Reviews (page 8 of 13)
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.
I like Elvis Costello well enough but nothing on here wowwed me.
C’est vraiment pas mauvais, surtout que c’est seulement son premier album. Je voudrais aussi écouter son deuxième : j’ai lu sur Wikipédia qu’il avait un meilleur band avec lui pour celui-là. C’était bon, mais pas exactement pour moi, malgré qu’il y avait du potentiel. Donc, pas l’album pour moi, mais peut-être qu’en explorant sa discographie, je trouverai quelque chose qui me plaira plus. Après une nuit de sommeil, je voudrais donner la note de 3 étoiles et demi, mais c’est pas possible.
Wouldn’t listen again but I respect it
Another classic from beginning to end. I knew a few songs, but even though most were new to me and didn’t stick out, it was still a consistent mood that made it worth listening to.
La producción es horrible. No entiendo cómo puede sonar un disco así de mal siendo del año 77. Parece que quiere resultar desagradable a propósito. Las canciones no están mal, pero tiene discos mejores.
There's a total of 6 Elvis Costello albums on this list and I'd argue at least 3 of them are fluff (either their inclusion on the list or the contents of those albums, your call). That said, I'm good with this one being included as it's probably my second favorite after This Year's Model. Some solid tracks throughout the album and definitely brings that old school rock sound with a little more of a punk attitude
Solid debut album, but nothing here that I overly enjoyed. Pretty samey after a while. Better things to come?
2002/dezembro - disco razoável, mas irregular. Tem umas coisas bem básicas. 2025/junho - Satisfatório. Nota 6,0 = 3,0 *.
I generally like Elvis Costello. I generally like this album. Hence the 3 stars. There never really a day where I'd say no but there's also never really a day where I list him as my go to.
Fun Album, Always love some Costello but never listened to his full discography. Gonna listen more albums for sure
I’ve never listened to him before. I didn’t really connect. Maybe because he’s a copycat. It’s not bad but something is missing.
Would need to listen to this a bit more to get into it.
Few tracks that I love.
Liked it. Heard both Elvis and Beach Boys influences.
3,5
Nice tunes thx
Enjoyed the rockabilly sort of style. Costello combines witty lyricism with fun rock-and-roll riffs. Catchy tunes that evoke that 50s charm. Fave Tracks: Welcome to the Working Week; Miracle Man; Alison; I'm Not Angry; Watching the Detectives Worst Track: Mystery Dance
Better than my previous Elvis Costello album but still not a huge fan.
i like the guitar. voice
His bassist is great. I could do without ever hearing Alison again. Favorite track: Miracle Man
It's alright for 1978. Bit too generic for my tastes.
Good - not great for me. Fine to listen to, but I can't say that I'm going to reach for it. Never surprises me when he pops up on a soundtrack - just catchy enough to set the romcom mood.
It’s a good one
Ah, Elvis Costello, the quintessential 3-star artist. My third Costello record and third 3. He’s pretty good! Honestly, impressively, consistently, pretty good. And impressively, consistently, never great. Who knows, maybe one of these will surprise me, I’m starting to think there will be another one or two of his records down the line. So yeah, I would say this album is worth listening to. Barely.
Algunas canciones lindas, la mayoría olvidables.
This was a fun listen. I liked the second half much more than the first. I would have liked more songs if they were just instrumental versions. I would listen to this again. I don’t need to own this on vinyl.
Cool bass lines, favourite is definitely miracle man. Every song has the same tones & mixing making them sound quite similar at times, but that’s a good thing at the same time making it feel like they’re supposed to be next to each other
Ok very average
Heard of the name, but couldn't link with any songs. Good energy, I enjoyed it, but nothing particularly stood out to me. I don't think I'd relisten, but I wouldn't complain if it came up on a playlist or whatever.
It was okay. It definitely doesn't match the hype
I’ve always felt I should like Elvis Costello more than I do. There’s nothing wrong with it but it leaves no trace.
It’s pretty fun and his guitar playing is nice, actually. I can’t help but feel he’s playing a character but it mostly works. I like the rockabilly influences. Diet Van Morrison. Standout tracks are: “Blame it on Cain” and “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes”
A coupe of great tunes. Mostly mediocre
Funky, but the album hurts my eyes to look at (more the elvis is king boxes than the yellow)
Sounds pretty much the exact same as the other Costello record I listened to. Not much special to say
для любителей слова Элвис - пойдет.
It's an Elvis Costello album, the one with "Alison." Not bad, but not too exciting to me. I enjoyed "Watching the Detective." Everyone was adding a little reggae flair at some point back then, eh?
Still dont like his voice that much and although I enjoyed listening to it, I don't think I'll come back. Still, strong 3
Best: Sneaky Feelings
um Elvis Presley adolescente
very catchy genius right from the very start
This is #day276 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... just yesterday I was crate-digging through vintage records at a local Craft Beer & Vinyl festival here in Lviv when I came across this very album. No, I didn't buy it; that wasn't my true aim. However, buying music and building a connection with it is something that brings me genuine happiness. The first time I got an Elvis Costello album (or rather Elvis Costello & The Attractions), I was mostly indifferent... Now, this one? It's kind of fine, but nothing outstanding that makes me want to come back to it. I'm giving this a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day277.
Alison is a bop but idk Costello doesn't do it for me
Man I can’t stand Elvis’s voice, but some of these songs rock. “Waiting for the end of the world” is a standout. “Alison” is a classic ballad. The rest I could mostly take or leave.
I really thought I'd like this more. I can see how it must have been a great development at the time, and the songs aren't 'bad', it just feels a little underformed. The fact that Watching the Detectives was added to later versions and is far and away the best song is really telling. I love a lit of his later stuff, but with a couple of exceptions nothing really stuck. 2 stars, pushed up to 3 if you include WTD.
Good, but not great. Power pop got better with time.
Eh, not for me.
There's some good songs here and there, Alison is an amazing song though
Great debut
Tiring. A lot of energy but the songs don't hit.
I enjoy Elvis Costello, but don't regularly go back to his albums. This had some hits - Watching the Detectives is a great tune.
Not bad but I don’t know if I would crave listening to this. He’s a classic though.
This is a funny and simple rock'n'roll album. Maybe one of the first 'revival rock'n'roll' album of history? Because it feels like it and reminds me of more recent work by other artists or bands. My problem with this kind of genres is that it generally fails to stay interesting for a whole album. There are interesting songs here and there and the guitars are solid, but overall it's a bit boring. And sorry but because of my kids I can't listen to a song about red shoes without picturing Pete the Cat.
5/10…power pop
It's ok, but I didn't get it tbh. Was that his thing that he sounded like Elvis? Both Elvis and Elvis Costello are far enough in the past for me to not get tne nuances
Alors, me voilà face à ce monument, ce disque fondateur qui, pour beaucoup, a redéfini les règles du jeu pour les songwriters à guitares en pleine déflagration punk. 1977, une année charnière, un grand bordel sonore où les Sex Pistols appelaient à l'anarchie et où The Clash mettait le feu aux poudres. Et au milieu de ce chaos de crêtes et d'épingles à nourrice, débarque ce type, Declan Patrick MacManus, rebaptisé Elvis Costello. Un nom comme une provocation, un look de premier de la classe un peu coincé, des lunettes qui deviendront iconiques, et une plume trempée dans le vitriol. "My Aim Is True", son premier album, est un putain de manifeste. Mais est-ce que ça en fait un chef-d'œuvre intouchable pour autant ? Pour moi, c'est un peu plus compliqué que ça. Avant de se muer en Elvis Costello et de devenir le parrain de la new wave intello, le jeune Declan a bien galéré. On sent dans chaque sillon de cet album l'urgence d'un type qui a longtemps attendu son heure. Après des années à écumer les pubs londoniens avec son groupe Flip City, à tenter de refourguer ses chansons sans succès, il finit par taper dans l'œil de Stiff Records. Ce label, c'était un peu la cour des miracles du rock britannique, un refuge pour les tronches et les talents atypiques que les majors ne savaient pas comment gérer. Et Costello, avec sa gueule d'employé de bureau et sa rage rentrée, était le client parfait. L'enregistrement est à l'image de cette époque : fauché, urgent, quasi-artisanal. On raconte que l'album a été bouclé aux Pathway Studios – un endroit à peine plus grand qu'une cabine téléphonique – en moins de 24 heures de temps de studio cumulé, pour un budget qui ferait aujourd'hui rire n'importe quel stagiaire d'une maison de disques. Et pour couronner le tout, le groupe qui l'accompagne n'est autre que Clover, une bande de musiciens américains de country-rock qui se retrouveront plus tard, pour certains, à former Huey Lewis and The News. On a connu plus punk comme backing band ! Cette anecdote, loin d'être anodine, est la clé de la sonorité si particulière de l'album. Ce n'est pas un disque punk, ni tout à fait un disque new wave. C'est un son bâtard, un pub rock transatlantique, à la fois tendu comme un string et terriblement mélodique, le cul entre la tradition rock'n'roll américaine et la nouvelle vague britannique. Et c'est là toute la force et, peut-être pour moi, la petite faiblesse de "My Aim Is True" qui est un disque de transition, un pont fascinant entre deux mondes. L'énergie est là, brute, palpable sur des titres comme "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" ou le quasi rockabilly "Mystery Dance". La rage est indéniable, mais elle est canalisée, disséquée par une intelligence redoutable. On n'est pas dans le "No Future" beuglé sans réfléchir, non on est dans l'analyse clinique d'un ressentiment profond. Car la vraie claque, le vrai poison de ce disque, ce sont les textes. Costello a lui-même résumé la chose par deux mots qui claquent comme une sentence : "revanche et culpabilité". Et putain, ça s'entend, c'est l'album d'un type frustré, qui en a gros sur la patate. Frustrations amoureuses, sexuelles ("Alison", ce slow qui cache une bile noire), professionnelles... tout y passe. C'est une œuvre d'une maturité d'écriture sidérante pour un premier essai. Chaque chanson est une petite nouvelle, une vignette acerbe sur la trahison, la jalousie, la médiocrité ambiante. "Watching the Detectives", avec son ambiance de film noir et ses accents reggae, est un pur chef-d'œuvre de narration. Costello est un boxeur qui monte sur le ring avec un dictionnaire à la place des gants. Ses mots sont des uppercuts précis, chirurgicaux. Alors, pourquoi seulement 3 sur 5 ? Pour être honnête, et c'est très personnel, si je reconnais l'importance capitale et le génie d'écriture de ce disque, il me laisse un peu sur ma faim musicalement. C'est un disque que je respecte énormément, mais qui ne me touche pas. Il y a quelque chose d'un peu raide, de pas encore totalement abouti dans le son, comme si le groupe et l'artiste se découvraient encore. C'est le son d'un homme seul, accompagné par de très bons musiciens de session, mais pas encore le son d'un GANG, de cette machine de guerre que deviendra Elvis Costello & The Attractions. "My Aim Is True" est un brouillon de génie, une esquisse formidable. C'est la photo d'un artiste en pleine métamorphose, qui ajuste ses lunettes, arme sa guitare et s'apprête à tirer sur tout ce qui bouge. La visée est juste, c'est indéniable. Mais les balles les plus mortelles, pour moi, arriveront juste après. Un album fondamental, à écouter absolument pour comprendre d'où vient une bonne partie du rock intelligent des 40 dernières années.
Growing up my best friend's dad was really into this kind of music. Although, I don't remember if he listened to Elvis Costello specifically. I was fairly indifferent to it then, and I am fairly indifferent to it now. Is it good music? I guess, it's not bad at least. Favourite tracks: Waiting for the End of the World, Watching the Detectives
Dieses Album markiert Elvis Costellos Debüt und präsentiert seinen einzigartigen Stil, der zwischen Punk und New Wave balanciert, aber auch deutliche Anleihen bei Country und Pop zeigt. Hits wie „Alison“ und „Watching the Detectives“ stechen hervor, doch die überlange Struktur des Albums lässt einige Tracks weniger prägnant wirken. Obwohl die Energie und der innovative Ansatz beeindruckend sind, könnten manche Songs etwas besser verdichtet sein. Insgesamt ein spannender Start in Costellos Karriere, aber nicht alle Stücke erreichen das gleiche Level wie die Highlights. Wie klingt das? Oder möchtest du Details zu bestimmten Songs?
Maybe no songs that stick out or that blew my mind but I did enjoy listening to it in general, so 3/5 🏁
This is another Elvis, but not as popular as the other one. The music is alright, nothing too exciting, and I assume that it would've been a bit meh amongst all the other cool music that came out at around this time, when things started going a bit crazy and music wasn't peaceful at all. Overall, not too bad though.
Meh, until watching the detectives. Such a great song
Fine and some fun moments, with my favourite tracks being No Dancing and I’m Not Angry, but overall forgettable.
Honestly, pretty mid, nothing special
My computer darn done crashed on me when I was just about finished reviewing this album oh my fockinggg gorshhhhhh :v I put a curse upon this darn website for not having an auto-save Second album in the bleak and sordid Costellothon. I am now 33% of my way through the mind of this exceptional individual It's pretty good. I don't remember what the vocal performances were like on "This Year's Model", though I quite enjoy how they sound here. They're very confident and are heightened by the cool swagger that Costello has when belting out the verses. The songwriting is also quite clever, which is something I remember from This Year's Model. I like the sardonic, humourous style. The Instrumentals are mixed bag. There isn't much on this album that breaks the mold of music from the time, though it does have it's moments. I like the guitar hooks on "Miracle Man" and the dub influence on "Watching the Detectives" is pretty good as well. This album has "Alison", which is a track that I'm actually familiar with. Me pappy used to play it on the car stereo all the time, though I had no idea the song was by Costello. I enjoy being jumpscared by music that I recognise just as much as I dislike it in the "we're really doing this, are we?" kind of way. It's a great song and embodies the best qualities of this album. Fantastic songwriting, a great vocal performance and a distinct instrumental of high quality. My main criticism is that it's very fatiguing for a 36-minute album. I had pretty much checked out by the time that the second half of the album rolled around. The high-energy sound is fun in short bursts, but I value having a little bit of downtime in albums. The album cover/title is great for a debut work - I dig the confidence. I'm not very familiar with Costello as a person or artist, though I quite enjoy the exuberant, dorky persona that he has.
I wanted this to be better, but it never picked up for me. Alison and watching detectives are lovely songs. Definitely a huge part of the rock world regardless!
Enjoyed this one.
A solid album that falters in the latter half of side 2.
I'm guessing mom's review is gonna say something similar, but the music here isn't as good as his later work, but the lyrics are really incredible.
This has nothing to do with anything, but it occurs to me that Costello is an almost exact contemporary of Springsteen. Perhaps, if this list were America-oriented, I might have been bludgeoned into submission vis a vis Springsteen too.
Some standout songs on here but for the most part songs are very similar to each other. Seems like good background music for a road trip.
I enjoyed this, but mostly just the songs I already knew. No new gems.
This is the sixth Elvis Costello album I’ve had to wait out. Getting real tired of this guy’s ironic rockabilly-bubblegum-hipster shtick by now.
Good background noise but I couldn't tell you much about any particular song
Didn't hate this album but didn't love it either. Nothing particularly memorable for me. First exposure to Elvis Costello.
Great rock'n'roll. Gotta love it!
Not the biggest fan but I see why people like it, and it's well crafted
It’s alright, not really my thing
What a great new-to-me band! 4.5 stars
It was fine. I have a feeling Elvis Costello is slightly over rated.
Fine I guess
Un album honnête, qui ne réinvente pas le rock, mais ne boude pas son plaisir non plus
High 3 All the songs have something to offer Good guitar play This album deserves to be here and gets a bad rep because of all the other Costello on the list
For a debut this is very impressive. I dig the punk influences, it's just pretty samey
I think people are a little overzealous in their reviews of Elvis Costello on both ends of the spectrum. The people that love him, praise every aspect of this album, call it a classic, gold, one of the best debuts of all time. The people that hate it, trash it as unoriginal and uninteresting. I think it's a fine album. I did get the constant feeling that it reminded me of something I'd heard before, and I don't think the spin he put on it was as original as people give it credit for. But, he did take a sort of classic 50s or 60s rock sounds and put a more modern twist on it, even including various genres such as the blues in "Blame It on Cain" and reggae in "Watching the Detectives." Even when I did feel the sound was kind of derivative, I always enjoyed when his guitar solos came in. All in all, I'm very much in the middle ground on Elvis Costello. This was enjoyable, easily digestible music without breaking any barriers. I'd definitely give more of his stuff a listen but I'm not going to hail him as a rock and roll great.
Återigen ett album som jag tycker är lite spretigt. Det mesta är bra men föredrar de mer blues-iga låtarna framför de som är mer rock'n'roll/hårdrock. 3 av 5
Ok x
mjfe
good
Nice
Not bad. The vocal style becomes a little tiresome. And too much of this is just okay. Average.
Is there anyone in popular music now to compare with Elvis Costello or is songwriting like this dead? 'I don't know how much more of this I can take She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake' 'The detectives come to check if you belong to the parents Who are ready to hear the worst about their daughter's disappearance' 'Watching The Detectives' is an absolute classic, one of the best songs of the time. So striking and evocative, very film noir, with a cool reggae backdrop and threatening atmosphere. A big influence on The Specials and more. I got into this fairly young, along with 'Oliver's Army', 'Shipbuilding' and the rest. In a totally different way 'Alison' is just as good. He wrote some of the very best songs of the 70s and 80s. Aside from those two this album is fairly average though. I'm glad I saw him in '89, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Pretty good. Not much more to say
One thing I've found out through this journey is that so many albums have songs that just blend in together, and don't differ much. Again, another three-star album for this reason. Favorite Track: "My Aim Is True".
It's an ok album. Fun enough but not mind blowing. Not sure why this is an album that I have to listen to before I die.
Trochę późnego Elvisa, trochę wczesnego Springsteena. Przejściowy album pomiędzy amerykańskim rock&rollem, a późniejszą piosenką autorską. Fajny album, ale jeden z tych, które przemknęły bez zostawienia po sobie wyrazistego śladu. Dzień po podwójnym przesłuchaniu nie jestem w stanie zbyt dużo sobie przypomnieć poza umiarkowanie przyjemnym wrażeniem ze słuchania spoko muzyki.
decent album, but I grew a little tired of it. Probably won't come back to it.
Elvis Costello is cool. But kind of boring. 3
Love the singles, found the rest a bit yawn.
I definitely see the vision he's going for, and I think he executed on it decently well. It just felt inauthentic, and it got a bit tiresome listening to a full album of Costello playing this miserable character. Still enjoyed some of the songs however. Favorite Track: Waiting for the End of the World
In tackling this list, I have listened to more Elvis Costello than I have before. I knew him as an artist but never really delved into his catalog. I like his music well enough, but it is not really a standout.
never bad but i also will never think about it ever again
Pretty good.
I've always been pretty Elvis agnostic, this was better than I remember it being, but I'm still not sold.
Did Elvis Costello invent the 90th rock in 1977 or did everyone in the 90th just steal from Elvis Costello?
it's ok
It's alright
Reminds me of my mum!
Hetzelfde nummer, maar dan 13 nummers lang, maar toch vibe ik het wel? Het is wel minder goed dan het andere Elvis Costello album. Vind ook nog steeds de zang het grootste minpunt van het album, het leunt echt veel meer op de beat en de instrumentals. Ook voelt het allemaal een beetje als heel erg gericht op nostalgie? Totdat ik er achter kwam dat dit album uit 1977 kwam, nevermind! Het is dus gewoon een redelijk modern klinkend, maar ook tijdsgeest pakkend, album uit 1977. Ik vind het vooral best goed te pruimen, niet elk nummer hit, maar als het hit dan vermaak ik me echt dikke prima hiermee. Had ik dit perse moeten luisteren voor mn dood? Mwah, ik denk dat 1 Elvis Costello album zat zou zijn, maar volgens mij zitten er nog een aantal in... FAVO: Alison, Sneaky Feelings, i'm not angry, Watching the detectives
6/10. Some good songs. 2 added to the playlist, but a little surprised this made the list.
Favourite song - Welcome to the working week
Pleasant enough, but didn't do a lot for me
Inte så bra som jag mindes den. Tre plus
A nice debut record. His voice does tend to drag on a tad
2 hours is a lot to listen, but it was helpful to listen as I worked on some reports. Mello/chill vibes.
Was kinda forgettable the first go around but liked it more on 2nd listen. "Alison" probably being the highlight. Can clearly hear the influence he gave musicians that came after him. Also can hear the influence from Buddy Holly which was made obvious due to our recent listen of his.
Muy buen rock'n'roll. No había escuchado nada de Elvis Costello y me ha sorprendido gratamente. Es una modernización de sonidos rockeros clásicos con un toque de agresividad, cercano al Garage que surgiría más adelante. Un álbum divertido e influyente, lo volveré a escuchar seguro.
I know there are 600 more Elvis Costello albums on this list, and so far this is only my second. I am betting that after I’m done this will remain my pick for the best of the lot.
Ok rock
ja didnt know what to expect maar was eigenlijk best wel vrolijke vibe, ging er wel goed op. 3,5e, paar nummers opgeslagen
I enjoyed this album. Nothing fancy, just fun rock/pop kinda vibes. Some good guitaring too.
It was ok. Was expecting a bit more but some really good songs on this one, Alison being the favorite.
Surprisingly solid.
Welcome To The Working Week - Still struggling with this man's voice arghhhh but the song's alright. Miracle Man – alright, pretty boring. No Dancing – pretty good. Old school. Love the end-of-chorus key change. Blame It On Cain – not bad but bit B A S I C. Alison – quite sweet. Sneaky Feelings – not bad. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes – I like the call and response. Less Than Zero – the best so far. Mystery Dance – very Time Warp. Not bad but pretty formulaic/tune-less. Pay It Back – alright – I like the key changes. I’m Not Angry – I like the opening – reminds me of the Beatles I’m Happy Just to Dance With You. “I got you talking with your hands, got you smiling with your legs” is great. Waiting For The End Of The World – banal enough. Watching The Detectives – very cool and love the harmonies and reggae style but if ONLY HE DIDN’T SING THAT STYLISED WAY.
bem distante de ser ruim, mas achei que ficou faltando um tempero
Fun stuff but didn't blow be away
The music was fine, but the album art is an atrocity against eyeballs everywhere.
This is better than the last Elvis Costello album we got and actually kind of ok. I think this could come out today and people would accept it; it might be niche but the production value is high and the songs are catchy and happy enough to be popular. I wasn't super impressed by it or anything but I got through the whole thing and it stood out to me for it's ease of listen if that's a thing? Decent background music for a party or something. Not bad.
This list isn’t as varied as I thought or hoped. I like Elvis C, have a couple of his albums but I mean wiki says he has 6 spots, fucking 6, Elvis middling Costello 6 -( give him a couple of spots and use the other 4 for greater variety, don’t think these guys have actually listened to everything to make this list just their own record collections). Just was hoping for a wider range and variation of artists to increase my listening scope, rather than that, Oh well that kinda sucks. Rant over. So to the album, it’s ok, it’s pleasant enough. He writes a good hook. He for this, like most of his career kind of took the American sounds of earlier times, writes his take on it and brings it to what at the time is contemporary, in this case the new wave movement. I had already heard it, it is an example of the new wave movement after punk, so ok I guess 3 stars - it’s ok.
3.5
It had some phenomenal songs but also some duds. Less than zero and watching the detectives were the stand out tracks
Theres some very clear Elvis Prestly influence here and just in general the whole album is full of a bunch of different genre influences so it's kinda hard to describe as one thing or another. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't mesmerized Standouts Welcome To The Working Week Mystery Dance 3/5
Late 70’s. I’ve heard this called pop-punk which i disagree with. It’s catchy but not pop music. It’s angst filled sardonic vocals but enough to want to pick you up and let you go dancing. Not disco dancing but a nerdy guy letting loose and doing what feels right 3/5
Pretty plain I thought. Nothing particularly good or bad. Probably hit harder in '77 when it came out.
I think this is the third Elvis C album. That's too many, for sure. But this one might actually be my favourite. Fave Tracks: Welcome to the Working Week, Alison 3.4/5
Lots of storytelling - sorta like a country song
Quirky early rock and roll aesthetic
3.5
If I have to listen to a Costello album, at least make it short!
Fun album
Never have been a big fan, but this album was okay.
I liked this album a lot more than the other Costello I listened to. It feels like the guy I had come to know as a great musician and storyteller
this is very billy joel... but just a bit more dull still quite good i reckon but just not my type of music very produced
Never heard the album before. Another mid effort from Elvis Costello, another album that shouldn't be on this list. Alison and Watching The Detectives are the standouts and the rest of the album are not. And is it just me who thinks all of his lyrics are creepy? Soft 3 stars
Good stuff. Lots of great tunes and crams and many words in as is humanly possibly. Love his voice.
some good and some bad, most instrumentals are the same and singing is quite annoying. Guitar riffs are cool though. Favorite songs: blame it on cain, alison, I'm not angry. Overall around 5/10
Not to find off 70s punk but okay
Elvis pop punk? Feels swangy in a good way. Doesn't take itself seriously just gets to the music.. Nice... Would relisten I appreciate this album
Ehh it was alright
Not my jam but not terrible
Yeah yummy music in my noise mouths
Some fun little tunes, but nothing that blew me away. Apparently he’s got some really good stuff
Bit of an odd duck, but not bad
I like Elvis Costello, but something holds me back from loving him. Is the that his sound is dated and locked in time? Is it his affectation and attitude? Is it the fact that he talks a lot and seems to say very little? I don’t know. But it’s something. Once I shirk those critiques, I find myself enjoying myself when listening to him. I especially enjoyed “watching the detectives”.
rock, 1978 -> 3
No my thing, won’t be re-listening.
Something about Elvis Costello just doesn't gel with me. I respect him enough as a musician and seems like a stand up person but his music is mostly very lifeless feeling. This record I will say is better than any of the records with the attractions that I've listened to. Allison is an amazing song. Welcome to the working week is fun albeit very jaunty and short.
I thought a lot of this was classy and catchy. Just not good enough to warrant the full 4 stars
elvis costello.
i did not really like this. but because of that one new years eve party film elvis costello has a special place in my coolness heart?
That was fine. My favourite was probably I'm Not Angry.
A cool, early take on punk music
this album kind of sounds like something your captors would play on repeat as psychological torture because it gets stuck in your head - which means, on first listen, it's pretty catchy!
Another that's okay for background music while working but not something I'd opt to listen to otherwise.
Good one that I own.
Nothing especially groovy, but there's still a fun energy to this one.
Same as the Cocteau Twins album i just listened to, I feel like this guy's music should be right up my alley, but it always comes across to me as just "good". Nothing more. Catchy tunes on here though.
So I I think I like the music, but not his voice. The longer this album goes the more I like it. The album finished strong. I really like what can on auto play player “every day I write the book”.
Ca
I bopped along with this. Watching The Detectives was the standout, due to familiarity, but I quite enjoyed the rest of the album especially considering it was his debut. Not enough to put it into 4 star status, but it’s a high 3.
Okay, so this is a shock, to receive two Elvis Costello albums back to back (One was an attractions album so i guess there is kinda a difference but i still see it as the same) Now with My Aim Is True. And to be honest, it is probably my favorite album that Elvis Costello worked on. It has all the elements from all the attractions albums that i liked but here the guitars are far more prevalent and do sound really good. The melodies here were also great and that Elvis Costello cheesiness is still there but a bit toned back. This album actually turned out to be a really solid one and definitely my favorite Elvis Costello album. Best Song: Waiting For The End Of The World Worst Song: Mystery Dance
not the biggest costello fan. it’s listenable, but nothing special
5/10 - It was an album from the 70s
solid
An OK album. I quite like the upbeat melodies and the guitar riffs but quite dislike the singer's voice. In my opinion, the album feels its age, meaning it has this overall dated feel and tone to it that just doesn't last well over the years. Overall, most songs were quite forgettable and I don't know if it merits a place on a "must listen before you die" list. I probably wouldn't listen to it again.
Hey I was named after this guy. I’ve already listened to This Year’s Model, which I liked. I think this albulm has higher high points, but is sometimes grating and sometimes boring. Overall good. Best song: No Dancing Worst song: Sneaky Feelings
I managed to avoid the inevitable obstacle that is Elvis Costello’s presence for as long as possible. Well over a year is a pretty solid record too. I have a feeling I am going to be seeing his name pop up a lot more soon. I don’t have anything in particular against the guy. His music has just never appealed to me, and taking up six spaces on the list with his records is maybe too much. But again, this is where that bias comes into play. Costello is another English musician. And a well respected one at that. He is credited as bringing back the lyrical wizardry of Bob Dylan and putting it through the various punk concepts that were evolving at the time. I can admire some of his writing here. But I don’t think it’s anything on the level of Dylan or Van Morrison, who he is also often attached to. I’ve just never really understood the hype behind him. Every once in a while I’ll see a really positive review pop up for This Year's Model, and I still wonder why people like it so much. I also wonder if maybe I missed the point, and owe myself a reassessment of that album. Either way, this is about his debut. Which is one of the only records he ever put out that wouldn’t feature the group which would be known as The Attractions. Much like what I’ve heard from him in the past, this album is bringing together a varied selection of sounds from different time periods. The basis of this is rooted in that classic rock & roll sound that artists like Little Richard and Elvis Presley popularized. But, since this is still the late 70s, Costello brings in the layered punk-esque new wave sounds that were also growing in popularity at the time to spice things up. And it’s actually not a terrible combination. I won’t disagree that he is a competent musician. I just have yet to be shown something that really impresses me. Now, it’s been a long time while since I heard This Year’s Model, but I think I enjoyed this one slightly more. Rating: 6/10
Alison is probably my favorite Costello song and damn its always good to hear. The rest is pretty okay. If you like his particular style then great, its a little too disjointed for me (I'm Not Angry for example) but overall its fine.
Alison and Less Than Zero are great! The rest is just typical Costello Buddy Holly cosplay
Quite liked the sound though it’s very samey. Alison got stuck in my head. I can see why they added Watching the Detectives, that felt like it had a more distinctive sound.
I found this a strange mixture of genres. I quite liked some of it. The Deluxe Edition is crazy with 48 tracks most of them repeats. Too much!