Reviews (page 6 of 8)
My first Elvis Costello on here. Spoilers his first three albums will be 5 stars. But I’ve never really listened beyond those three. What I’ve heard was always mixed. So giving this a fair shot is fun! It’s! Mixed! I like the opener and Blue Chair a lot. The album sounds great. But. BUT. Tokyo Storm Warning and I Want are INTERMINABLY LONG. Nothing changes with them, at least nothing interesting and they’re just these slogs I keep begging to end. I think I like Elvis when he’s doing fun energetic stuff, not a bunch of slower LONG songs. A very disappointing 3.
Everyone hates the overrepresentation of Costello on this list but I don't mind it too much as a big fan of him and the albums on this list from him This is one of my favourites from him: emotionally and lyrically powerful, the Attractions really rock out and there's a good amount of variety so each song has it's own unique character to it
Lite trist
It’s ok but now I don’t want to hear another one. I could go for a best of and be happy I guess.
You have to like the music and the singing to not automatically fall asleep.
Banger
Blood and Chocolate isn’t an easy listen, but it’s ultimately a rewarding one. The decision to record live with minimal polish, combined with the band’s palpable tension, results in a satisfyingly abrasive aesthetic. However, without this context, listeners may feel alienated. I urge them to persevere. While this might not be an album I’ll revisit often, it’s deepened my respect for Costello and The Attractions.
Propper Rock from the 80's.
He’s too whiny for me and some of the songs sound like a joke.
Solid Costello. I liked Blue Chair a lot.
A really strong album overall. A few great songs on here -- "Are you straight or are you blind", "I hope you're happy now". The rest are also very good. I love the original band and Nick Lowe is Elvis' best producer. Would give this 4.5 if possible.
I had not heard most of these songs before but enjoyed it! “I Want You” is chilling and reminds me of “every breath you take” in its content.
"Blood and Chocolate" is the 11th studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and his band the Attractions. The recording of this album was troubled as the relationship between Costello and the Attractions had deteriorated during the recording of the previous album "King of America" to the point that Costello used another band. The album was recorded mainly live with monitors not headphones and with minimal takes and overdubs. It was to be Costello's last album with the Attractions for eight years. The tone of the songs was a response to the poor sales of "King of America and to the "growing indifference" of his record label, Columbia, to him as an artist. Commercially, the album hit #16 in the UK and #84 in the US. "Uncomplicated" opens with hard guitar slashes, tribal pounding drums and a guttural Costello voice screaming "Blood and Chocolate!" A swirling organ and spiraling, pyschedelic guitar. A song about love and/or lack of lobe in a relationship? Thumping drums and a wobbly organ bring in "Tokyo Storm Warning." Once again, Costello very upfront and assertive in the lyrics and vocals. This is a straight-up rocker. Costello described it as a thug's psychotic travelogue. Bad things happen as he travels from London to Paris to Buenos Aires. Costello's starts "I Want You" a capella. A creepy guitar and creepy vocals and lyrics as the narrator is in an obsessive and tormented relationship. The music mood gets more cheery in "Blue Chair." A piano-driven melody in this mostly pop song leftover over from the recordings of "King of America." Two guys are infatuated with the same woman as they learn the truth sitting in the blue chair. The album closes with another song from "King of America" in "Next Time Round." Costello singing a capella in the intro again as the bass-led band kicks in. A nice pop-rock guitar bridge. A guy's lover is dead (drugs?) and their roles will be reversed next time round. This album is one of Costello and the Attractions most rockin' especially excluding the songs from "King of America." Songs are guitar and organ driven. Costello's lyrics and vocals are assertive and aggressive as he explores bad, obsessive and end of relationships and death. Some might not put this album atop of the Costello best of list but I would put this atop my favorite Costello list. A strong recommended listen.
He doesn’t sound as nasally as he looks.. I liked this more than I thought but I don’t know if any individual tracks stood out, just the general vibe
I like the straightforward sound of this album, as it fits Costello, like his debut album. Sessions were recorded in one room with a kind of stage setup. The music is somewhat raw and simple but has a kind of charm to it. I can listen to Costello occasionally, but he's no artist I deliberately seek out when looking for music.
Not amazing, but not terrible. I don’t really get it, but it’s not grating.
I sort of feel the amount of EC on this list does him a disservice in a way. This is my fourth, from under 250 albums so far, and I can’t see much discernible evolution in his sound, there’s a lot of overlap and while it’s all good, there’s plenty that’s just that, and not enough that’s great. Not sure how many more times he’ll appear but it’s getting harder to be objective when I see his name appear. Again. I did really like Uncomplicated though.
Ok, I agree that there are too many Elvis Costello albums on this list, but I think you have to review each one in isolation. As such, I'm giving this a 4; I liked this quite a lot. I enjoyed the two note guitar solo in I Want You.
This album isn’t bad it’s just not that remarkable. Like I probably could’ve died without ever hearing a single lyric, but if a song from it comes on I won’t get violent. So there’s that!
Not for me
Elvis Costello may be prolific but his talent does not warrant 6 albums on this list. I don't like his voice and I'm not warming up to it. I'll give him Pump It Up, I will, but he doesn't have any wins other than that in my books. This album specifically had no songs I liked and had many songs that were very repetitive and pretty long. Battered Old Bird, Home is Anywhere You Hang Your Head, I Want You for three examples. Boo.
This is reminiscent of listening to drunks singing karaoke in Korea town at 3am.
Was better than I was expecting
The man with the permanent blocked nose.
His best days were well behind him by the time this album came out.
3.5☆/5 08.01.2024
I am not feeling this album. The songs are repetitive, simplistic, and all kind of bleed together. Im also not a fan of Costello's singing voice in most of the songs. However- i know the simplicity and rough, unpolished sound is a deliberate stylistic choice. I can see how this album was influential on the garage rock sound. Overall, some compelling moments but just not for me
Cansino.
Monotonous New Wave failing to hold my attention. Don't plan in listening again so probably "not next time around".
It’s a solid middle of the road three. A couple of the songs seemed to ramble a bit.
Well well well here we are again Elvis. It's been about 150 albums since we last encountered you. This is the 5th of 6th albums of his. Honestly I kinda dug this one. Now did he need 6 albums on here? Absolutely not. Probably 2 would have been fine. 3 would be pushing it but 6? no.... 3.5/5
I figured I was done with Costello, but at the beginning of the record I was questioning my feelings on him: was he that bad? The answer is no, but it's more like... he's a puzzle piece from a different box. He just doesn't click with me. I was initially swayed by the rawer production on this record, but it slowly lost it's luster. Still doesn't click, but I don't outright hate him, I guess. Favorite tracks: "Uncomplicated", "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head"
Blood and chocolate, or it might be Turkish Delight.
sounds like the ice cream flavour would taste mmm ice cream brb
Cansino.
It is an Elvis Costello album.
My attitude towards elvis Costello and the attractions changes with the wind. I love them as much as I find them irritating. 2.5
One of EC’s best. Always one of the first I will go to on any given day.
This album so far seems like a ramble-y string of words, and sometimes I actually like albums like that. Not this one though.
Loved this
I was dreading this a bit as I hated the first EC album I got, but this pleasantly surprised me. The singing is more restrained and polished and the instrumentals are fuller, more mature arrangements. A great audio mix also helps this effort. I’m not crazy about the slice-of-life content, but that applies across all media to me so I won’t hold it against him. And points for doing something different. Listened to: walking to pick up a plant. Favorite tracks: I Want You, Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head
forgettable
Second album de E. Costello. Pas désagréable mais toujours rien de vraiment marquant. Et dire qu'il y en encore 4 de plus dans la liste ... => 2/5
Ok
Solid Costello album.
An entirely average Elvis Costello album. I fail to see why I need to hear this before I died.
Thought I was a bit of a fan but rapidly less so…
Good
Quite good!! Liked the anger/love theme
Not even close to EC's best record but still very good.
not bad, some good moments throughout
Very monotonous. Didn't like it.
30/100 I just can't get over Elvis Costello's voice on this. Maybe it's better on other albums but this ain't for me
Elvis is always great. This isn't one of my favorites of his, but it's still pretty good.
Previously rated: Armed Forces (3/5) My Aim Is True (4/5) Imperial Bedroom (2/5) This Year's Model (4/5) **************************** Not even halfway done with the list and five Elvis Costello albums already? How many Elvis Presley albums? 0 Elvis C. is hit-or-miss for me. This one is in between, just average. Nothing stood out too much. Favorite track: Next Time Round
Classic Costello. Great if you like that sort of thing.
Hilarious that the whole Elvis Costello is an important artist phase of music journalism passed so many of you kids by. Weird one to nitpick on, he sings plays and writes really well. I (US born and raised) was introduced to him by my dad in HS and developed a taste. not sure what you chuckleheads are up to crying about him being on the list so many times. That said, this ones mostly just OK. I want you is an ominous asst atmospheric crusher though.
Blood And Chocolate is alright, I've always liked Elvis Costello's voice and general style but none of it lasts, it's just a standard easy listen without giving me something to take away. Given that I use 2 for albums that disappointed me and 3 for ones I liked to varying degrees, it's a low 3, he's done better work than this.
Same as most of the other Elvis Costello albums really, you listen to it and think 'this isn't bad', but you can never really name a song from it more than about an hour after listening. I am surprised to hear that we've had three other albums of his, because I really can't remember them. 2/5, hopefully coming to the end of a pretty poor run.
Rock & roll y new wave. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Cansino.
Probably should listen to again. Was decent though
I love Elvis...Costello...not the other one! I Hope You're Happy Now sounds like a lost Beatles track. That's a McCartney-worthy bass line. Tokyo Storm Warning reminds me of Billy Joel's You May Be Right, especially the verses. Liked songs added: - I Hope You're Happy Now - Next Time Round
I still don’t understand Elvis Costello, after years of trying
carino, niente di speciale, tre stelle da dimenticatoio
Meh. Considerando che questo è il secondo album di Elvis Costello che mi capita, il mio meh diventa un grande meh. Dò 3/5 perché oggi sono molto buona.
Bah
extremely mediocre 🥱
Some good songs
not a fan
Ain’t it
Literally not a single song stands out.
I can never decide if i like Costello. This is the third album of his that I've gotten. He sounds so dorky. But the tracks are good
Yep, this is definitely another Elvis Costello album.
Started off pretty rough but got better as I progressed. Solid production, interesting vocals, and not bad for an album with a rough start. Definitely took at least two listens to warm up to Elvis' voice but after that it started to enjoy the album more. It's one of those album where you just gotta listen to it more than once to appreciate it. I wouldn't place it high but it was not bad at all. Best - I Hope You're Are Happy Now, Tokyo Storm Warning, I Want You, and Blue Chair Worst - Uncomplicated and Battered Old Bird 3.25-3.50/5
It’s not Elvis’s best. There’s some very intense and clever wordplay and double entendres throughout the lyrics, as expected, but it lacks the punch his other albums have. It’s just sort of lukewarm I think. I know a lot of people complain about how overrepresented EC is on this list, and they’re totally right, but I like him and having to go deeper into his catalogue because of this project has been a joy for me. I think he’s a really cool and unique artist and even when his offerings are lukewarm, I still enjoy them immensely.
It seems that the Attractions have returned with Blood And Chocolate, and just like This Year's Model, This album is fine. It does have it's moments but isn't really the most interesting thing in the world. The songs generally did have pretty high energy which i liked and i do prefer the production style here more than This Year's Model's production since i just like the more 80s sounding new wave sound present here rather than This Year's Model's more basic one. Beyond that, i really don't have too much more to say about this album. It is fine but nothing all too special. Best Song: Poor Napoleon Worst Song: Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head
I like the basketball opera sound. sounds just like the other album I got from him but quite liked I Want You
classicão
Good lyrics. Some songs I don’t really care for the music though.
Enjoyable 3.5
medio aburrido
É legalizinho até...acho bem pop, as levadas e as melodias de voz.
I want this to remind me of Tom Petty, instead it reminds me of Billy Joel. I just do not enjoy listening to this. 6/10/2024
I’ve finally figured out the purpose of 1001… It’s to make me pay attention to Elvis Costello. And it has succeeded. Pro tip: look on youtube for Mr McManus and Fiona Apple singing ‘I Want You’. This is life-changing stuff. Honest.
Muito legal. Me surpreendeu. A voz do elvis eh muito boa e a forma dele cantar também. É diferente de tudo. Compensa a ouvida
I don't think Elvis Costello likes Elvis Costello as much as the compiler of the book likes Elvis Costello.
Eh
Elvis Costello is prolific, but so much of it just runs together for me. Also, don't love the nasal voice.
Maybe you had to be there to fully appreciate Elvis Costello, but he seems really overrated. The kind of artist to you really just need the greatest hits album. This particular album came after his greatest hits album and there’s nothing on it to indicate a great hit.
Great album 4 stars
1 please I can’t take any more of this man. The music is already bland and then he goes and sings in the most annoying way possible
I dig Costello but was unfamiliar with this album. It is raw and vicious. Will return.
This might be controversial, but I think this is a a crown jewel in Costello's discography, even better than King of America, which came out the same year and is generally regarded as a masterpiece. It's every bit as good as his first three albums, but where those were brash, angry, and taut, this is brutal and anguished. It's the sound of a man who has aged and grown, both as a person and as a musician, but who still harbors a lot of uncomfortable feelings. Really fantastic.
I dunno. Just couldn't really get into anything on here.
first tracks were horrible, got slightly better after those
Music sounds like things I love (XTC, nostalgic 80s pop like Cleaners from Venus), I just really don't like how Elvis Costello himself sounds... not sure if that's just bad vibes from what I know about him. I want you is an AMAZING song, but midway through i wished i was listening to the fiona apple version instead. Songs go on way too long, every time i think wow this one is GREAT midway through I wish it was over.
Ça m'a pas allumée ben ben
Ehh honestly not exciting. Most songs have the same easy going feel with no variation. He sounds like he's trying to impersonate Tom Petty (keyword: trying). I can see how people could like this though. He's like the Taylor Swift of this genre.
Very middle of the road, inoffensive and not particularly stirring
I love Elvis Costello. I’ve been a fan since I saw him open for Bob Dylan at my university, where he played an incredible set featuring just a guitar and himself. It was awesome. Over time I’ve listened to much of his output, but I’ve never listened to this album. What a miss! After three spins it may be my favorite album of his, and his consistency through the late seventies and eighties is pretty remarkable. REM was around by this one, and I wonder if there is some influence from Murmer and other early REM on this one. It’s a strong record from beginning to end, no filler whatsoever. My favorite tracks are Home is Anywhere You Hang Your Head, Blue Chair (unbelievably good song - fantastic buildup in the chorus), Poor Napoleon, and Next Time Round (particularly REMish). As good as the record is, my favorite thing I learned while listening to this record is that Elvis Costello coined an alter-ego name of “Napoleon Dynamite,” and that the filmmaker denied that he got it from him. That was a super fun fact to my older-millennial mind.
I'm kind of baffled by the hate for EC on this website. I bet the people who don't like him listen to a lot of Drake.
There were moments where I was quite enjoying the music, and then moments where Costello's voice ruined it for me. Six albums has been more than enough. Are we done now?
And this is different/new compared to the other EC albums how? I just do not get it.
You guys. Enough already with the Elvis Costello. Tokyo Storm Warning is super catchy and I love it. But the rest is just more of the same. Why so many?
Did I need a SIXTH Elvis Costello album? No. Because it is the sixth, I am tempted to give this a two because it was tiresome in the way I find a lot of Elvis Costello’s albums. I guess that wouldn’t really be fair maybe, so it’s another three but I really don’t see any need to return to this again. Please tell me we are done now because I believe we passed “overrepresented” an album or two ago. The album cover was interesting though.
I enjoyed Tokyo Storm Warning. I Want You is uncomfortable. Battered Old Bird is a good song. Couple of enjoyable songs, but I'm not taking this one on the island.
Not my favourite Elvis Costello album, but has some good tracks. I Want You is interesting, I think it is a fantastic song, but I would be reluctant to recommend it to anyone, as it is also quite creepy
Insufferable. It always is. V much background for me this one so hard to comment as I cannot engage without it affecting my mood in a very negative way
Eugh, go away Elvis Costello. I really can't stand him and this is our 5th album by him
. Awful garbage. A poor songwriter, now past his peak in the gently undulating foothills of his talent (I use the term loosely though I did think Oliver’s army a great song and I don’t want to go to Chelsea is also decent.) How could the producer let him get away with wasting a great band in this junk? Enough with the critical darlings. This list has shown most critics don’t understand ‘quality’ ’rock’, ‘roll’, ‘good’ or ‘music’ Let’s have more albums you must hear. 0 stars. Rounded up because it’s too mediocre for a negative score
Blood and chocolate Elvis Costello This album seems like an intentional mess, which despite itself created some good stuff, it you can wade through side A. Like an angry group of kids who can't get on told " hand something in, anything, to pass my class. ". Fine. We will! And the angry work begins. .... It takes 4 tracks of utter crap to get good. It sounded worse on headphones than on my smartphone. Tinny lo fi is the vibe The hand painted crap cover of a brown sheep (with Afro?) named Napoleon Dynamite, Costello's pseudonym for himself.....this should have been called “the blood and shit of my defiant self destruction’ I hear eviscerated pain. It might be my cramping guts. Or is this album giving me cramps? And then on track 5 something works. Tender. Calm. Longing and pain.. So there is relief and a good track in " I want you" Track 6. Doesn't get past a build up....but good Battered old Bird. Finally something is coming out from that place of pain. It's quite a performance. A beautiful jangly mess that barely deserves to be listened to or to be on an album. But some good bits. It's pain for the fans to endure watching the destruction played out ....? Autobiographical documented self slaughter. ? It's interesting but hard to love.
Yes, I’m a Costello tragic. I hadn’t played this for quite a while. By the end of the 80’s I must have seen him live at least a half dozen times snd the tracks on this album featured heavily in the back half of the decade. The two singles released from it have aged well. There’s a weird musical bit in the middle of the very uptempo Tokyo Storm Warning that sounds like it’s been lifted from a psychedelic Beatles track. Not the first time EC ever dipped his lid to his fellow Liverpudlians. The other single was the extremely slow & almost 7-minute long I Want You. My favourites are Uncomplicated, Honey Are You Straight Or Are You Blind?, Blue Chair, & Next Time Round. This album followed King Of America, which had seen Costello return to form after a couple of ordinary releases (Punch The Clock & Goodbye Cruel World). Hardly surprising that Nick Lowe was brought back to produce this album. He had produced Costello’s first 5 albums but had not been in the studio for the next 5, so had not produced him since 1981. Once again he seemed to get the best out of The Attractions, even if Elvis & Bruce Thomas could not stand each other. (See Thomas’s 1990 book The Big Wheel). I’ve just given the record 3 spins - sounds better each time. If only I’d kept the a copy of the cassette release which was packaged like a chocolate bar.
I had a girlfriend in about 1990 who owned only a handful of records, including Blood & Chocolate, so she played it a lot. It was a recent-ish album, even if not his most recent release. (Her other records included Changes Bowie, the first Jesus Jones record, Jesus & Mary Chain's Barbed Wire Kisses, Hair Broadway cast recording, and Them Dirty Blues, which was a box set of raunchy blues songs from the 1920s and 30s). It was also a favourite at a share house I moved into about that time, so I listened to this record quite a lot. I love Elvis Costello when he is just rockin' out. The band were barely talking to each other, but were a well-honed live unit. They got into the studio and recorded quickly, loudly, and with verve. The album is concerned with sexual obsession and betrayal, which reflects the band's vibe. The reality comes across. Muscular, immediate, honest and loud. Are they classic tunes? Maybe not. I don't really think anyone believes this is EC's best record. But they are like old familiar friends to me, and I really enjoyed revisiting this record. Love it.
Very interesting. Also really liked the some recommended based on the album
Elvis Costello voice just sounds like fingernails against a chalkboard for me
Cansino.
Typical Elvis album some good some overdrawn
first half of the album is good, but the second half isn't great
So much anger, this makes me think of just post-menopausal woman, crazed with hormones and a lifetime of pent up rage. I only knew I Want You, which I thought of as a spooky good stalker/obsessive PoV but framed in the rest of the album it’s almost innocent. Wow.
got bored of this very quickly
4.5/10
I much more enjoyed the other releases of the band I got on the list, even though they do the exact kind of music for me. Maybe after so many albums, I'm becoming more eclectic and enjoying less the basic rock that made my mind in the past.
The end of The Attractions, Elvis would ditch them for a solo life of being an international art thief... Says it all really.
I don't know if I should be happy to see the yet ANOTHER Costello record on this list, because that means we can only have but SO many more before the end of this list, or angry because holy shit, we only have 1,001 albums here Bobby. There are more artists out there than Elvis god damn Costello. That said, I have to give it to Blood and Chocolate. It's the best EC record on this list (so far), if even just for I Want You.
My blood, it boils, this chocolate’s too bitter; Elvis Costello, I don’t like you much, mister.
Excellent. Felt timeless. A few dull patches but no bad patches.
Fun enough
Judging by global reviews I’ve done well after 115 in to avoid an Elvis Costello album of which there are many on this list. Not that I want to necessarily avoid them. Armed Forces is a belter of an album and I was really into Elvis back in his Armed Forces days. I found however that he became a bit samey which is a bit unfair as I know he’s involved in classical music and jazzy stuff (probably thanks to his wife Diana Krall) which are well worth a listen. It’s is more rocky stuff which always feels the same. Listening to this album most of the tracks could have found a home on Armed Forces or other albums of that period. For that reason not an album I would listen to again. 2/5 27/4/24
3-
There's quite a lot of Costello on here, eh? Fortunately this one isn't too bad. Standouts include Tokyo Storm Warning, I Want You, and Battered Old Bird.
Fine album but it seems it's lacking the meat and substance of his early stuff. Album get's a bit old and dull.
After changing my expectations I liked this more. It’s a different Elvis. Still a good one, but different from the Elvis I usually want to hear.
It was ok. Didn't really connect for me like his first 3 albums.
This isn't as good as a lot of Elvis Costello, but it's still good, catchy, and in my list of albums to listen to again.
This was OK but didn't really set my world on fire. I needed to drive 3 hours each way and only listen to it once.
I thought I was dialing through the top 1001 albums of all-time, and not a $1.00 clearance bin at my local Goodwill.
Unique voice. Great lyrics
I'm really starting to enjoy Elvis Costello. My second album and I've started dipping into their catalogue when we I have time. This one was great, I love how it was recorded loud to give it real energy.
Fine, and weirdly Christmassy. Favourite track: Tokyo Storm Warning.
Always enjoy Elvis Costello
I enjoyed it. My favourite song was probably I want you. I found his voice a little annoying to be honest, and also a little too warbly. I don't know, I understand that the music was good, however, it wasn't really my cup of tea. It was quite good to listen to while doing revision. I think the main point problem is that I'd listened to doggystyle and bossanova the day before and there was no way it could ever compare. Point is, I didn't hate it, might listen to it again but I'm not tripping over myself.
Alight
I love Blood and Chocolates production, it’s so loud and clear. This is what every record should sound like. I love Costello’s urgency, the clatter and noise. Side A is fantastic but side B drags a bit. 7.0/10
There are a couple of decent songs on this, but as an album it's not for me. Too many things that just don't do much for me. I'm still not a big fan of EC's sound either, which possibly doesn't help.
A pleasant surprise. Not Imperial Elvis (first six albums, a proper golden run, not counting inessential Almost Blue) but a first-rate second tier Elvis. Tails off a bit towards the end and EC is not a six-minute man, but really this is a strong three stars.
Clearly has merit, but I find Costello's voice to grate a little over the course of an album.
Typical Elvis Costello album. Just good straightforward rock and roll. Interesting lyrics. Never rose to the "greatness" label in my mind, but very good nonetheless.
3.5 better than I assumed
I had only recognized one song on this; it’s a good find and I thought I knew all the Elvis albums
This listener’s second album by Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Lively and upbeat, this pop rock album is loud and energetic. While there isn’t anything bad about these tracks, there’s not much commendable either - inoffensive but unmemorable.
Good.
I don’t think there should be more than 1 Elvis Costello album on this list. And this album was not the vibe
Cansino.
Some of this was great and then some of it felt like filler.
Man the music on this album, and the band on this album could have had so much more potential only if they would have ditched the singer!!! How is Elvis Costello one of the most disliked by everyone, but some how his entire discography ends up on every commonly recognized “must listen to list”?
in the middle of ok
I like this album. The first couple of songs sounded a little repetitive (Uncomplicated and Tokyo Storm Warning), but on a second listen even these songs are nice. His lyrics and melodies and voice, I like!
Not my favorite Elvis Costello album. After you’ve heard a few, they all start to sound the same. This one has a jangly grunge approach while incorporating folk and rockabilly which is interesting, but it just didn’t grab me.
It‘s good - but I would not buy it.
Not my favorite EC album, but still like me some Elvis.
Another one?
Some brilliant tunes on an album I'm not sure I've heard in full before
- battered old bird mad catchy
Singer-songwriter is not our favorite genre, hut among the ones we listened to so far, this is the best. It still sounds pretty same-y though.
I'm a fan of Costello, and this is a fine listen but nothing special. It's hard as a songwriter to belt out record after record year after year and remain fresh and interesting
Next Time Round nearly pushed it up to 4 stars.
Not a huge fan, I’m sure others are.
Not awful, but not great. Reminds me of an album of bob dylan b-sides if Dylan were the frontman for a garage band. There were some catchy tunes, but not enough to bring me back.
Repetitive rock music after the fashion of Dylan, but without his charm and folk influence. Costello makes interesting hooks and sometimes interesting lyrical one-liners, but fails to strongly differentiate between songs, and seems to try to cram as many words as possible into each track. There’s a couple stand out spots in this album when things slow and soften, with some genuinely bluesy flavor, but by and large it’s full of decent-yet-forgettable music. Stand out tracks include “Tokyo Storm Warning”, “Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head”, “Battered Old Bird”, and “Next Time Round”.
no.
Chill AF
Not a bad album to be honest- there are other earlier albums though that I think are better. There's a couple of decent tracks but again I just ended up playing earlier album tracks. Not a standout album for me.
It's okay, it's got a few good songs but whatever
This album has a great energy throughout. With Elvis Costello its hard to guess how listenable the album will be but this one hits the ground running. as usual his distinct vocals and style take a bit to adjust to but the payoff is worth it. Tokyo Storm Warning was a favorite for me.
Surprisingly I actually enjoyed this album! That first song especially hit just right. I might even listen to this album again
Never hard any of these songs and it’s still a pretty good album.
This kinda feels like a bunch of kids from middle school made a group project for music class and one of them asked their dad to sing, but he was high on coke? It's not bad, 3/5
I like noisy stuff. It's pretty unique and catchy but noise can't just be your whole thing without another gimmick. Also what's up with the sound mixing????
It's just kinda noisy?
I did not enjoy this as much as the previous Costello
Meh
It was good. I liked it
This was a fine album, I enjoyed the energy and lyrics of songs such as "Tokyo Storm Warning" although the vocals grate a bit, and I enjoyed the sound of songs like "Uncomplicated." Unfortunately none of the songs 100% came together for me.
Somebody stop this God music.
3.5/5
Always liked their sound. No hits on this one but still enjoyed.
Sounds kind of flat.
I got through this album by the skin of my teeth. I want to like Elvis but I just find this music so obnoxious.
I own this record at home, and obviously, its main selling point is the song *I Want You*, one of the best tunes Elvis Costello has ever written: it's raw but melodic, it's disturbingly blunt and disarmingly honest... yet it's also catchy, simple, and frankly endearing--and this, as painful and even *ugly* as the feelings expressed in the song are. It's quite refreshing that Costello, always mired in all sorts of sophisticated, borderline-"literary" posturing, could find it in him to pen something so direct instead in 1986. In the album reissue's liner notes, Costello claims that the melody in the verse of the song was inspired by a Japanese folk tune, which is kind of hard to believe. But whatever the case may be, there is something truly universal in this tale about jealousy and unrequited love. Which is why it hits the intended mark. About the rest of the album, I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty good. A bit rough around the edges, a bit messy--but that's actually an asset after the stifling dynamics and hackneyed production values of the records that preceded it. Not to mention the annoying verbose mannerisms of *Imperial Bedroom*--where you simply want Costello to buckle up after the third song. Costello fans would probably cry foul play after reading my words, but most people and their mothers outside that circle of fans know that including *This Year's Model* and *Armed Forces* in such a list is more than enough to give Elvis Costello the place he deserves there. Robert Dimery thought very differently, unfortunately--how many Elvis Costello albums are in his damn list? 6? 7? Honestly, I've lost count... Now does that mean there's no room for *Blood And Chocolate* in my *own* list? Well, the jury's still out on this one... On the "Pros" section, there's Nick Lowe's "loud" and very "live" production, which honestly aged better than the one on the albums before, as I said earlier. Hiring Lowe, the man responsible for the aesthetics of *This Year's Model* and *Armed Forces*, was all that the Attractions needed to sound good again. And there are still some interesting studio tidbits sprinkled here and there (some reversed tapes, some *subtle* echoes, some quick off-kilter effects adding to those already "noisy" sessions). Yet as off-kilter as those tidbits are, they never ruin the overall dynamics. Even better, those details even give a sixties near-psychedelic subtext to those tracks. Which is good. Especially for a record released in 1986. Another thing for the "Pros" section is the sheer quaity of most of the songs. Opener "Uncomplicated" is exactly what its title suggests, "I Hope You're Happy Now" is textbook Costello (in a good way), but the album really hits its stride with the long postmodern epic "Tokyo Storm Warning", near-Dylanesque in both its musical and lyrical flourishes. Closing side A, there's "I Want You", but I don't need to say more about it than what I have already stated at the start of this tentative review. And closing side B (along with the album), you have four great cuts that go in interesting, less forceful directions: there is the strange-yet-fascinating "Old Battered Bird", quite hard to describe, but very ominous and evocative, as when Costello lets out those chill-inducing yelps over a rather atmospheric bakckground. You also have the sardonic-yet-subdued "ballad" "Crimes Of Paris", the more textured "Poor Napoleon", and the merseybeat-inspired last track and catchy earworm "Next Time Round". In the "Cons" section, however, all the tracks I haven't quoted are more akin to the "automatic mode" version of Elvis Costello and the Attractions after the release of *Armed Forces*, with a lot of words sung by the man, and a lot of chords played as well. And consequently, those other songs don't have much in them that could make them memorable. Costello, as often, is too damn *chatty* on those cuts. Truth be told, he's chatty in the good songs as well, but if the music doesn't have the right hooks to make that aspect bearable, it becomes a bit of a chore to go through those other tunes. Reading what I've just written, I reallize my "Pros" section is bigger that the one for my "Cons". This record is also the last one of the "classic" tenure of Costello's collaboration with The Attractions (in 1986, his relationship with the band had soured to the point that it was better for everyone involved to go their own way for a while). So in a sense, *Blood And Chocolate* is also a "historical" album. Giving it the benefit of the doubt, then. 3.5 for the purposes of this list gathering "essential" LPs (rounded up to 4). Which translates to a 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). A quick note about my ranking of Elvis Costello's albums in Dimery's list. To this day, the man is still far from being my favourite artist of all time, but since I've started this project, I've warmed up to his music somehow. My grades (and reviews) for *This Year's Model* and *Armed Forces* were quite harsh, I know it now. Today, I would rate both those albums with a 4/5 grade. Which, coincidentally or not, is the grade I will also give to this later album. Won't change my 1/5 "protest" grade for debut *My Aim Is True", though, *That* record was dull, no question, and you can bet your boots that if Costello had not had the career he had afterwards, everyone would have forgotten about it... Number of albums left to review: 278 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 319 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 176 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 232
I wish I could un-hear that album opener. It got better, though, and “I Want You” is definitely one of the top stalker songs of all time.
Tolerable
Sehr schönes Album, absolut höher.
Sometimes I have to just muscle through an album that really shouldn't be on here. Costello is crap. He sucks and his music lacks finesse or merit
Nothing special - sounds very similar to other albums from Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Pretty boring.
boring and un-inspired. droning vocals nothing special in the songs at all. this straight up does not deserve to be on the list and was a complete waste of my time.
Elvis Costello, the CEO of extremely average music. I don't even hate the guy or anything, he's just so ungodly samey and unremarkable in any way.
Boring
This is the sixth and, from the looks of things, final Costello album on this list, and these have definitely been a case of diminishing returns. His first couple of albums were great, but I feel like the later we’ve got into his career the less inspired the writing has become, and the more annoying his vocals. This one isn’t as bad as Brutal Youth, and there are a couple of great tracks here and there, but overall it’s just not that enjoyable.
Sounds like EC..refreshing to hear
Honestly his voice sounds a little bit like Lenny Kravitz.
Fun stuff. Costello usually is. Witty lyrics, engaging melodies, and a tight band behind him. I found the album to be consistent sonically. While each song sounded different (something I haven’t been able to say of other albums lately), they also had a certain Costello weirdness and quirkiness about them that just makes them feel like his stuff. Standout tracks: Uncomplicated, I Hope You’re Happy Now, Tokyo Storm Warning, I Want You, Blue Chair
I thought this must be a repeat because I swear I had heard this a few weeks ago but I think all the albums from Elvis Costello and the attractions sound the same
Brilliant - Elvis is a genius
I really liked this record, probably favorite record listened to from this list so far. Very, very modern sounding to the point where I'm fairly convinced that modern alt rock sensibilities (sound, song structure, vocals) stemmed from the sound of this record. Enjoyed his vocals and the instrumentation, I feel that I will get more out of this album once I start paying more mind to his lyrics. Recommended listen.
# 162 : Nothing was awful about this album, but nothing felt special. Might need a few more listens to grow on me. shrug. Fave Track : Tokyo Storm Warning
Entertaining
Not a fan of Costello
Depressing. Didn't like it at all.
Demands a closer listen than I was able to give it today. Really good. Will give it another spin
1. uncomplicated - 0 2. i hope - 0 3. tokyo ztorm - 4. home iz anyuuhere - 1 5. i uuant you - 1.5 6. honey - 0 7. blue chair - 0 8. old bird - 1 9. crimez of pariz - 1.5 10. poor napoleon - 0 11. nezt time round - 0
Costello is a phenomenal talent, really one of the best artists of his era. This isn't my favorite album by him but it's great none the less
Although I don't listen to him anymore, I used to, and I still like a lot of his music.
"i want you" saved. rest were boring.
listened 2x -- 3.1/5
I really didn’t like the production on this record. Elvis’ voice was too loud, I couldn’t hear anything else in the mix. Guitars were too clangy, just kind of hurt my ears to listen to.
One decent song. Pretty lame overall
This was fine. It probably deserves higher but I’m so tired of listening to Elvis Costello.
A little more palatable than almost every other of his albums on here since some of the hooks are decent and he’s not always really annoying sounding, but I still dislike Costello’s music with a passion. 5/10
After 900 and 80 something albums I finally figured it out. This list was designed so we would have to listen to every Elvis Costello album. All of which were the same. You won this round Elvis!
A few songs I loved, a bunch I really liked, and some that were a bit meh for me. I like his voice and the production/all the instruments he’s using!
Some catchy vibes, but not my bag, baby.
I like his schtick and energy. His voice can get a little annoying but it's a fun album
Another solid 3. Blue Chair was my favorite track. None of the songs were familiar to me.
Not as familiar with this since it came out when Maggie was a bit over one year old. A fairly plodding set of songs, not as distinctive or melodious as earlier albums (see Imperial Bedroom).
This was just okay.
Lyrically inventive, when I'm able to focus on the words. "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head" and "I Want You" particularly caught my attention. But musically so-so, and his voice really makes me tune out.
This album is credit to just how much a singer can give a simple song life. The ballads slap from beginning to end. Favorite song is battered old bird
How many of this guy’s albums are on the list? (And why??) I’m 99 in, and this is already the fourth Costello album I’ve gotten. Here’s hoping I like this one more than the others. …No. I still don’t like it. (“I Want You” wasn’t bad)
tokyo storm warning
2.5
This one was new to me. I typically like all Elvis Costello stuff and this was no different. Three and maybe higher on my next listen
I didn’t hate it but I can’t get into the sound of his voice.
Quite a solid effort from Costello, nice melodies and arrangements. Strong 3
Standard
Elvis Costello has circled my life for a while. I finally listened to an album and boy did he land that plane.
Didn't finish. Kinda boring
I mean, it's fine, but not outstanding - some decent rock/pop songs, but generally middle of the road on an album.
Tsja, best een paar goede nummers, maar uiteindelijk niets voor mij
Good
I wanted to love this album. But it was pretty meh for me. I usually like Elvis' voice, but he sounds especially nasal and whiny on this album. Just about every song being a cynical and bitter take on love with a heaping helping of "If I can't have you, I hope you die" gets old quickly. I thought it was kind of interesting that "I Want You" seems to borrow directly from the Beatles' song of the same name ... kind of like the sequel to the song in a way. "Tokyo Storm Warning" was interesting, once I looked at the lyrics and could actually figure out what the heck he was saying. Some of the other songs were kind of catchy musically, but I was happy for the album to end. Giving it 3 stars, but it's really more of a 2.5
Not my favourite Costello album, but still a great education in creating perfect garage pop/rock tracks. And my god are The Attractions a one-of-a-kind backing group. Fav tracks:Uncomplicated, I Hope You're Happy Now, I Want You, Crimes of Paris, Next Time Round
Una propuesta interesante de un Costello bastante más experimentado que en sus primeros discos. Con un sonido más "denso" y en ocasiones "oscuro", el genio del power pop británico pinta un cuadro admirable de sonidos agradables e interpretaciones abstractas de las relaciones humanas y la vida cotidiana con un ímpetu desgarrador.
The album gradually gets better with each passing track, Then about halfway it starts gradually getting bad again.
I used to like Costello when I was in England. I think I like his earlier stuff better than this album. But it’s not bad. I’ll give it 3 stars.
Sounds like old fashioned Rock'n Roll. I thought it would be recorded before 1986. I'm not very excited.
Before starting this project I thought I liked Elvis Costello ok. But after being given three albums now I think I actually find him deeply unpleasant. This album has all his usual drawbacks (his voice and bitterness) but isn't as catchy as the last one (This Year's Model). Overall: meh.
Not bad, just not really my thing.
not for me.
Lyrics are good. Music is well-built and creative. But again, it has just never appealed to me. This is one of those times where you see a work of art but just don't click with it. As Elvis matures and begins seeking out more and broader kinds of sound, I start to like some of his works better. For instance, I truly love his album with the Roots.
Mid british lego rockband music
I was looking forward to this one because I was digging the music initially, in the 1st track. But this guy's voice is just...grating. Couldn't make it through 2 complete songs before giving up.
Anstrengende Stimme, Musik naja
Album 406 is my 5th Elvis Costello album. Only have to listen to one more for the next 600 albums!
Love these songs sound like they have some deeper inspirational meaning behind them, feels emotionally charged. While his voice may be divisive, I quite like it!. 3.3
never been a fan of Elvis Costello. meh. Tokyo Storm Warning, Next Time Round and Crimes of Paris are ok I guess.
Currently the average rating for this album is 2.97. So I enjoy this WAAAAY more than the average. I think this is the perfect rock record. It has great songs and doesn’t overstay its welcome. There are different kinds of tunes so there’s a good flow to the whole thing. I’m a fan of Elvis Costello generally. I’d never listened to this before but so glad I did as I’ve just found a new favourite. 5/5
2,5
I think it was OK - couldn't tell the difference from all the other bloody Elvis Costello I've been made to listen to
I thought the instrumental parts of this album were really good. Elvis Costello doesn't have my favorite voice but it's good enough to not make me turn away from his music. Battered Old Birds and Uncomplicated were my favorite songs. Overall a decent album but one I probably won't listen to much on my own.
Solid album. His voice is so unique and conveys such a range of emotions. I want you was a slapper, blue chair and battered old bird were also good. I thought the last couple songs were a bit of a let down but the majority of the album was great! Will definitely listen to again.
Similar to bob dylans vocal inflections - i do not like elvis costellos singing. I am highkey struggling to finish.
This will be the second Elvis Costello album that I’ve heard after This Year’s Model. That album was amazing and impressed me a lot, so I have high expectations for today. Neither have had Oliver’s Army though, and that’s such a banger. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: I Want You This seemed to start well and enjoyable for me but I found myself losing attention after only a few tracks. It did come back again for I Want You, but I then found myself zoning out again. This just didn’t seem to have songs as catchy as This Year’s Model, which left me feeling a little let down. My loss of attention did leave me focussing on how weird Costello’s voice is though. Isn’t it weirdly whiny?
Standardica rokic, par izuzetak jacih pesama
Can't stand his voice. The music is fine though. It would be better with a different singer.
Ikke en højdepunkt i hans karriere men de fleste af sangene er meget gode
Havde ikke hørt den her før! Blæste mig ikke omkuld, men havde en rigtig good time
Det er stadig slet ikke mig. Jeg kan ikke helt snuppe hans stemme. Der var et sted eller to hvor foden gik i takt.
De beoogde ideale vriendschap met Elvis en mijzelf kwam nooit helemaal van de grond. Waarom weet ik niet, want dit was eigenlijk weer een mooi stukje muziek.
Lekker attractief hor die Elvis!
Elvis C kan bij mij niet zoveel fout doen. Maar ondanks dat het wonderschone 'I want you' erop staat vond ik de rest voor Elvis zijn doen wat gemiddeld.
‘I want you’ is een van de beste nummers ooit. Vind ik dan. Verder een vrolijke, energieke plaat.
All new, to me. He’s always good, great songwriting both music and lyrics.
I've never listened to Elvis Costello before. I always associated him with lame easy listening music. This was not that at all (and it makes me wonder why I thought that, did he move that way later?) This was kind of cool. I didn't love his voice, maybe just his band is cool?
Elvis Costello, zo'n bekende naam, maar nog nooit eerder muziek van gehoord. Dit was gewoon prettig muzikaal, maar geen wereldmuziek.
Glorious. 5 stars.
Another day, another Elvis Costello album that must be heard before one gets killed by death.
Definitely better than that other Elvis! So tacky that the first lines in the whole album are the same as the title of the album. L-vis Costello for that
Pretty mid album with no real songs i would come back to
Good as, I love this kind of music where each song has a story and listening to the lyrics is rewarding, will definitely be coming back to this album and artist
Eh, it sounds sort of like This Year's Model but more tired and trying to hard. I'm sure Costello die-hards love it, but I am not one of them. This Year's Model is enough for me.
Really like Elvis Costello's voice! Some of the songs on here are really great, very enjoyable!
normal
Please don’t recommend this band to me anymore
Honestly I wasn't the biggest fan of this album or this band. I think my favorite song on this album was 'I Want You' but in ways I also didn't like it.. I think its the lead singers vocals that I'm just not a giant fan of. I kind of was annoyed listening to this album, even though I see the potential here I just think these vocals are not for me. Overall: 1.3/5
Ok - has some of that spark of his first couple of records. Some of the songs go on for too long. I kept thing that this would be better if all the songs were under 3 minutes.
En av världens mest överskattade artister strikes again. Är det tredje eller fjärde skivan jag haft med honom? Och jag tror att jag enbart haft en skiva med den riktiga Elvis, The King. Å vart fan är Nick Cave? Snart 500 skivor och inte fått en enda.
Meh
3.5/5 this seemed intersting, i'll have to relisten
I’m so sick of Elvis fucking Costello
Much better Costello to pick from
4/5
Costello wanting to sound like Dylan. This is the second Elvis Costello record that I have listened to in this list and it is only marginally better than the first one.
Some good tunes, but I remember absolutely zilch
What a find! I would never have listened to this album if not for this app. I hadn't even heard of it before, not my fav album for sure but a bunch of variety and some really fun songs
The album would be much better without his voice. ugh. Maybe he's just not my type.
1980s Rock - have had a lot of 70s/80s Rock lately so getting a little bit ‘fatigued’. Going in with an open mind though. Don’t hate it, and quite like the backing guitar/music. Not anything special though, vocals are okay. 3/5.
I dont really love these guys.
Ni lo pude terminar de la hueva.
EC just as never really been my style. His voice wears on me after a while, and some of the lyrics here are not great, i.e. "are you straight or are you blind" - ugh. That said, the band sounds really solid.