), a rollicking track that sets the tone for the rest of the record. Mr. Costello continues his tradition of writing excellent girl-name songs (Alison), and follows up with Mystery Dance and Pay It Back, with all of the rockabilly goodness you could ever ask for...Except it doesn't stop there! The 2nd half of this album really opens up and swing-rocks around the club, until closing out with the doo-wop classic Watching The Detectives. Listen to more Elvis Costello!

Still sounds so fresh! Huge classic from the Costellinator!

One of my favorite albums in this thing so far, I've always liked Costello's music (I'm already a bit biased for him due to his collaborations with Paul McCartney). This album definitely has rockabilly roots and some punk influence, and I love the style. 9/10, favorite songs: No Dancing and Watching The Detectives.

It sounds like a great first album of a great artist. Still with a lot of rough edges, and on the balance of the rock 'n' roll and new wave.

Have always love Elvis Costello. Great album

This was my fave Costello album so far, and I’ve had two others. It sounded different and i Really enjoyed it. I wish his other ones were more similar to these; there’s nothing wrong but they just aren’t as interesting as this one.

Number of albums reviewed thus far: 193 Number of those that are Elvis Costello: 4 We all bow to Elvis (no for real this doesn't seem right. Come on now.) Ok this isn't about me - and no offence to Elvis because I really like this album a lot - I love how the album starts with a catchy tune that's less than 90 seconds long - it plays as a great intro. There are a few radio classics that many people will know ("Alison" "Red Shoes" and "Watching the Detectives") but honestly most of the others are as good or better than the hits. Personal favourite: "I'm Not Angry." Overall it's a quick 36 minutes of great rock that's actually quite a bit more complex than one might think - it's the kind of album you can play in any setting, i.e. easily digested but also more than enough musical complexity and density beyond standard "rock music" to sustain repeat plays. Keeper. 8/10 4 stars

Not bad, very Elvis Costello, by now we've all heard enough of his stuff to last us forever. But when it came out I can imagine it was a real breath of fresh air.

A quick, fun, pop, punky album. Liked "I'm Not Angry" and "Alison" the most. No song that I disliked either.

Top 3 Tracks: Welcome to the Working Week (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes Less Than Zero

Brilliant power pop. I loved it.

Dug the sound

Pretty excellent, I'd go with a 4

The degree of my positive reaction surprises me. Elvis's debut lacks some of the shine of later albums, but it's a nicely-sequenced and diverse piece of work. Simply rock-solid, and not a dull moment. The balance of factors could be changed, I suppose, but some of the appeal is in the corners.

Un des meilleurs album de costellp que j’ai entendu. Ca secoute super bien 4.20

This was pretty fun! Previously my only exposure to Elvis Costello was the episode(s?) of 30 Rock he guest starred in but I enjoyed this album. Solid throughout, Mystery Dance onwards had even more of a rock 'n' roll feel which I very much am here for.

Honestly, just supremely good! Really enjoyed this one, I'd listen to the whole album again happily. A 5/5 though? Not sure on that one.

Would listen to again

I'm not gonna to get too sentimental Like those other sticky valentines This is a great little album And Declan McManus is close to genius

Very pub music indeed. Sort of like it.

Very distinctive voice, but this means a lot of the songs sound pretty similar. Really good songs though, lyrically and musically, with production that lets them shine. Enjoyed it more than I expected, even though I knew enough of the songs to be confident it would be good.

Allison was the only song I think I knew beforehand. Pretty smooth album but not that memorable.

Sounds to me like early rock and roll mixed with elements of very early punk music and I dug it. 4/5

This one's pretty fun. I like it and may actually look into his music more.

A Billy Joel / Bob Dylan vibe. It was pretty good

Great stuff, never listened before and thought it was excellent, Alison a stand out track but would listen again without hesitation

Rock setentero. Está bastante bien.

Not bad at all. Never listened to EC before, he sings kinda like me, mixed with Gordon Gano and Buddy Holly. The last song “Watching the Detectives” and first song “Welcome to the Working Week” were my favorites

Some great power pop here! A bit more upbeat than some of the other Costello we’ve heard so far, although ironically Allison is my favourite song on the album - and has been a staple on my playlist for over a decade. This album kicks off with great energy and “Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes” will put a smile on your face. Hard not to tap your feet to several of the tracks here. LOVE the reggae closer Fave songs : “Allison” “Watching The Detectives” “(The Angels wanna wear my) Red Shoes”

Fun

Banger!!! Ja sku vinna honom i en skkjuttävling dock på gud!😤

Solid, spunky songs with a clear personality

Great time, need to listen again.

Not my favorite Elvis Costello album, but it is pretty damn good

Early Elvis Costello is OK in my book. I think his voice became a parody of itself on later albums. May require more exploration. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

I only know a bit of EC's work. But what I do know I like. I guess this is as good as place as any to start. The whole DIY / punk feel to the songs really makes it POP. Really digging it.

Never listened to an Elvis Costello album before but I really enjoyed this one, dancey, punchy guitars really fun. Much better than the other Elvis

Is this only because I haven't given a 4 star review in ages? Probably. But I'm sick of giving 3s and 3.5s. A solid collection of pop'n'rock'n'rollers with catchy melodies, enthusiastically sung. And some days that's enough, y'know? The generator spitting out 'Welcome To The Working Week' on a Monday morning was a lovely touch.

This one grew on me as I listened. I ended up going straight back to the beginning and got a lot more out of it the second go around. Also, the generator is up to some trickery again. Roots and Costello have done an entire album together! It's... Ok

I had only ever heard of Elvis Costello before this but I’m glad I finally listened to one of his albums. This was a fun and catchy album that was solid the whole way through. Makes you nostalgic for a time you’ve never lived in. Fav songs: welcome to the working week, mystery dance

Love his songwriting.

its pretty good start to finish. classic rock

Very pleasant. I’ve listened to Elvis Costello before, but not an entire album. Nice songwriting and solid melodies.

Alison and Watching the Detectives stand out as absolutely classics, but there are some great lesser known tracks on here - Welcome to the Working Week for example.

Actually kinda liked this one

I used to think I liked Elvis Costello and that this was his best album, but after being literally ASSAULTED with Elvis Costello albums by this list (I swear like fully 2% of the 1001 albums are Elvis Costello), I've realized that I actually hate Elvis Costello and that this is his ONLY good album. But this album is real good.

Feels way ahead of its time.

My Aim Is True radiates a raw energy, thanks to Elvis Costello's funny wordy and witty lyrics filled with innuendo's, catchy melodies, a sharp infectious edge, and unique style. However, I do think No Dancing is a bit of a dud due to its low tempo and buried vocals and Pay It Back is a boring listen. 4/5.

Good album. I like Elvis Costello. 3.8 = 4

Fantastic, I love Elvis & need to listen to him more. This has a lot of recognizable songs on it.

This is fun

6.5

Smooth and easy to listen to. Listened to it 3-4 times back to back.

Dunno what exactly I expected, but this isn’t it. More plain old straight up rock and roll than I expected. Different vocal tone versus the plaintive, apprehensive timbre I associated with Elvis Costello previously. All of this is to say that I like it very much. I have a new appreciation for Costello. Also, I never before realized how much of an influence Costello is on John Flansberg of They Might Be Giants. I feel like an idiot.

Fun oldie rock stuff He's a charismatic vocalist

Spiky, aggressive, energetic. A great songwriter, brilliant sound. But there is such a dark edge to many of the lyrics - aggressive, voyeuristic, impotent rage at being rejected by women, sexual frustration - that at times it can be an uncomfortable listen. And I don’t know how much of that is Costello and how much is a character. Impressive and unsettling.

Terrible recording, remasters make things even worse.

Catchy songs, and an overall great listen.

I've never listened to an Elvis Costello song before. I'm not sure why...

Nice little starting song, very upbeat and full in a way. Cool little jingle. As the album progress songs get shorter and more straight to the point, catchy, punchy. Lyrics generally of daily life dealing with girls and friends and things of common talk

-I'm not angry -Watching the detectives!!! (nice bass)

Very nice so far. Seems like a good album to play during breakfast. Some parts seem kind of older than 1977 with more of a 50s aesthetic (in a good way).

4/5

Lots of classics, really liked the first song on the album.

Real good.

Another Costello record, this time his debut. This one has so much more edge and snark, I can finally see what all the fuss is about. Taking old-school rock and roll songwriting and twisting it make for an exceptional sound, like if Buddy Holly got jaded and cool. It seems as though something got lost as he carried on, but this album does a good thing, I think.

I like Costello. Good album, particularly for a first album. Pop punk.

Elvis is cool 😎

So much better than Blood and Chocolate! I really liked this album, it had good energy and pretty good riffs. I was also surprised by how many of the songs were familiar. “Miricle Man” sounded like Bruce Springsteen with a head cold and a hangover - still pretty good😀

Did Elvis Costello invent pop-punk?

Great album

Pretty fun. Like a 7 or an 8. I'll go with a 7 though

Ok ok, now I see why people like Elvis Costello. This was miles ahead of "Blood and Chocolate." I know he's known for changing his style a lot, but kind of wish he stuck with this one. Loved the guitar throughout this record and lyrically this was some really interesting songwriting. One thing I was wondering while listening to this was if I really liked this album or just enjoyed because I knew it was better than "Blood and Chocolate." Overall a pretty fun listen regardless.

I think I always confused Elvis Costello with Buddy Holly. Anyways, I liked this a lot, the first track is hype and the album is short, energetic, and fun. 8

I love his voice and his authentic use of rock music’s best aspects!

Me latió la ondita que trae

Best Elvis Costello album (also the third EC album we've heard in the 1001 albums) - Watching the Detectives and Alison are top tier tracks. The rest are solid.

Always love the voice and style - and Alison is a solid gold classic. Nice.

this was a great album! I've only ever listened to a couple of his songs, but this album was amazingly done!

Excellent debut album. 4 stars.

Dope

Verrassend goed rock / rock&roll album. Zeker van genoten

Pretty sick. Feels super modern for 1977

Big Billy Joel styles. Really liked it - wasn't expecting to but not sure why.

7

Starts off with a sick backbeat, and the song "Allison" is great! Omg I didn't know "Watching the Detectives" was from this album! Nice quick listen with nice vibes.

Pretty dope album, had no expectations at all, apart from the album cover. Very pleasantly surprised.

Actually really enjoyed this. Some really good songs in here and found some getting stuck in my head.

Enjoyable, fast paced rock n roll album

I liked it

Great, of course

Great new age album

This Years Model is better, but this is a classic album with a lot of Costellos best songs (Red Shoes, Less Than Zero, Im not Angry, Allison, etc).

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 ?

Second listen this year. Solid.

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

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

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

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

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.

Elvis Costello would have done well in the ska era

Not a fan.

Does this Elvis also like peanut butter and jelly and bacon sandwiches

Great debut from a legend

I wanted to crush this. I've never been a fan of any Elvis feeling that both were "okay." At least with Presley, I understand what the hype is about. This is a fine album, and Costello's longevity earns him a spot on the list.

Some decent moments. Really wanted to enjoy this more but I’m afraid I just don’t like his voice / vocals and I find most of his songwriting ‘fine’ but pretty unengaging.

ANOTHER ELVIS COSTELLO?! I JUST DID ONE OF HIS ALBUMS. 1001 Albums, why must you make me endure such mediocrity? 3 stars because Pump It Up (not on this album) is far superior to Alison (on this album).

Much, much, MUCH better than my last experience with Costello. On here it seems like he has a pulse. And a voice that doesn’t grate in my hearing canal. The album is a collection of some competently done and easy to listen to new wave rock songs, with a nice range of influences on display. Though there are traces of reggae, soul and punk on here, they are not explored that much and pressed into a more generic, easily digestable sound. That’s not a bad thing, it just speaks of a rather limited perspective Costello might have had at that point in his career. But this is his first album, so who can blame him. The songs themselves tend to get repetitive and feel to long because at their core, nothing much is happening. An excpetion might be Alison, which is probably the greatest song on here. Welcome To The Working Week would’ve been a great blueprint for the rest of the songs - a short but entertaining song that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Maybe there is hope for Costello and me. Fingers crossed.

Not as punk as I thought. It's retro-influenced and quite short. "Alison" feels the least "Costello-y" from what I hear about him as this punk figure.

I just have never been a huge Elvis Costello fan. Maybe it’s the nasal voice.

My 3rd or 4th favourite EC record, (Brutal Youth is a mid/late period highlight) possibly because theres no Pete Thomas on this one, but its still a fine way to introduce yourself to the world.....better stuff awaits..

Oh… well. Lots of Elvis Costello. Let’s get this over with. Yeah. 3. The more listening isn’t helping here. 3 Boolean: not this much Elvis Costello

Was ok. Over exposure to Elvis Costello on here

When you've heard one...

Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album Kind of familiar How do I feel about this artist? I like bits and pieces of Elvis Costello, this is my first of his on this list. Pre-Listen Thoughts: My favorite Elvis Costello songs are not on here. I know there is a lot of him on this generator so I hope I don't get sick of him. Favorite track(s): Mystery Dance, Watching the Detectives Post-Listen Thoughts: I know this Liz has a lot of, he’s not my favorite but I don’t mind him. I really like some of his songs. I could tell this is the debut album, I think he really benefits from The Attraction later on.

It was alright and probably won’t listen to it again

I am a little sick of this guy; I don't think he needed this many entries on this list. But this was definitely one of the albums by him that I enjoyed the most. I feel like it being a debut and more rudimentary actually benefitted the record more than anything; it feels less dizzying, exhausting, and gimmicky when compared to his later records. You get some really great early new-wave pop rock songs here - 'No Dancing', 'Alison', and 'Sneaky Feelings' were all great, and short as well, feeling very direct while still being interesting takes on traditional pop-rock, which is what I generally like about Costello. Vocally, though, Costello still throws out note after note with little space between when building his melodies, but at least it's not atrocious on here; I guess he just has a lot to say. But sometimes I just wish he'd take a breather, especially on 'Less Than Zero'. Still, his melodies on here are some of his best; I'll mention "Alison" again, which was great and maybe the best song I've heard from him yet.

Enjoyment: 6/10 Replayability: 7/10 Cohesion: 6/10 Flow/Pacing: 6/10 Artistic Merit: 6/10 Weighted Average: 6.25/10 Review: First time listening to this Elvis. Seems like run of the mill classic rock. Nothing bad, nothing extraordinary. Liked Song(s): Welcome To The Working Week, Blame It On Cain, Alison, Waiting For The End Of The World Disliked Song(s): I'm Not Angry Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No

Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True I’ve always enjoyed Elvis Costello. His distinctive voice and music immediately bring back that late ’70s/early ’80s feeling, but what struck me listening to My Aim Is True was how much further back the album reaches. There are touches of early rock and roll, rockabilly, R&B, and early-to-mid ’60s pop throughout the record. “Mystery Dance” even had me hearing a little of Costello’s famous namesake, while “Watching the Detectives” closes things out with a cool reggae influence. The album starts especially strong. “Welcome to the Working Week” is a great opener, and I really enjoyed “Miracle Man” and “No Dancing.” I already knew “Alison,” which remains one of the standouts, and “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” brought the energy back after a couple of songs I found just okay. The album dipped a little for me toward the end, which knocked it down from the four stars I was considering earlier. Still, there’s nothing here I disliked, and Costello’s voice, musicianship, short songs, and mix of influences make this something I’d happily listen to again.

Quite concerned at the sheer amount of Elvis Costello to come on this list, especially if this is supposedly one of the better ones. Nothing special at all

Nostalgia vintage

okay

Nice rocking beat and I often found myself tapping my fingers along. However nothing really here that stood out (positively or negatively). All the songs kinda blended together for me but if I had to choose I’d say Favorite: Alison

Pretty middle of the road stuff here. Nothing to hate, some stuff to like. There’s some fun compositions and instrumental work in Alison, Red Shoes, and Watching the Detectives, and the lyrics are occasionally fun and playful, but his singing reeks of a Reddit-y flavor of snark/sarcasm that’s about 40 years early. Another issue I have with this album is that these songs do not pop enough for me on a macroscopic or individual level. There is an occasionally frightening level of homogeneity here. Still, it’s a fun listen when you’re thinking about it as punk wearing an Elvis costume. That 50’s rock-n-roll (ish) sound is readily apparent for an album that came out the same year as Star Wars, but you can see some of the seeds for pop-punk being sown here with some of the instrumentals. Pay It Back has some really crispy guitar and the bassline in Watching The Detectives glues the whole thing together. 5/10 Favorites: - Blame It On Cain - Alison - Red Shoes - Pay It Back

Most British rock will have a floor of 3 stars. It’s just a sound that I enjoy and this album is no different. As a whole this LP is just meh, but there are few songs that I enjoyed. Favorites: - Welcome to the working week - Blame it on Cain - Alison - Sneaky Feelings - Watching the Detectives Rating: 6/10

Sockhop for Punks! Like Elvis Costello but it’s nowhere near his best and not one I’d prob go back to.

Meh some good songs in there but not my fave. Like his voice tho.

Thumbs up 👍