Reviews (page 7 of 12)
it is exactly as boring as i expected
not interesting, nothing to say.
Primera impresión: Tiene un sonido interesante, no es un género que esté tan acostumbrado a escuchar pero es disfrutable (al menos hasta ahora). Mitad: Me parece un álbum fácil de escuchar, se me está pasando rápido. Me gusta pero tampoco me fascina, por ahora se me está haciendo un poco repetitivo por momentos. Además creo que debería prestarle mayor atención a las letras. Final: La verdad es que me gustó, es entretenido y hay canciones que volvería a escuchar. No sé si está entre mis álbumes favoritos pero es llevadero e interesante. Quizás debería reescucharlo prestando más atención a las letras, pero sonoramente es disfrutable. Canciones favoritas: Mystery Dance y Waiting for the end of the world
Elvis Costello is the type of rock music you'd listen to if you had an underlying need to not appear too edgy.
Sopivan menevää poprockia. Osa biiseistä hyviä mut menee vähän taustamusa teemaan Albumi hyvin samankaltainen läpikotaisin.
I've heard some of this music before but never listened to a while album at once. It's OK, but a bit samey. Maybe if I listened to it multiple times I'd start to see the differences. I find his vocal sty;e a little irritating. He sings with an American accent even though I know he's English. Mick Jagger does the same sometimes and wonder why they do this. Musically it's OK and the vocals don't grate too much despite the accent.
Couldn't get into it. I liked Alison, other songs were alright. Solid 3 star for me. His other albums and songs are much better.
Not bad, but not memorable
This was quite fun! Not my kind of thing but I can see the appeal
I do like the Elvis Costello songs I know, although that isn't many of them. That meant that this album overall wasn't as good as I was maybe hoping it would be - not bad, just not as good as I'd hoped. I want to give it a bit of a pass given it's his debut, but then I remember that we're ostensibly talking about the greatest, or most important albums of all time here... And this is pretty average by either of those metrics. I don't really like "it's important because it launched his career and paved the way for better albums" as a justification for noteworthiness either. I can see there's lots more Costello on the list, this is my first... So I'm still hopeful that the rest might be really good. This gets the most average, middle of the road 3 rating from me.
A classic album. I don’t think I have a favorite song, but definitely decent!
3/5. My first brush with the Elvis Costello event horizon (or technically second since one of my previous albums was produced by him.) and it’s some decent enough rock music. Reminds me of some of the clashes stuff in how it occasionally flirts with 50’s rockabilly music. Overall though I wasn’t blown away or in love with this album, it’s just fine.
groovy but gets old fast
I've been here before. The last one I reviewed was a good one, previous to that I was disappointed. I feel kind of in-between, but on the whole I think he can do better.
Some of my favs on this one. Can’t listen to Elvis over and over though. Only every now and then.
Bro was born a decade or two too late
Passable, somewhat laid back rock Fave track: Alison
Eh. 3/5
Average by Costello standards
Solid nerd-rock : liked the tracks where he leans more heavily into a 60's/blues sound rather than the singles I'd previously heard. Well Done "Other-Elvis", 3.5 star
I like it, but not the day after a different Elvis Costello album. 2 in a row is a bit much
I've found Elvis Costello to be very middling across the various albums I've heard. This still holds - but this one maybe feels a bit more accessible. There's not a huge amount of stand-out tracks, but overall it's pretty decent and has some personality to it. Not too bad. It's a very 3/5 album.
I don't know- I had expected to like this more than I did.
It’s a decent album. Not too much variation in most songs. I do love the song Allison. Watching The Detectives is a good song too. I’ve always liked Elvis, but not near as much as others.
I think this was better than the last Elvis Costello album we had, but I still feel pretty lukewarm about it.
Listened to this on my way to Montreal. I’ll take this over The Byrds any day but it definitely sits in more of a generic pop genre imo.
This was a pretty chill and easy listening album. Nothing amazing, but didn't dislike it either
Never really listened to his music but it's not bad. I imagine if I paid more attention to the lyrics there is some gold there. Seems well composed with great music that fits the vibe. It's nice but I feel like it's just not my thing.
Rating: 6/10
between good and mid gmid
Great
Hmm. At first i enjoyed it, it was pretty nice but after a while i became quite bored. Overall it's a very decent album so 3.5 (and i absolutely agree with the review saying that the cover is incredibly ugly...)
Almost outstandingly mid.
Tight debut - still not a massive Elvis fan - not sure why - JE
I tried going on an Elvis Costello deep dive a couple of years ago, but only really got through the first half a dozen LPs or so. I don't know what it is about the debut but I find the doo-wap and rockabilly-tinged songs on here a bit pastiche. The best song is Watching the Detectives which wasn't on the original UK release of the album so not sure if that should be part of the consideration of it's merits or not. Listening again in January 2026, I had an extra appreciation for Waiting for the End of the World though.
The songs are pretty neat but after two listens through I’m not really getting ‘this guy was a game-changing seminal songwriter’. Maybe I need a few more spins. I hope something clicks for me cuz I heard there’s like five more Costello albums on this list.
Got quite a bit better after a few listens.
Elvis Costello is still one of the corniest dudes in history but there were a couple tracks here that hit. Alison and Sneaky Feeling are good but then you go right back to corn fest with Red Shoes, like…what a completely unnecessary song.
Better than expected
Pretty good, fun and influential. 50s rock 'n roll meets 80s alternative with some punk foundation building? Woulda spun at a party in '77. Alison is a great song.
Ok
amo amo amo que sea cortico, chimba de álbum x me gusto pero igual no tanto
Never heard of him before Maybe the name but no any music I think it’s important to mention this goes into the atemporal vibe thing since doesn’t feel like late 70s Composition: 6 Interpretation: 7 Production: 6 Identity: 7 Originality: 7 Impact: 5 Consistency: 6
Taking 50s doo-op and sock bop into the modern (70s) age. Very well constructed songs but the album can sound a bit samey - also could maybe use one song that is about something other then how women are bitches
not really my favorite maybe just one song I actually liked
favorite - Most of Us Are Sad 7/10
Interesting voice, cool sound and yet, pretty repetitive. It is amazing how many of the songs end with the fade out of a single phrase that gets repeated over and over again. Alison and red shoes are my favorite songs from this one.
Mucho más animado, música de gente que se alcoholiza
Better than I remembered
Another Elvis Costello. Some very strong tracks, some not so. Not his best. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No: 43/174(24%) Will I get. No
I like Elvis Costello, but this is far from his best album. 3 stars. Fave track - Alison.
Pretty good
Between 3/4 for me. Cool vibe
Another Elvis Costello album 3 days later. I had to procrastinate this one for a week, I really couldn't stomach another one back to back. At least it's only 36 minutes. Starts off super poppy. Second song sounds like the inspiration for other high trouble bands I hate in the late 90s like Gin Blossoms, Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20. That being said, it's overall not as terrible Costello's later stuff. Maybe he learned the excessive cheese later in his career. 3/5, but a low three.
I wasn't terribly impressed by this.
This album is "fine", but it's clouded by the volume of other "fine" Elvis Costello albums on this list.
J’entends parfois Jim Cuddy de Blue Rodeo, ou Frank Zappa dans une fausse ballade… mais en moins irrévérencieux. En plus sincère… et plus positif.
Elvis Costello is like matcha tea to me. I like it sometimes, I want to like it, or Im not interested at all, but I still want to try it. This album was ok, not mad about the listen. I appreciate the hints of bluesy in some of the songs. I think Allison is his best work. Such a smooth, great song. Love the melody and the guitars on it.
Fun, danceable album, but I wish I liked his voice.
Catchy enough. Maybe will increase the rating
de Elive der Zweite hed biz meh gmacht als sin Name hergid und darum gib ich ihm Pünkt der Dritte
Got me tapping my foot, but nothing was stuck in my head when I put my headphones away. Recommend best paired with setting up for an afternoon party. Nothing too distracting but still good vibes
I'm a fan of Elvis. Started listening when he started recording. I've always felt his strength is with singles. Re-listening to this album confirms that for me. Solid record with a couple of highlight singles.
Last two songs pretty good, brought this up from 2 to 3.
Saw Elvis Costello in concert in 2024. Had a much larger appreciation for him after
Apparently, this guy is a songwriting machine with over 30 albums released - wonder how many more are up for us to listen here. Enjoyed the upbeat fun pop, sounded a little (really a little) like Bob Dylan from time to time.
started out strong but i ultimately wasn't too high on it
Som vi tidigare konstaterat är Elvis Costello en sorgligt överskattad artist. Men just den här skivan tillhör nog hans bästa, med reservation för att jag inte hört alla. Det finns mycket energi och han krånglar inte till det. Inledande Welcome to the working week, No dancing, Alison, Red shoes och avslutande Waiting for the end of the world kan gott nämnas.
Did not know this qualified as punk. Decent.
that was fine. Inoffensive, feels older than the time it came out.
Not my vibe
Honestly impressed by the range of sonic sounds. From buddy holly ass rock, to blues to folky stuff. Pretty good
Franchement tu retires le fait que l'album fait 2h30 et tu écoutes tout ce qu'il y a avant les demo c'est très bien ! Mais malheureusement il y a le reste qui est fatiguant donc seulement 3
Side One much stronger, highlighted by the back to back of Blame It on Cain and Alison. A little more prickly lyrically than I was expecting, high-end 3
average music with a slightly annoying vocalist 6 Elvis Costello albums? Really?
It's okay. There's a lot more Elvis Costello in this challenge than I think there should be.
Неплохой альбом, но ничего особенного
always thought he was more modern than he is
Elvis Costello albums on this list have never been bad per se, but they have been incredibly inconsistent. This is one of the more mid albums. This entire album just seems so by the numbers, and lacks any real personality. Even at 36 minutes, it felt like it was too long. 2.5 / 5
solid debut album some fun songs in there
Kind of like Britain’s nerdier, punkier answer to Springsteen. A solid album although nothing here wowed me. Best song: Miracle Man
Not really listened to Costello much outside of the bigger singles (and Shipbuilding, which I love). Quite surprised by this - Definitely not punk, not really new wave. But too spiky in both music and lyrics to be really "mainstream" fare. Pretty good.
Es geht.
It's alright. Not so bombastic as the journos claim it to be, and Costello seems undeserving of 5 more albums. Ugh!
I haven't ever heard anything from Elvis Costello that I liked until today. I don't know if this album is just good and I hadn't heard anything from it before, or my tastes have matured. I'll be listening to this again, I think, and perhaps giving him another shot in general ⭐⭐⭐.5
Nice pumping beat, good voice yet not too blaring, helped me stay awake.
Less than zero sounds like glory days by Bruce Springsteen. I had heard Red Shoes before.
I think this one aged better than This Year's Model. Possibly because this one tried to be more rock, while the other leaned more into pop. Then again, did we need this many Elvis Costello albums on the list?
-my relationship with Elvis Costello’s music is complicated. it’s definitely pretty hit or miss for me but when it hits, it REALLY hits -this particular album probably falls into the “hits” category. something about his vaguely annoying voice and kitschy country rock sound is kinda doing it for me?? -solid 3-3.5. really good for a debut album -Favorites: Welcome To The Working Week, Blame It On Cain, Waiting For The End Of The World
Pretty fun sounding pop-rock.
Better than Coldplay
Elvis Costello is cool ... but I dont ever feel the need to listen to a full album. Much like that other Elvis guy!
Car ride on the desert of Texas feeling like a cowboy
Found it pretty boring. Nothing really stood out from this
Pretty good, it’s like sublime meets steely Dan
Great voice and some good songs but nothing amazing overall
Yllättävän hyvää. Pitää kuunnella joskus uudestaan. 3,25/5.
Didn’t care much for the vocals, but the first song is a lot of fun. Guitar solos were fun!
Very few people know this but Len Houmous of Houmous and Chutney fame actually lost his virginity to Elvis Costello. Not listening to him. But actually to him. It was in 1956 just after Len got back from Korea. Elvis denies it, reckons the dates don’t add up but Len said you’d recognise that voice anywhere. It was actual the subject of Len’s infamous Houmous & Chutney Hit. ‘I know it was you, I could feel your voice’ 3.0 5/13 Alison
🔥
Definitely see why Elvis Costello has such a fan base. This was a fun album, but felt like there was a bit to much filler for me to really get into it. "Alison" is a killer track. It's a 3 for me.
Very okay.
Like it 3/5
I went back and forth on this album a couple times. There were parts I liked a lot, and there were some parts that felt were almost silly. I feel like Elvis Costello definitely knows what he is doing as a songwriter and an entertainer. Likely these somewhat silly bits are actually done with full intention and to a great effect. If I listened to this a few times, I think there is a good chance it would grow on me and generate I higher rating, but after one listen I'm not quite convinced.
Feels like some Elvis Costello.
3/5
Given that he's got 7 albums on this list I have a feeling I am going to have a well formed opinion on Elvis Costello by the time this experience is done, but I digress. This debut sounds like a debut. Its a bit rough around the edges. Some good songs here and there. Its fine. Nothing special. The kind of album you accept as a debut and hope it gets better as the career goes on.
Eh
Fun listen, not many thoughts after my first listen
Pretty enjoyable album. Handful of hits, another handful of great songs, the rest all fills in nicely without being overly remarkable or memorable. But a great debut album. Solid 3+.
No standouts
theres one million elvis costellos albums on here and they're all the same. some of them he says the n word on
Still not a fan of E.C., but there’s a few good ones on this album.
Old school cool - perfect listenable but nothing that really moves me
This has a lot of older rock and roll feel but also almost some punk vibes.
Lots of classic songs on this, but overall uneven. It's punkish but ultimately closer to classic rock than many of Costellos contemporaries.
Rock and roll vibes, some good songs, wanted to stand up and dance at some.
Classic
Good album prefer thisyears model
liked some of the songs but everything blends a bit and it starts to drag despite being so short
Eh it’s not bad or anything but it’s just barely a 3
It's aight
Toujours cool
Encore lui ??? Faut lâcher là Musique de générique de série as usual, la note change pas quoi
This album is an easy listen but pretty uninspiring. It's a boring, made for radio album. If someone told me Costello was their favourite artist, I'd think they have bland taste in music. I will say "watching the detectives" does salvage the album somewhat.
136/1001 Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Second album of approximately eleventy billion from Costello and whilst I do like this, I don't know why this is on the list.
Lidt skizofrent album, men en del udmærkede sange på.
Some flashes of great songwriting on here, but as a debut it still feels a little rough around the edges in places. Not Costello’s best outing, but not bad.
484/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Elvis Costello is interesting. I like his overall sound, but I feel like there’s an ironic detachment between him and the music. Something about it feels… constructed? Inauthentic? I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but I feel it in basically every song. Allison still a banger though
I’ve known this album for years, but this time I listened to it from an audiophile point of view. Elvis sings very close to the microphone, which gives the vocals intimacy but leaves little sense of room or space. There’s quite a lot of compression throughout the record, limiting the dynamics. The production is rough and edgy, a style that perfectly suits the album’s energy and attitude, but doesn’t really fall within my personal taste.
Impressive debut. Nothing groundbreaking but nothing my ears disliked. 3/5.
If it wasn’t for Watching the Detectives, there’s no way this would have been even noticed by music listeners. The fact it’s his first album automatically makes it better than the others I’ve heard here. Mainly because all later albums are just a copy/paste of this one
Early new-wave, with plenty of do-wop/50s rocknroll influences. It's almost a complete 50s revival! Interesting sound, but not grabbing my attention. Waiting for the end of the world is proper post-punk/new wave Best track - Welcome to The Working Week, Mystery Dance, Waiting for the End Of The World 3 stars
Nice music.
Didnt listen to it deeply but it was kinda cute and catchy
Rockabilly avec des nuances country...
Album inégal, mais correct.
Not quite good as his other albums on this list, but still good.
Solid stuff by Elvis Costello. I get his popularity, but if I want something in this vein I tend to prefer Joe Jackson.
This grew on me as it went on. Heavy on the 50s nostalgia which I don't love.
Fun. Kind of repetitive. I enjoy Elvis Costello as much as the next guy which is not a ton, but I don't hold anything against him. I appreciated the brevity of the album too haha
I'm never sure what to make of Elvis Costello. He's simultaneously great fun and right up my alley, and supremely annoying to listen to.
Pretty good album. The first half is especially strong. It got a bit tedious to listen through even though is was only 30 something minutes. Still a good experience. 3/5
Pretty fun romp. Notes of Rock and Roll, New Wave, and Beach wave. I might be a nice album to put on a beach day or something. Had a fun time but it's not exactly something I would play regularly. 3.5/5
I was prepared to dislike this one to be honest. The songs sounded somewhat samey at the start but I was pleasantly surprised to find some versatility as the album went on. It was quite enjoyable in the back half particularly. I don’t think it was revolutionary by any means, but it was a good 36 minutes.
Not a fan of Elvis Costello. Also, one of the worst album covers I have ever seen
First thought: Oh god, another Declan MacManus album. From this point on, I refuse to use the first part of his name on principal since he stole the real Elvis' name as a marketing gimmick. I have just left this album on loop and it's grown on me almost to the point of enjoying some of it? Apparently this album was instrumental in creating the New Wave style of music that is similar to REM, Devo, Duran Duran etc that replaced punk music as the underground sound. The thought that this is considered "underground" makes no sense, but the UK has always been culturally weird. (yeah, I said it) I do like the song Less Than Zero, Waiting for the End of the World and Watching the Detectives. The rest are meh. Understand the historical significance of creating the New Wave genre of music, still don't like Declan Macmanus' music, but this album was better than Blood and Chocolate.
Pretty standard ES based on what we’ve already had.
I mean, he’s alright, but come on, does he really need to be on the list, again?
Well there was a surprise, a not so annoying EC album. He clearly hadn’t developed his full annoying vocal lilt, and was deploying a more trad rock style. Bearably short. This doesn’t however get you off the hook list. THIS MAN DID NOT DESERVE MORE THAN ONE ALBUM ON THIS LIST!
:)
Helt greit! Hatt en del kjedelig album i det siste, så gøy med noe mer rocka. Usikker på om jeg hadde hørt på nytt
I'm not really into Elvis Constello but I also can't help but enjoy the songs at the same time?
Enjoyed this aye, some solid tunes
3,5
2.7
This album - and Elvis Costello in general - has a signature sound. It’s not one I’m immediately drawn to but there are a few moments I can appreciate and I wanted more of…like the Mystery Dance, and Watching The Detectives, for example.
This a good record, but not a great one. "Watching the Detectives" is the best song. I've realized, 78 albums in, that this list is way too biased towards stuff that I've already heard or didn't need to hear. And it's just so Anglocentric. Yawn. I'm giving up writing these lengthy reviews and just opting for the star rating method, coz to be honest, this list isn't really worth giving up an hour a day to come up with pithy takes on each record. I have my own list anyway. It was fun while it lasted.
Not something I'd typically like, but something about this had me enthralled.
Liked pretty much everything past Alison. Good but not my style.
The idea that, out of the 1001 albums you MUST listen to before you die Elvis Costello is on the list twice, seems far fetched. Even dubious. Maybe Stevie Wonder put me in a good mood, but this album was actually fun to listen to for me and i don't know how to feel about that after i hated on him so much. And I'm the topic of why he deserves to be here again, this time i heard some Weird Al in his singing (who's entire discography should be on the list) some Billy Joel who i guess isn't an influence but a contemporary, some of The Matches (who have at least one perfect album), and a few other bands. So i get it. I guess it also makes sense that i like this Elvis album more than the other one since it's not from the 80s. I think it's not quite a 4 but i consistently enjoyed it. I should've given the other one a 2
Why is this album so weird about women? Make it stop. I really want to overlook this and not let it impact the rating, but there is too much of it; I cannot.
Tja, helt grei rock. Svingte greit til jobben, falt litt sammen i bilen. Klink 3
This was actually pretty good. The vanilla ice cream of rock and roll. It mostly all sounds the same. It’s not bad but not spectacular
Not bad but not my jam
Elvis Costello generally doesn’t really do it for me. I found it a little plain
En tiiä miks tästä tulee jotenkin jouluinen fiilis mulle. Muutenkin tulee jotenkin lämmin hyvä fiilis tästä. Oon alkanut kanssa lämpenemään Elvis Costellon musiikille, sitä on aika paljon tällä listalla. Tää on sen debyytti. Hyvää rokkia, voiko muuta sanoa. Parhaat: Alison, No Dancing
I like Elvis Costello, but I'm not sure if it's just the few songs I've heard or what. This album was fine, I wouldn't pick it again
Not my favorite so far but didn’t dislike it in any sense. Pretty good.
Rock and roll. A lil bit Bruce Springsteen, a lil bit Randy Newman, a tiny bit Elvis, and also a bit its own thing
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Welcome To the Working Week, Allison This album honestly just felt like more of the same, as I have just recently listened to This Year's Model. This debut album and the other one were released only one year apart, and you could have slammed the two albums together and had a entirely cohesive sound, even if the subject matter differed. It feels like a smattering of genres, without really having its own identity. I don't hate it, but I'm not particularly in enamored with it either. It sort of just exists for me. In one ear an out the other, leaving very little imprint on me.
Pretty great!
This has some good ones. And some less good ones.
Cool!
A collection of pretty good rock songs that borrow heavily from 50s rock and roll and pop. Judging without any historical context, it's great but I didn't find it particularly interesting or memorable.
This is a cool mix of power pop and 50s rock, it feels like it could be playing at a diner in an old movie despite obviously sounding more modern than that. Costello's voice really sells the songs and his cutting lyrics. I've never quite understood Costello's reputation as a lyricist though. As far as I can tell, he's just really sarcastic and make a lot of sexual innuendos on this one. There are some great lines ("there's no such thing as an original sin"), but it wears thin by the end, especially on "Mystery Dance." It wouldn't matter as much if there was more musical variety, but as much as I like the style the actual songs are fairly straightforward. And a lot are pretty similar; "Sneaky Feelings" and "Pay it Back" are almost identical. Some songs sound a bit different, in a good way ("Alison") or a bad way ("I'm Not Angry"). A fun enough listen, but in the end there aren't enough surprises.
nice but nothing special. Would give 3.5/5 (I did particularly like I'm not angry!)
Oh goody. ANOTHER Elvis Costello Album. That said, Watching the Detectives remains a great song. "She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake"
Solid classic alternative.
Most of the album feels like something you'd hear on Jools Holland's Hootenanny. It's quite honky tonk at times, and 50s doo-woop the rest of the time. Not that that's a negative thing necessarily. "Watching the Detectives" is the outlier, feeling something more like ska at times. Definitely the most interesting song on the album. Overall quite enjoyable, with some very catchy tunes.
Interesting album but not really my vibe.
просто хорошая музыка, ничего особенного для себя не нашла
He must have been aiming for fairly average.
i feel like all the songs are lowkey the same.. no distinguishing factors my favs are alison, mystery dance, pay it back, im not angry and watching the detectives
Was ok, not gonna be on my list
I enjoyed this. A little different but well done.
I liked this one way more than This Year’s Model. It just seemed more fun and a little more varied and interesting. Still not something I’d keep coming back to but not bad.
Ziemlich gut, hat mir gefallen
50’s rock and roll mixed with late 70’s feel.
Suena viejo incluso para su época. Pero con power, que se yo. Nota: 2.7
Decent album
I've never listened to this album (22). Solid debut, but if I want to listen to Elvis Costello I'll always go to This Year's Model.
Alison always makes me think of the critically acclaimed 2001 film, Get Over It. The album sounds familiar - guessing it was played at homr while I was growing up.
I had higher hopes for this, hadn’t heard it in ages. The “hits” are still great, but the other tracks aren’t that memorable/catchy. When he started using The Attractions as his backing band on his next album, “This Year’s Model” that’s when things started to look up for EC (even though I gave that a 3 as well). And as I’ve mentioned before, Imperial Bedroom is his best and is still to come in the 1,001.
Sharp lyrics, distinctive voice. Good listen. Alison is the standout track, and it's interesting to learn that it's not a love song as much as a song of pity and regret for unrequited love.
Like the mix of some pop and some more rock and roll
Lacks maybe the pep of his subsequent albums, but still a fun listen.
This was a pleasant uptick from the mania of the ministry album but it’s the kind of music that has a ceiling to it. My main thought on listening was, he’s the kind of music star you wouldn’t mind too much if your adult offspring started dating and took them home to meet you.
Bit dated for me but for it's time has a cool feel and seemed to blend styles which presumably was innovative. Not compelling enough for me. 2/3
A weird album that seems like it comes from a decade before it was made. Its anachronistic sound is juxtaposed with lyrics contemporaneous to the late seventies. It's a set of fairly average, if well constructed, songs with a few absolute gems thrown in. "Watching the Detectives" is a rare example of the perfect pop song to close the album. If only the rest lived up to that high standard.
Fun enough
Nice spin on elvis to the new era at the time,some stinkers in here but also some absolute bangers.Overall pretty all over the place but enjoyable 7
Late 70s pop rock with new wave vibes. One of his best albums. Voice and delivery aren't my fave.
kinda neat idk
6 Pretty good. Some songs a bit samey u know. Watching the detectives a big banger
All of Elvis Costello’s music sounds the same to me. I enjoyed it, though.
It’s a fine album. Costello stretches his musical Coors and tries some different styles and genres, which typically work well.
This is such an easy album to listen to. What a debut! Every song is so energetic it almost sounds like a live album instead of the collection of studio recordings. "Miracle Man" is so catchy and could really exist in any time period of modern music. "No Dancing" sounds exactly like it was released 20 years before this album came out. It's timeless. Then "Blame it On Cain" is straight blues rock. Strangely, my least favorite song is Alison but I know everyone loves it.
Has some classics on, Alison is one of the best songs of Costello's career. Welcome To The Working Week is a banger. Watching The Detectives is great. Most of the other songs are decent enough, but he would get much stronger in the coming years with the attractions. Still a good album and worth listening to. 7/10
Best one from him yet though still not likely to pull me back later...
its alright
I'll be damned, this wasn't too bad. The first Elvis Costello album where I didn't feel like he was trying too hard. It's simple and poppy still, but it's okay to listen to.
Ths one was decent. The other Costello had me apprehensive but it seems like in the beginning his arrangements and vocals were better
Bad album cover. Singing is a bit off for me. He can sing but he sounds a bit too deliberate. Less mask would be better. Music is just ok. Relaxed. Short album. Nice vibe. Just happened that I know one Alison, but it doesn’t mean my aim is true ..
This Costello album seemed less gimmicky than previous ones. Probably the most palatable in my opinion. Or, maybe we’ve had some real stinkers this week with the recent surge of New Wave and this was a needed break. Either way… it was aight
Starts well, but failed to set my world alight. Solid but unremarkable
Perfectly listenable to without being in any way outstanding. I’m familiar with Costello rather than being a fan. I quite enjoy most of what I’ve heard, and this is no exception. But he rarely sets my life on fire. Listened multiple times which is a good sign. The Springsteen/Young notes were interesting. On the whole, pretty decent.
First time listening to him. Not bad. Intrigued enough to hear more.
Personal and political angst wrapped in a classic 50s rock & roll package.
5,5/10
3+ Stars (9/15)
I started this album pretty sure I wasn't going to enjoy it but it won me over by the middle. That was his aim all along.
Highlight Song/s: Miracle Man, (The Angles Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes and I'm Not Angry 1/6 Elvis Costello albums. Costello's music is quite difficult to understand and to get into. I don't know if his singing on this album is natural of its forced, I feel that's the biggest hurdle for me at the moment. I know he modeled his look after Buddy Holly, so maybe he decided to also add a twang to his voice like Buddy had? I don't even know, but it feels a bit forced. I'm not a hater of him (at least at this point in time,) I am a fan of Radio Radio and Pump It Up, but that's just his singles not the deep album tracks.
I'm so torn on this. Like, there is no denying Elvis's contributions, and I enjoy his music overall, but this album feels so middle-of-the-road nowadays…
It's ok
There’s 35 years between Buddy Holly and Buddy Holly by Weezer. And bang in the middle of that – 17 and a half years either side, give or take – there’s Elvis Costello’s debut album. “My Aim is True” straddles many an equatorial line. New wave/old tricks; day the music died/“A day in the life”; goofiness/sincerity. This is a very good, very well honed album. Amongst the dozen or so pop songs here it’s probably fair to say there’s something for everyone. And yet there’s also something of a debut halo about it, too. An indisputable energy that isn’t necessarily rawness; a charisma that hasn’t had time to be contrived; a leaping off whatever medium (digital radio via streaming for me) that tries to contain it. A pugnacious charm that makes the idea of this record being featured on a Sunset Boulevard billboard feel less bewilderingly weird. 17.5 years after Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” we got Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” – proof if ever needed that music – like any form, phenomena or corpus – doesn’t “progress” over time. (Teleology cannot survive Adam Levine.) My Aim is True survives as the middle of so many moments; it figures that it created its own.
Good stuff! Never really listened to Elvis Costello before but I liked the sound and upbeat tempo.
Debut isn’t as good as the next one (I think), but alas they get the same store. Cause Elvis Costello is firmly in that eh this is fine, bassinet more interesting, occasionally less, but doesn’t really struck with me. And I occasionally revisit thinking I’ll find something more but leave with that feeling of fineness. Still the nerdy, anxious, hooky, slightly-punky sound…but with a country band this time? Probably not the best backing band for Costello, but the integration of a bit of a country sound sometimes makes unique results. A bit lyrically overstuffed in the end - decent songs and decent hooks, but nothing that really wowed me here.
Fun, energetic, reminiscent of classic rock and roll. Enjoyable album.
“No, I'm not angry, just disappointed.” Stephen Lynn, Brief Encounter (1945) On Lil’ Beethoven, Sparks asked: What Are All These Bands So Angry About? They were thinking of Limp Bizkit, Korn, Puddle of Mudd - nu-metal acts raging in pre‑9/11 America, where plenty of young millionaires were breaking things in the supposed “End of History.” By contrast, the British punks of the 70s had plenty of reason to be angry. Declan McManus was trying to ignite a career in an unstable Britain: the Three-Day Week, the looming Winter of Discontent, and the constant shadow of the Troubles, which touched his own family in Dungannon. But McManus wasn’t exactly a punk, and by his own admission, he wasn’t even angry. He told Nick Kent that the motivation for the songs on My Aim Is True were “guilt and revenge.” But that's not strictly true either. Although he would go on to cheat on his first wife, Mary Burgoyne, he hadn't done so at this point – he's hardly a stud; he looks like me, as Dave Lee Roth might observe. And nor was he notorious enough to have made any significant enemies, despite the little black book of lying journalists he told Kent he kept. It was good copy though. Proof that the 22 year-old Costello had spent more time reading rock magazines than philandering or conspiring. We tend to think of guilt and revenge as the feelings of the small man, but they are the luxuries of the pampered king who has enough time to ruminate and scheme. Up until now, Elvis – his own shot at the title of king – had been messing about in useless bands (Flip City!) and working for a cosmetics company (“Spent all my time in a vanity factory”): guilt and revenge are just fantasies and he's not angry, he's disappointed. Frustrated that he isn’t a rock star, that he isn’t yet a professional musician like his father, that he’s stuck in a dull job and a young marriage. For Costello, frustration proved just as combustible as anger Costello knew better than most what the life of a working musician meant. His father, Ross McManus, was a professional singer, as were his grandfather and great‑grandfather before him. He understood music as a job, but still a more desirable job than Elizabeth Arden’s offices. When he walked out for good on July 9, 1977, weeks before the album’s release, My Aim Is True bore the sound of someone forcing open the door to that career, equal parts defiance and desperation. Welcome to the Working Week makes this all very plain: the person whose photo is being rhythmically admired, whether glamour model or some celebrity wanker, still has to put in the hours and, in time, the thrill will go and death will approach. What is the difference between a page-three girl and the shop girl that inspired Alison? Both disappointed in their own ways. Everyone has to punch the clock. With this personal insight, why does he want it so much? And why does he want “anyone that (he) ever desired”? It's a compulsion and an occupational hazard. One might imagine that financial and critical success might satisfy you, but look at what charts and at how journalists lie. The trick, then, is to find some artistic satisfaction between the press junkets and the tour bus and the chart failures. McManus has the advantage over this father that, not only is he a singer, but a songwriter. It's much easier to ignore the drawbacks of the business, if you can trust your artistic vision – if your aim is true. My Aim is True was a moderate success in the UK and invisible in the US. Obviously, enough of the songs have stayed in Costello's setlist over the decades that they must represent something of a success for him. There are several he would be a fool to deny: Red Shoes and Less Than Zero are essential works. Alison, of course, was covered shortly after recording by Linda Ronstadt, which confirmed Costello as a successful songwriter. However, the record does not confirm him, yet, as a rock star. Nick Lowe's production is thin and the decision to include those background whispers on I'm Not Angry was a horrible mistake. Sneaky Feelings and Pay It Back are weak writing efforts, while Mystery Dance, Miracle Man, and No Dancing are too indebted to Costello's early influence from Bruce Springsteen. Partially, we can attribute this to Clover, the backing band brought in to support him. Despite John McFee's now timeless guitar parts on Alison and Red Shoes, the band settles on a generic rockabilly shuffle for most of the album. Of course, Costello will make a career of genre exercises, exploring the wide range and depth of his interests. Yet, it never sounds like mere weekending. His encyclopedic knowledge and avaricious appetites are the qualities that allow him to source his artistic satisfactions – the satisfaction is in trying everything! On this record, Costello isn’t exploring his full range - he’s constrained. The sessions were quick, with musicians who barely knew him, and what they shared was a common vocabulary of country, rockabilly, and roots. It works, but Costello would refine it, and do it better, later. Indeed, he will do everything better later. The signs are there in I'm Not Angry. The toms and keyboards in the pre-chorus sound like something the Attractions might do only a year later. However, when that band starts playing live, they will elongate and distort that song, taking it from just under three minutes in length to six minutes – even while they are increasing the tempo on everything and ending shows after twenty five minutes. In performance, Costello teases the title, but rarely finishes: “I'm not... I'm not...” he sings. The press were calling him an Angry Young Man, but he doesn't even have to dignify that by concluding: “I'm not angry anymore.” He's over it. By that point, on the second album, he was a rock star. He probably wasn't disappointed by it yet, but he hadn't really got his bearings. In the song, the protagonist is left downstairs listening to another man's success with a woman above. Now Costello is the man upstairs and the rest of us are the ones listening. He would, as the title promised, find his aim. But on his debut, he is still the ruffian on the stair, steadying his sights, figuring out how to break into the room. Not angry. Just disappointed. And all the more dangerous for it. 3 There are at least half a dozen terrific songs on Elvis Costello's debut. That, along with the fact that he arrived on record fully formed as a confident and distinctive singer, are the thrills of this album. That's nearly enough to be honest, shouldn't I just take my head out of the gift horse's mouth? Well I have no idea how highly I would have thought of this album in 1977, but knowing that the Attractions are coming rather inclines me to harshness on the band that play here. Honestly it is all sound, energetic accompaniment but it does consist of comparatively undistinguished musical gestures - the colour and detail that the Attractions would bring with them is conspicuously absent. The production, raw and often live-sounding, adds to the sense of a phenomenon that isnt quite realised yet; like a Beatles Cavern Club recording. So to an extent the album feels like a series of pencil sketches - all impressive and some exquisite (Welcome…, Alison, Red Shoes, Less than Zero). Knowing the oil on canvas that was coming though it's difficult to look back on it and say honestly that My Aim is True is a truly great album. I'm glad we discounted Watching the Detectives here as well. All weekend I listened to it in sequence every time of course (how could i resist?) but listening analytically i was struck more than before that it truly doesn't belong here. Sure Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding aren't the Attractions either but their playing is still far, far too exciting (and the recording too careful and intimate) for that track to sit comfortably alongside the rest of My Aim is True. 3/5
>get this album over the weekend >decide to listen on Monday morning >Mr Costello wishes me a welcome to the working week What a polite man, I wish I was a little more into this one as it starts off pretty strong. Unfortunately this front loading fades away and it becomes pretty standard and familiar ground with other Costello albums I've listened to. Not sure if this one really is as good as I'm saying or if regular exposure is starting to make me actually like this guy
My least hated Smelvis album so far. Actually enjoyed probably a good 2/3rds of this album but at a certain point it just wore out its welcome altogether.
A few good tracks here but i really despise this safe shit that you would definitely here in the background of a whetherspoons. 5/10
Yeah it's alright, I see why people like it. Not my bag, though.
This guy again?!
2.75
Groovy
Cuteee
I find EC's voice a little grating sometimes, to be honest. He was kind enough to take a picture with my mom when we ran into him once at a music festival, though, so I can't help but be a little fond of him.
Yeah, good album. That's as far as I'm going. Sounded like a really big deal in 77 though.
Good stuff.
Pretty good record.
Funky/nice for in the background but no Song truly spoke to me
This was probably his best I've heard, which unfortunately is still slightly below average.
iha ok
It was fine
This was fairly solid. I’m not super familiar with Elvis Costello but I did enjoy this. It dragged a little but it was an enjoyable listen
liked: alison (before hearing lyrics lmao) red shoes watching the detectives fun and groovy album
Really liked some songs, some were very okay
Elvis Costello's debut is not that dissimilar from his next two album (at least), but it does sound more a bit on the younger and inexperienced side. The quality, however, is already the same as it would be throughout the entire career (or at least the albums I have heard). And no, I'm not really a big Costello fan. Key tracks: Alison
Elvis Costello. A name from the past. So am I. A good album and nice vocal.
It’s okay enough, not as good as I remember but better than the last EC album that came up.
Quite enjoyed this more so than the other one but still dragged a little towards the end and only some was memorable.
I like the style of this record, it sounds crisp. I prefer it to other of his we reviewed. I think it does get a bit samey in the middle though, but then it isn't too long and therefore is alright. Watching the detectives is a great finisher. I can only assume it wasn't on the original album... Hold on... No, just the American release. Classic. It's good, but it's not mind blowing.
I don't know if this style of music was some game changer or completely new thing back in 1977, but to me it sounds way older lol. Like it's the year when AC/DC made Let There Be Rock and this guy is putting on some Marty McFly performance. The only thing I can say about this album is that it wasn't bad. It was just a bunch of objectivly enjoyable songs. Yes and that cover is making me feel like I need glasses. Favourite song - Alison
This was really nice -- this is a perfect example of why I wish we could do half star ratings on this site. Total perfect example of a 3.5 for me. It's really good. Not one I'd return to super often, but fun and easy listening. Not much else to say. Fave songs: - Welcome To The Working Week - Miracle Man - Blame It On Cain - Alison - (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Pay It Back - I'm Not Angry - Watching The Detectives
Typical Costello.
So this is the king of rock and roll eh?
honestly Alison used to be one of my fav songs.. i am still really undecided on mr costello but he has some really great tracks and also some other ones that make me wanna kill myself <3
Damn it. It’s excellent. So well mixed, so well written. No wonder Diana got with him.
Some good beats and Melodies, but nothing that really stood out to me
A good album by a very influential artist. You can certainly here how his work has permeated alt-rock for generations now.
This is not nearly as obnoxious as the previous Elvis Costello album I listened to. It's still not my favorite, but it's having it's moments.
it’s alright.
I thought this a bit uninspiring. Fairly plain 12 bar blues and rock and roll pastiche.
Enjoyed the rockabilly mlore than I expected
Hans debutalbum som blev taget rigtig godt imod. Det er en blanding af punk og new wave 50'er inspireret. Det siger ikke mig så meget personligt, men tror også det kræver at man dykker ned i teksterne. Det lyder som om de er skrevet smart og ift at han kun var 22 er det rimelig vildt.
this definitely had some catchy moments and i enjoyed listening to this but overall not that interesting
Not as annoying as some of his others, but I just don't understand what's so special about him
I think I liked this better than the other Elvis Costello album I had before this. The short songs are great- the album goes by quick and it’s all quite catchy how it just flows through. This was decent!
Shoot, I was hoping it was the other Elvis.
I see another reviewer surmised that the creator of this site must have lost their virginity to Elvis Costello, because why else would there be 3+ of his albums on this list... safe to say I wasn't exactly wow'd by 'Brutal Youth' or 'Armed Forces'. However, I will admit I got a modicum of enjoyment out of this one. Ignoring the fact that Mr. Costello has a glaringly obvious songwriting style (and rarely strays from it) there is in fact a bit of variety across this album, and "Allison" is IMO a genuinely lovely tune.
A classic album for those who are Costello fans. 3/5 for me though.
I really try to like Elvis because he's such an outlier, and I want to support those artists. Sadly, his sound just doesn't work for me.
Almost 500 days in, somehow this is only the second Elvis Costello album I got. I’m kind of middle of the road on his music, I never dislike it but it doesn’t really pull me in. This one was pretty fun, the album and the songs were all pretty short and it sounded quite ahead of its time.
Not bad
Elvis costello- my aim is true 1977 Favourite songs- I'm not angry/welcome to the working week Overall rating: 3/5 If the rest of the album was like I'm not angry or welcome to the working week it'd be an easy 5, but he keeps jumping from genre to genre and the songs don't flow into each other really- massive potential and I'm sure his albums after his debut would be better
I'm not sure if I like it. I don't hate it. Listened to it twice and never wanted to turn it off but I wasn't thinking I want to listen to this later. I never wanted to grab my good headphones for it. It was in one ear and out the other. It's weird because it's not bad. The album tends to blend together though, all the songs sound a lot a like. I wish something jumped out at me.
With Elvis Costello you know what you’re getting into and I have to respect that of all his albums I’ve heard of him so far, they have all matched pretty much in quality which is really good if you’re a fan of his style of music of which I’m not but I still enjoy it and like it fire the most part. I think this might be a bit weaker than his work with the attractions as the instrumentals aren’t as good or powerful but it still definitely has the Elvis Costello feel, he also lives up to his first name ( which he changed to) with his own version of jailhouse rock with his own lyrics and title (mystery dance). Favourites: welcome to the working week, blame it on cain and sneaky feelings. Overall, 6/10.
More enjoyable than the last few but still nothing spectacular
not bad 3
Most of Elvis Costello’s music is largely forgettable to me. I don’t know if it’s the style, the vocals, or both. I remember liking a few of his songs somewhere along the line. This album though, while it’s ok, not much stood out.
Not bad. I just don’t think I’m much of an Elvis Costello fan.
I probably would have enjoyed this more if we didn’t have another one of his records not long ago. Just not my style. But good enough for mid range rating. I do like the song, Alison, and that’s about all the praise I can’t muster. 3/5
6/10 Enjoyable if not particularly exciting Highlights: Less than Zero Im not Angry Miracle Dance Watching the Detectives
In Ordnung, nix hängen geblieben
At least with his debut there was some quality control. It makes a better listen, but I'm not a big Costello fan so far.
Why did he have to fade out every song in the same exact way? Still fun though. Curious what more he has to offer.
Rockabilly- and crooner-punk. Pretty good.
I liked it. Definitely a jam, but I won't be adding anything to my playlist.
Close to a 4 star, but not my favorite Elvis Costello album. It does have a couple of my favorite songs of his (Allison, Less than Zero)
Very decent. Maybe a bit of it's time!
I should like this more than I do. It never musters more than a “pretty good” or @just ok@.
I'm two minds about this. I was quite on board to begin with, quite liked the cut of his jib, songs were quite interesting and varied albeit in a particular straight laced rock style. As it went on it started to get on my nerves. The schtick is quite samey, it's a bit too breezy and lacks substance. Thinking back though there were songs I liked. I think an album is too much, 2-3 Costello tracks is the correct amount. 2.5.
Thought this was pretty good. More snappy than the other albums of his we've had so far. I like his voice but I still think blood and chocolate was the best one of his we've had. I do think that although I did enjoy this, nothing really blew me away and I think it's ultimately going to be forgotten. The highlights were Alison, blame it on Cain and watching the detectives. 3.5
solid... has some very fun moments here and there...
I mean it's quite good actually. Maybe this album was the only one that actually deserved to be on the list? The album art is shit but they were obviously trying to catch the attention of someone flipping through records in the store. The real question is if he would have had any success if he hadn't gone by Elvis and the real one had died after the record was released?
This one was kind of mid for me. Some nice jaunty tunes, but they were all just kind of good. Nothing was super mind blowing. Elvis Costello has never really been my jam anyway. Standouts for me were "No Dancing, " "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," and "Mystery Dance" My Aim Is True is certainly not bad, just pretty average in my opinion. Wouldn't really revisit much of this. 3 outta 5 for me.
I've kind of run out of things to say about Costello. He's a good songwriter but I don't think his oeuvre has necessarily aged that well. For me, it's fine but I wish his voice was better.