Tue Sep 21 2021
2
this is the best elvis costello album i've ever heard
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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1978
- Album Summary
This Year's Model is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, originally released on 17 March 1978 in the United Kingdom through Radar Records. After using the American band Clover for his debut album My Aim Is True (1977), This Year's Model marked Costello's first album with the Attractions–bassist Bruce Thomas, drummer Pete Thomas (no relation) and keyboardist Steve Nieve–whom he formed in mid-1977 as a permanent backing band. Recording sessions took place at London's Eden Studios in about eleven days from late 1977 to early 1978. Returning from the debut as producer was musician Nick Lowe, while Roger Béchirian acted as engineer. Most of the material was written prior to the sessions and debuted live throughout the latter half of 1977. Embracing new wave, power pop and punk rock, the songs on This Year's Model are primarily driven by the Attractions, with influences including works by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Meanwhile, the cynical lyrics reference subjects from technologies of mass control to failing relationships, which some reviewers found misogynistic. Like some of the tracks, the cover artwork, featuring Costello behind a camera on a tripod, emphasised observation. Designed by Barney Bubbles, the initial sleeves were off-centre and exposed a printer colour bar on the right, which was corrected for later releases. Accompanied by the successful singles "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" and "Pump It Up", This Year's Model was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the UK Albums Chart. The American LP, released in May 1978 through Columbia Records, substituted "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" for "Radio Radio" and peaked at number 30 on Billboard's Top LPs & Tape chart. This Year's Model also received critical acclaim, with many highlighting the songwriting, artist and band performances, and appeared on several year-end lists. In later decades, This Year's Model has continued to receive critical acclaim, with many praising the addition and performances of the Attractions, while some have commented on its influence on punk. It is regarded as one of Costello's best works and has appeared on several lists of the greatest albums of all time. It has since been reissued multiple times with bonus tracks. In 2021, Costello spearheaded a new version of the album titled Spanish Model, which featured songs from This Year's Model sung in Spanish by Latin artists over the Attractions' original backing tracks. It received favourable reviews and was packaged with a 2021 remaster of This Year's Model.
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Tue Sep 21 2021
2
You'd think a record that's almost assuredly hugely influential and even pioneering would be a little more interesting. You can practically hear new wave being birthed in a lot of tracks, and the Smiths' sound may as well have originated from Lip Service, but the album overall is just kind of, I don't know, milquetoast. I don't really care for Costello's voice, but it doesn't outright grate, and the music is performed well enough (especially by the drummer), but I felt like I was waiting nearly the entire length of the album for things to pick up. It does so by the time Lipstick Vogue starts, but it feels like too little too late. True to its title, This Year's Model was a big deal at the time, but not quite a necessity 40 years later. Key Tracks: Pump It Up, Lipstick Vogue
Wed Jun 23 2021
5
What was missing every other time I've listened to Elvis Costello (and thought "sheeesh, this guy needs to stop singing for just a couple measures")? This Elvis Costello sounds so much better than the other Elvis Costello I've been listening to. I think The Attractions could be the game changer. Somewhere between punk and pub. Bringing just the right amount of heat to boil over. Enough urgency to feel insecure. They toy with chaos but never take it there. The bass player is all over the neck. Keyboard guy brings some strangely-necessary 7th inning ballpark energy. Drummer is unimpeachable. The whole thing works with Elvis' nonstop intelligent, lyrical sushi train. Toss in some reggae-ish business (Chelsea) for good measure and I'm converted. A+
Sun Jan 24 2021
5
Of course, the songs on This Year's Model are typically catchy and help the vicious sentiments sink into your skin, but the most remarkable thing about the album is the sound -- Costello and the Attractions never rocked this hard, or this vengefully, ever again.
Tue Sep 21 2021
2
Diamond Dave once said "Music journalists like Elvis Costello because music journalists look like Elvis Costello" and I can not disagree.
Sat Feb 05 2022
1
Elvis Costello does not deserve this many goddamn places on this list. 1
Thu Feb 04 2021
5
This album is wild. Another one I'd only heard the singles from. You might as well classify this as a 1977 record, but I'd really love to play this blind for someone and ask them what year it was recorded. Amidst the elders of the British Invasion, California rock, disco, prog and punk, Elvis decides to just do his own mashup of 60s R&B, vintage Stones, reggae and punk without a hint of The Beatles (consider ELO at the time). But you can still hear the crooner in him that would lead to the Bacharach collab. Quite a flex not to open with "Pump It Up," which has a hint of the MC5. Elvis seems to have a lot in common with Springsteen tonally and lyrically, see "Lip Service." "Chelsea" has that nice reggae groove the Police would use to great effect. Then "Lipstick Vogue" tosses in a Motorhead beat before closing triumphantly on "Radio, Radio." Incredible. The SNL ban is laughable, of course, in hindsight.
Wed May 26 2021
4
The opening track so perfectly encapsulates what Elvis Costello does well - the desperate, breathy opening vocal, the pulsing explosion of sound, the sneer and scorn of "I don't wanna see you 'cause I don't miss you that much", the layered poppy backup vocal on the chorus, the swirly carnivalesque feel of the instrumentation, all this happening in a 2 minute track.. a track that packs in more than most songs in the first 1:40.. but then gives you an extra 20 seconds of vamp and swell and crash to wrap it all up perfectly. I wouldn't even say it's my favorite track on the album but it's such a great encapsulation of his ability to grab you by the collar and take you on a surprising ride. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea is another standout. The rest of the album - I don't think there's a bad song here, though there's some that work better as part of the album than they would as singles. In some ways, I think this might be the strongest complete album of the era for him. There's bigger hits on some of the other ones, but this is the most cohesive feel overall. To own my bias, this is definitely one of the records that got me into him. I think I first discovered him through a good review of Spike (also a great album) when it came out, and then found a copy of this one, maybe on vinyl? Anyhow, I've spent more time with it than either My Aim is True before it or Armed Forces after, but I've definitely given good listens to all three and still think this one is the most compelling. This anecdote (from Wikipedia listing) is a good one: ""The concept of him behind a camera for the sleeve of This Year's Model had already been chosen, so I decided to equip Elvis with exactly the same tripod and camera as I was using to create a 'mirror' for him. Alongside a powerful stereo I kept a large record collection at my Camden Studio, and artists would choose music they enjoyed or were interested in for their sessions. Just as we were about to start shooting, Elvis asked me if I had "Hotel California" by The Eagles, and could I play it? I was puzzled by his choice – until he told me that he loathed the record, but wanted to look really pissed off and angry in the shots! We played the record several times during the session and whilst I directed him, I was also aware of his copying some of my own actions as I took the photographs"" Also from Wikipedia, Robert Smith (from The Cure) listed this as one of his 5 favorite albums on a French TV show in 1985.
Tue Feb 01 2022
3
Elvis Costello possède une voix absolument ignoble. Sa musique s'en trouve forcément impactée, et sa multiple présence dans la liste est donc difficilement explicable. Une émeute a d'ailleurs débuté à ce sujet dans la matinée du Lundi 31 Janvier 2022, vite désamorcée par les multiples CRS envoyés par Robert pour rétablir l'ordre. Vous vous demandez surement également, comme tous ces émeutiers, pourquoi Elvis Costello est autant protégé par Robert? C'est très simple, ces deux hommes, très amis, partagent un lourd secret. Suite à une rixe avec les 15 membres de Stephen Stills dans un bar londonien, Costello se vit contraint de kidnapper Ray Charles. Afin de l'incarcérer, Costello se tourna vers son ami de toujours, Robert, qui fit préparer une celulle pour l'occasion dans la cave de son domicile (mitoyenne à celle des New York Dolls, mais tout ça, vous le saviez déjà si vous lisez mes reviews). En échange, Elvis Costello donna plusieurs de ses albums à la liste des 1001, un échange de bon procédé somme toute. Mais revenons sur cet album. Il est, comme attendu, absolument moyen, Elvis Costello se contentant de tordre sa voix horrible dans tous les sens pendant plusieurs longues dizaines de minutes. Le problème, et ce qui n'aide d'ailleurs pas notre ami Elvis, c'est que je débutais cet album de très mauvaise humeur. Et pour cause. Cela fait plusieurs semaines que je tente de réintégrer le top 10 des meilleurs critiques du générateur. Je vérifie par conséquent régulièrement la 10ème place de ce classement, pour voir si une évolution a eu lieu. Or, à chaque fois que je clique sur le bouton me présentant le 10ème meilleur critique du générateur, la face ridicule de Elvis Costello, prostré derrière son appareil photo apparaît sur mon écran. Et oui, le soit disant 10ème meilleur critique du générateur, ayant abandonné l'aventure depuis longtemps, nous a quitté en laissant un 5/5 final à cet album ridicule de Elvis Costello. Ceci en dit long sur les réels goûts de ce petit con, et sur ses potentiels liens avec Robert. Malgré tout, j'accorde à cet album la note de 3/5, les Attractions n'ayant rien demandé à personne.
Fri Oct 09 2020
5
Sounds like what Pop Punk is obvs inspired by. The guy knows how to play his voice’s character to create these very cheeky niche love lines that feel oddly endearing. Every single song just gets better and better. forsure a classic and the only elvis i’ll prolly ever acknowledge
Tue Apr 13 2021
5
The best way to describe this is timeless. Influences from the decades before, sounds yet to come - No Action and Radio Radio feels a bit pop punk in a way? - and production that sounds like it came out in the past few years. Songs are great too of course, everything well played. Chelsea might be the highlight, and Lipstick Vogue is a great energetic track followed by the calmer Night Rally
Tue Sep 21 2021
5
Costello is indie rock before it was called that way. Can't believe how recent this album feels. It could come out straight from Weezer
Fri Dec 03 2021
5
Caught me off guard. This album was awesome. Sounds like it could have been made today. This sounds like classic punk. I can hear how he may have influenced Bad Religion and the bass style of Flea.
Fri May 12 2023
5
One of the more visually-striking albums of the 1st New Wave wave, you get notes of The Kinks, CCR, Springsteen, and The Specials. It sneers at everyone and everything, so I can’t call it misogynistic as much as misanthropic. I love it.
Fri Jun 23 2023
5
It’s crazy how prolific Elvis Costello was and how high the quality of his records were in the early years. Yet another excellent record mixing pop hooks, his brilliant lyrics, inimitable vocals, and punk influence on the edges.
Wed Jun 23 2021
4
It’s like a hybrid of Buddy Holly and Bruce Springsteen and Proto Weezer—if you put distortion on and removed the keys it could be weezer. I’m also hearing King Kahn and The Shrines. Elvis Costello has always been on the periphery for me, I’ve never really dug in so was pleasantly surprised. The Attractions are tight AF. First half was a 5, second half was a 4. A-
Tue Apr 20 2021
3
Second album from the second Elvis. I definitely liked this one more than the first. I still find his voice to be a little strange and whiny, but there were more engaging songs on this album. Also, I may have heard "Pump It Up" before, that riff sounded very familiar. Overall, still not a fan of Mr. Costello but this album was alright to me. I will say it sounds a few years ahead of its time--I would've guessed this came out in the '80s. Favorite tracks: The Beat, Pump It Up, Lipstick Vogue. Album art: It's a pretty good picture, but he honestly looks like a hipster version of Mr. Bean. Also the color and centering of him in the cover reminds me of that Al Green greatest hits album. 3/5
Fri May 21 2021
3
First time listening: 6/12 songs liked Elvis Costello made me like british new wave. That is quite hard to do. Some songs are a little odd for my tastes perhaps they reference culture I am not familiar with. But all in all, solid. 5 songs saved
Tue Feb 01 2022
3
Suite aux émeutes qui ont fait rage ces derniers jours dont la raison est évidemment l'omniprésence d'Elvis Costello dans la liste des 1001, je tenais à rappeler le conflit qui a opposé Elvis Costello et Ray Charles le 15 mars 1979. .................... Les personnages: ROBERT DIMERY ELVIS COSTELLO STEPHEN STILLS (LEADER) STEPHEN STILLS (GUITARISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (PIANISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (BATTEUR) STEPHEN STILLS (BASSISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (XYLOPHONISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (VOCALISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (MANDOLINISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (HARMONICISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (VIOLONISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (PERCUSSIONISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (TROMPETTISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (BIOLOGISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (SAXOPHONISTE) STEPHEN STILLS (ANESTHÉSISTE) BONNIE BRAMMLET RAY CHARLES CÉLINE DION Robert Dimery et Elvis Costello sont assis à une table du Holiday Inn bar à Colombus dans l'Ohio. ROBERT.— Je t'en remets une, Elvis ? ELVIS COSTELLO.— T'es fou, je suis complètement bourré mec. Tu veux me tuer ou quoi ? ROBERT.— Allez je vais te chercher une pinte. Robert se dirige vers le comptoir. BONNIE BRAMMLET.— Qu'est-ce qu'il vous fallait ? ROBERT.— Je vais vous prendre deux pintes, s'il vous plaît. BONNIE BRAMMLET.— Ça vous fera onze dollars. ROBERT.— Voilà pour vous. D'ailleurs, j'ai une question, est-ce que vous savez si c'est bien Ray Charles roulé en boule dans le coin là-bas ? BONNIE BRAMMLET.— Oui c'est bien lui. ROBERT, en direction du chanteur.— Eh ça va Ray Charles ?! RAY CHARLES.— Laissez-moi tranquille… Stephen Stills rentre alors à quinze dans le bar. Stephen Stills (harmoniciste) et Stephen Stills (mandoliniste) aperçoivent Elvis Costello et interpellent Stephen Stills (bassiste) qui propose à ses collègues de les rejoindre. STEPHEN STILLS (LEADER).— Alors Costello, t'as trouvé ton premier fan ? ROBERT.— Vous moquez pas de lui, il a du talent... STEPHEN STILLS (BATTEUR).— Ah ouais, elle est bonne celle-là ! STEPHEN STILLS (GUITARISTE).— Excellent ! ELVIS COSTELLO.— Allez vous-en... J'en ai marre que vous me suiviez partout pour me frapper. STEPHEN STILLS (PERCUSSIONISTE).— Tu vas pas te débarrasser de nous si facilement, mon pote. STEPHEN STILLS (BIOLOGISTE).— On va te régler ton compte. ELVIS COSTELLO.— Eh bah vous savez quoi ? Ray Charles je le trouve super timide. STEPHEN STILLS (TROMPETTISTE).— Hein ?! STEPHEN STILLS (PIANISTE).— Quoi ?! CÉLINE DION.— Hein ?! STEPHEN STILLS (VIOLONISTE).— Qu'est-ce que tu viens de dire ?! STEPHEN STILLS (VOCALISTE).— T'es raciste ou quoi, mec ?! RAY CHARLES.— J'ai entendu, hein... Robert va chercher Ray Charles et le traîne jusqu'à la table en le tenant par le col. RAY CHARLES.— Lâchez-moi ! ROBERT.— Viens leur dire qu'Elvis est pas raciste, vas-y, dis-le à tout le monde ! RAY CHARLES.— Mais si vous me forcez à le dire je ne vais pas y arriver, je suis timide. STEPHEN STILLS (SAXOPHONISTE).— Laisse tomber, venez les Stephen Stills, on se tire. STEPHEN STILLS (XYLOPHONISTE).— Ciao les nazes. Ray Charles se recroqueville et fond en larmes. Stephen Stills (anesthésiste) s'approche de lui et le pique avec une seringue. Ray Charles perd alors connaissance. .................... Le lendemain, la presse sera informée de l'intégralité de l'échange par le biais du témoignage de Céline Dion et provoquera un véritable tollé médiatique.
Sun Apr 24 2022
3
Much better than Blood and Chocolate.
Fri Sep 30 2022
3
Ah, Elvis Costello, my old nemesis. After Blood and Chocolate, I had hoped we’d never meet again. I see that this record finds you more tolerable and a bit more concise. Still, I find you off putting and I’m not quite sure why.
Mon Feb 01 2021
2
2.5
Tue Jan 19 2021
2
not very memorable
Mon May 24 2021
2
Done just over 100 albums and 3 of them have been Elvis Costello. I mean really? One Elvis Costello album in the 1001 would have been plenty. 4/10
Mon May 31 2021
2
Put this on and promptly forgot it was playing until it was almost done. Musically about as interesting as the Jitterbug song from the commercials. The inferior Elvis by far
Wed Jan 12 2022
2
Basic Indie Brit pop
Wed Jan 26 2022
2
Sorry, I tried. I really, really tried. But Elvis Costello does nothing for me, and this album as a whole did not even interest me enough to make me want to write a complete review. It's not even that it's bad (sometimes it's interesting to explain *why* you think a record is not for you). It's just that, apart from very, very rare highlights towards the end ("Lipstick Vogue", "Night Rally" ), the music on *This Year's Model* is neither groundbreaking nor particularly well written. For an album with such a reputation, I found the whole thing a bit tame, honestly (God, how downright *cheesy* those organ's 7th chords trimmings are sounding now). One quickly suspects that the critical sucess of this rockabilly rehash was just a fluke, Costello being just lucky enough to profit from the convenient coincidence of playing so-called "unpretentious" music at the exact same time punk surged. The problem is that, as unpretentions as the music is, it is neither powerful, nor sophisticated, nor subtle, nor anything else, to be frank (part from "Lipstick Vogue"'s conclusion maybe). And Costello's voice can be annoying at times, even though I admit it may become an acquired taste for some listeners. As for the lyrics, they're fine overall, with some striking one-liners here and there (a lot of them about Elvis' jealous obsessions, which got me worried for his partner, to be honest). Yet most of the compositions are just too linear and predictable to seal the deal for me. They simply don't make me feel anything, and "lip service" won't be something you'll ever get for me here. I always try to keep an open mind, but clearly, I don't see what the fuss was all about. What we have is more than competent musicianship, of course, even talent. But if you want to select a list of 1001 albums you should absolutely listen to, there are probably twice as many albums worthier of your time out there. Life's too short to waste it on stuff you consider bland. My loss, maybe. But that's the way it is for me. [Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 987 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 5 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 5 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 4 (including this one)]
Thu May 12 2022
2
Not very good. It's like a bad 90s album but from 78.
Mon May 16 2022
2
extremely dull
Fri Sep 09 2022
2
Unremarkable
Thu Oct 06 2022
2
boring
Sun Jan 15 2023
2
Don't get on with his voice and music is basic
Wed Mar 15 2023
2
Kinda irritating.
Mon May 22 2023
2
Meh
Mon Feb 14 2022
1
I hate this guy. No reason for him to be on here 6 separate times
Mon Jul 18 2022
1
is bri'ish bland they all sound the same
Tue Mar 21 2023
1
Well this was NOT a good start to the week. After slagging off EC not two days earlier at a party, I was punished yet another album is did not like from him. Jaunty and irritating. Same old
Thu Dec 24 2020
5
This album was excellent. Not a single bad song on the record and I honestly liked how it made me feel.
Wed Jun 16 2021
5
Absolutely amazing start to finish
Sun Jan 17 2021
5
Love this album! All of it! Favorites: No Action Pump it up The Beat You Belong to me Living in Paradise Radio Radio
Sun Jan 17 2021
5
Good background and gettin' things done music
Wed Jan 20 2021
5
tosi hyvä! tykkään! This year's girl oli The Deuce sarjassa ja on ihan huippu ja koko levy on pitkälti samaa settiä
Fri May 07 2021
5
I don’t personally like this one as much as My Aim Is True, but still - it’s Elvis Costello at the peak of his powers and it’s great.
Thu Apr 01 2021
5
9. good stuff again i liked it about as much as the last one. honestly if i liked his voice more it could be a 10.
Mon Jan 25 2021
5
Good álbum
Fri Apr 09 2021
5
Loved it
Thu May 06 2021
5
Really nice, good vibes. Can listen to in a lot of situations!
Wed May 26 2021
5
What an incredible top 10 for me for sure. One great tune after another. And the Attractions COOK! Favorite songs; The Beat, lipstick Vogue, This Year's Girl. 5 BIG STARS
Fri Aug 13 2021
5
This is a second 5 stars in a row using this project and again it's an album that I knew just by the name before and never gets the necessary incentive to listen to it. This was a great experience. The only drawback here is the short length of the album. I'll sure listen to it again.
Tue Oct 19 2021
5
Revenge of the Nerd. Costello comes out swinging on his second album. Spiky punk/new wave with bitter nasty lyrics. It's probably not healthy if you recognise elements of your self within. Best Tracks: No Action; Pump It Up; (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Mon Nov 01 2021
5
Excelente disco
Mon Dec 06 2021
5
Great record! Never knew I liked Elvis Costello
Sun Jan 02 2022
5
All time favorite
Fri Jan 14 2022
5
Excellent work, awesome energy and snarling, snarky attitude. I do prefer his 80s stuff, more complex and developed but it was cool to listen to this as a ‘basic’ 4 piece- the organ adding that extra dimension. While I enjoyed everything on here, they do get kind of similar, but I still listened twice in the day and didn’t lose interest for a second.
Thu Jan 27 2022
5
Happy to be reintroduced to Elvis Costello. Awesome album. Tons of fun
Wed Feb 02 2022
5
Had not listened to this album for at least a decade or so but it still great as expected (and I am not a major Elvis Costello fan, only know his late 70s - mid 80s output). Makes me want to finish his 2016 memoir. I also recommend to have a look at his list of "500 Must-Have Albums" on Vanity Fair - lots of interesting music recommendations.
Mon Mar 07 2022
5
Right up my alley!
Wed Mar 09 2022
5
So good!
Thu Mar 24 2022
5
I think this is the best Elvis Costello album that know well, though to be honest I don’t know much past the 80s. It has my tied for first favorite song of his, Lipstick Vogue, and even his worse tendencies (having the persona of a mopey, whiney lover with a pretentious voice, both in the literal and authorial senses) are displayed to at their best here in songs like Chelsea.
Fri Apr 01 2022
5
Consistently great album Surprised by how many songs I knew Will repay repeated listens I think
Mon Apr 25 2022
5
All the hits! A little formulaic and not as much fun as the live recordings, but great a great record.
Tue Apr 26 2022
5
Wonderful. So many great tracks.
Thu May 12 2022
5
What an incredible top 10 for me for sure. One great tune after another. And the Attractions COOK! Favorite songs; The Beat, lipstick Vogue, This Year's Girl. 5 BIG STARS
Mon May 30 2022
5
Really nice album. Lyrics, voice, style - easy A for me
Wed Jun 01 2022
5
Tight, rollicking and sharp-edged, this is classic EC. Every song works, the sound is well unified, with the organ bleeping and swirliing making strong links and all sorts of nifty, biting guitar licks ("Chelsea" especially). There are almost too many highlights to name – “No Action,” “This Year’s Girl” "The Beat" "Don't ... Chelsea," “Lipstick Vogue” "Radio Radio." This was an artist moving from strength to strength and staying at the top of the game.
Sat Jun 04 2022
5
amazing!
Mon Jul 18 2022
5
What a pleasant surprise in the rotation! I forgot how many songs of these I know and love
Tue Jul 19 2022
5
Parents had on record have always loved
Fri Jul 22 2022
5
One of the greatest image/attitude/music look at me launches in music history. The Attractions replace Clover and the music is instantly more varied, textured and interesting - still anchored by Costello's brutal lyrics and sneer, and brilliant way with a melody. Two albums into his Imperial Period.
Wed Jul 27 2022
5
Fresh, dynamic, urgent and no track over 4 minutes. Mr Costello is on fine form supported by a great backing group. Some memorable songs - Lip Service, Chelsea, Radio, Pump it Up. Superb
Tue Aug 09 2022
5
This is stellar. Amazing how tight and smart this music is. There's also an underlying bite or anger in the way lyrics are delivered that increase the energy. Also impressed at how varied the song approaches are. Radio Radio is drop dead awesome, but songs like Living in Paradise and Chelsea just show how interesting the songs can be.
Tue Aug 09 2022
5
A really great album. Could listen to this quite a few times over.
Mon Sep 05 2022
5
Good music. I like it. Pump it up.
Mon Oct 03 2022
5
Love, love, love this. Fun, bouncy music with cutting lyrics. And that organ!
Sat Oct 15 2022
5
Elvis Costello has had a very varied and eclectic career with many highs, but goddamn if there ain’t a strong argument for this being his best album.
Mon Oct 31 2022
5
Went through a big Elvis Costello phase about 10 years ago. I never actually heard this album whole way through though- more rock than some of his other stuff. Love the energy on this record especially on tunes like Lipstick Vogue. Radio Radio is great. The attractions were a great band -Bruce Thomas is actually one of my favorite rock bass players his lines always add so much to the tunes.
Mon Nov 28 2022
5
One of the best LPs of its time. There's not a bad track on this.
Thu Dec 15 2022
5
This and “My Aim Is True” are two of the great rock albums of all time.
Fri Dec 23 2022
5
Pete Thomas is one of the greatest drummers I have ever heard
Mon Jan 02 2023
5
Excellent from start to finish. My favorites are The Beat, (I don’t want to) Go to Chelsea, and Little Triggers. It still sounds modern while retaining the same base in 50s and 60s rock found in the debut album, which if on here will be getting a 5 from me too.
Mon Jan 02 2023
5
No sophomore slump here. Enough classics to almost make this one a greatest hits records. One of his very best albums.
Mon Jan 02 2023
5
I was a huge fan of My Aim is True when it was released in 1977. This album, released less than a year later, upped the ante considerably. The same great songwriting and clever word play was present, but the use of The Attractions as his backing band added an edge which was not present on the first album. The twangy guitar was largely replaced by Steve Nieve's keyboards. Add to that tracks like Pump It Up which seem to spring forth from the drum and bass playing. Elvis Costello sounds angry throughout in the best possible way. He has attempted many styles through his long career, but this album may be the best he ever made. Magnificent.
Fri Feb 10 2023
5
"Don't act like you're above me, just look at your shoes." There are some doozies in This Year's Model, but for some reason that line stood out to me today. My other favorite one is "Sometimes, I think that love is just a tumor/You've got to cut it out." I think the lyrics encompass what some people don’t like about Elvis Costello. The songs are biting, mean spirited at times even. Sometimes he speaks in innuendo and ironies, and you can't immediately tell if he’s smitten or embittered (or both). That's what makes these songs so great. There's a built-in prickliness and tension both lyrically and musically that is so compelling to hear. Costello's confrontational, yet emotionally expressive vocals pull you right in and keep you interested from front to back. And the band complements that tension beautifully, shifting readily from jaunty to frantic as each song requires. This is a crisply moving whirlwind of an album, with half the songs clocking in under 3 minutes. This is all underpinned with a pop sensibility and ear for songcraft that few other artists can touch. When I play this album, which I do quite a bit, I never listen to it just once. It's one of those albums I can have on all day and not get tired of it. Costello has a really deep catalogue and it's full of gems. But for my money, the work he did with Attractions is his best work. This Year's Model is their masterpiece. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite, including extra tracks): (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea; Pump It Up; Radio, Radio; Little Triggers; Big Tears; Lipstick Vogue; The Beat; No Action; This Year's Girl; Living in Paradise; You Belong to Me; Lip Service; Night Rally; Hand in Hand
Tue Feb 14 2023
5
9/10 Elvis “The King” Costello
Thu Feb 16 2023
5
This is the literal foundation for indie bands in the 2010s and no one can convince me otherwise. Love this album front to back and it's so apparent how influential it was on music to come. Also, I'll never be over Costello's pure sexy vibes.
Fri Feb 17 2023
5
Elvis Costello is one of those artists I listen to quite infrequently and wonder every time I do why I don't listen to him more. I've enjoyed damn near everything of his I've ever heard, yet I've never owned any of his albums on LP or CD (digitally the only one I've ever owned is the one with The Roots, because The Roots.) This is a cover-to-cover banger through and through. Infusing power pop with a solid dose of new wave, punk rock and whip-smart lyrics makes for a timeless ass-rocker here.
Sun Feb 26 2023
5
Really really good
Wed Mar 08 2023
5
There's a nasty streak to EC that endlessly delights me. He's such an eloquent, overeducated, cynical little punk - and I love him for it. So much venom flowing through these tight little songs. He brings an angry, almost punk energy to sophisticated pop song craft (rather than the other way around). The band has a furious precision to their playing and they seem to hold nothing back. Full force from start to finish, even on the slower numbers. It's like a perfectly balanced pint of beer: full bodied and rich without being too heavy, a hint of sweetness, and just the right amount of bitterness to make it interesting.
Wed Mar 15 2023
5
Jumpin
Wed Mar 15 2023
5
Still sounds great.
Wed Mar 15 2023
5
5 The soundtrack of the 80's dorm room.
Mon Mar 27 2023
5
Outstanding album. The new wave and punk elements here make this even more appealing to me than most other Elvis Costello projects, which I tend to enjoy anyway. The combination of the vocals and instrumentals works perfectly. Favorite track: Radio, Radio
Sat Apr 08 2023
5
Fantastic pop rock. This blows away Imperial Bedroom, which came up earlier on this list. Almost every song is great. I have and will continue to keep coming back to this from time to time. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding
Mon Apr 10 2023
5
First Elvis Costello album I’ve really liked
Mon May 08 2023
5
Classic
Mon May 29 2023
5
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I got really into this album in college, it has such a consistent tightly wound sound, and overflowing with energy. The Attractions go hard throughout the entire affair, but maybe the best exemplified on “Lipstick Vogue”. Costello’s lyrics are visceral and biting.
Mon May 29 2023
5
It’s brilliant. Concept, music, lyrics, cover image for the album. I know a lot of people feel Elvis Costello is over represented on this list, and maybe he is, but I just love his whole schtick and I’ll take it any way I can get it. I love the brazen oddball-ity of him, I love the witty turns of phrase in his lyrics, I even love his strangely cloying and affected but endearing vocals. And this is peak Costello. If you need to zero in on his most accomplished moments, this would be the high watermark of his career. This and My Aim is True are perfect summations of him as an artist and creative entity. Love love love. Fuck yeah.
Tue May 30 2023
5
Top 10 Albums of all Time PREFS : TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN
Fri Jun 02 2023
5
Fantastic stuff, great album, 5 stars.
Tue Jun 06 2023
5
I loved that so so much