This Year's Model

Easy listening sing-along tunes, some great hits.

This was one of the most obnoxious albums I have ever listened to. The main singer's vocal style was just not my thing. I hated the way he pronounced certain words and stretched certain syllables. To me, it ruined almost every single song. Which is a shame because all of the instrumentals are so freaking good. Another thing that really irked me was the constant repetition at the end of a lot of the songs. I wished they had come up with a more creative way to end them; let the instruments do the talking. That is why the only song I liked on the album was "Lipstick Vogue". I really like the breakdown in the middle of the song and the key changes and/or accidentals they use on the keyboard are so so good. Even though this song has annoying repetition at the end of it as well, this is the only track on the album that shines to me.

Kind of obnoxious

Reminded me of that clash album, but better

Nothing to particularly write home about but not wholly unpleasant. Fine.

All the right Costello ingredients, just didn’t quite hit on first listen but will revisit. Spanish version muchos intriguing.

Costello’s best and one of the great albums both of its time and of the punk / new wave genre. The songs are diverse and yet unified, with the pounding musicality of the Attractions enhancing every moment of the record. It’s an extraordinary listen, combining sarcasm and spit with deep skill, unlike any other group of musicians working at that time )though there weee certainly other great bands). An all-timer.

Pretty good, slow start, but great second half, big tears and radio, radio are the highlights of the album

I’ve tried to get into this guy a few times over the years. It’s in my ballpark. There’s something about his voice and the 50s rock n roll throwbackness of it. Doesn’t click. Then XTC came on Spotify shuffle after and blew this out of the water. Only 25 more Elvis Costello albums to go. It might click eventually.

theres nothing really wrong with this, its just not for me.

Gefällt mir nicht

Fun, catchy as hell, cool to have such an influential album come up that might stay in my rotation

This guy looks like a dork but his music is actually very good.

O cara tem uma voz de bêbado bem característica de alguns outros que a gente já ouviu. Pior que achei bem chatinha, repetitivo, a voz cansa. É animado, voz contagia, mas ao mesmo tempo enjoa. Vou dar 3 na dúvida.

Elvis Costello is frustrating to me because he’s such an “almost” artist. His songs are almost catchy, his lyrics are almost interesting, his sound is almost unique, his music is almost good. But none of it fully coalesces and I’m left feeling ambivalent about the guy. I can’t even get upset about the number of albums he has on the list—it’s only almost annoying.

Rate: 7/10.

Look if this was the only album by him I had to hear on the list, 1 of his early ones, a bit of new wave then ok. Would personal pick pick Armed forces, this is Not the best of the genre by a long way but ok, few good songs lot of filler, but ok. But I have EC fatigue! I just don’t think he is my thing and easily my most overrated artist on the list. Don’t hate just don’t see the point, especially multiple times with little variations. He writes lots of songs the occasional one is good, is limited in his delivery, oh fuck it I just don’t get the adulation on here. He does music I should like but I just don’t. Hopefully I have now finished with him, but worried that’s not the case, he has more albums on here than people much more influential, much more popular, more diverse in their styles, why? The archetype of the critics darling. 2 star

This is probably my favorite Elvis Costello album. It's weird how low the guitars are mixed. Pump it up is a good song. I don't think I like Elvis Costello.

'78-'83 is the Elvis Costello era I like. What's interesting tho is each album from this period is a mixed bag. Some great songs, some meh songs. There was a Best Of put out in 1985. That thing I played to death when I was a kid. My fav Elvis Costello songs are not on this record. The goodies from this one: The Beat, Pump It Up, Chelsea, Radio Radio, Lipstick Vogue, You Belong to Me

This was the best of the Elvis Costello albums but that isnt saying much because it’s still Elvis Costello

Nunca lo habia escuchado y me parecio bastante divertido

As it happens I love two Elvis Costello albums. This is one. It rocks really hard. The bass guitar and keyboards carry so much weight here. One aspect I dislike about all Costello music is how verbose he is. Less talk, more rock.

1.5

This Year’s Model is my first of six(!!) Costello albums on this list. And, according to many, the best. Now, do I like it? .. Sorta. But not really. I was cool with his voice for the first few songs, then it got old. Man, that’s a bad voice… “Little Triggers” was such a drag, easily the worst song on the album. I like a good ballad here and there, but goddamn this guy is not cut out for them. New wave is a very hit or miss genre for me. I love some of it, but others make me wanna dig in my ears and rip my eardrums out. I think Elvis Costello is somewhere in the middle there. The album’s not the worst thing ever, and it’s listenable most of the time, but I can only take so much of it. Will I return to it? Probably won’t ever sit through it front to back again. But I can see myself coming back to a few songs when I’m in the mood for some mild, inoffensive new wave. Favorite songs: Pump It Up, Hand In Hand, Radio Radio

More upbeat

Bleh

Not into it

Superb. New wave’s darling is more than a flash in the pan, but an enduring rock icon. This sophomore effort dazzles with stunning word play and rockin’ style.

8/10

Didn’t have high expectations for this one, the last Elvis Costello album I got was terrible. This one though, it’s not bad. Some of the songs sounded like they were made for a 90’s rom com montage, but on the whole this album is enjoyable. It’s still in the vein of mainstream non offensive “rock” but there’s something there for sure

I just found Elvis Costello's voice incredibly grating all the way through the album. Doesn't help that the only enjoyable song was the last one

A few songs I like and the rest of the album pretty average. I don't think this is an album that I would revisit.

In one ear and straight out the other. Quite samey, but probably deserves more

I'm sorry that I am unable to appreciate Elvis Costello more than this.

This is the only Elvis I will listen to. I like the sound of his music.

This is probably the best Elvis Costello album I’ve had so far. He’s mostly not for me but I do really like Pump It Up!

This one here is a classic Elvis Costello album. Much is said about the large number of inclusions of its discography but for once and deservedly so, this album is a worthy addition. 8/10 [KEEP]

reminded me of will woods ngl dunno why, prolly cuz of the vocals, so far it's aight, smth I could listen to if anyone put it on I can imagine that this artist was influential in a way during his time

this town aint big enough for two elvises the album itself is kinda boring, repetetive and all, i wouldnt complain if i had to listen to it in a public setting but HELL NAW all my homies gotta stay away from ts

Tight and fast-moving, no filler. Lots of sneering. Great Elvis.

Retro charm meets modern energy

The worst Elvis Costello album, apart from all the others.... 174 albums in, 5th Elvis Costello so far extrapolates to 29 in total.

This is easily my favorite Elvis Costello album that I've heard, his voice and lyrics are at their peak throughout the tracklisting here: biting, scathing, sarcastic, and sincere, usually all within the same song. The Attractions prove themselves to all be experts at their instruments, with so many of my favorite musical moments on any album being found on here. Endlessly relistenable and interesting, and one of the best albums to come out of the new wave movement.

Mhh it's kinda bad and very boring and repetitive. I don't get the fuss about elvis costello. Is it because the music press likes him because he represents them in some way?

quick easy listen, 4/5

Elvis Costello has a fun and unique sound along with some hits I recognized from growing up, but I wasn’t in the mood for a full album of it today.

I feel like Elvis Costello can get a bit of a bad rap these days. Sure, his stuff was a bit overplayed in the late 70s, and maybe having 5 albums of his on this list is... well okay yeah he's not THAT good. But on This Year's Model in particular, I feel like Costello's style of New Wave-inspired Pop Punk ends up working pretty well! I especially like how Steve Nieve's keyboard sounds on a lot of the tracks such as "You Belong To Me" and "This Year's Girl". A bit dated, maybe, but still really nice to listen to. Costello's vocals are. Well. About as much as you can expect from Costello, although I do like how he sounds on "No Action" a good bit. For an Elvis Costello album, this is well-above the rest. Sadly that bar wasn't exactly high to cross in the first place.

This was a drag…

What am I missing? I've never heard a good Elvis Costello song. Someone please explain to me what I'm not getting with his music.

Solid.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I will be listening again.

3.25 - I liked it more than the last time I tried it.

Bang average album. Not bad. Not amazing. Vanilla is the favourite flavour for some people. For me I would expect something more if it's on this list. This is definitely one of the albums of all time. It certainly exists.

Ni slabo

ok i guess

I don t like this remastered version

He's got his own unique sound, a few good songs on here.

Couldn't stand his voice

I find this guy insanely annoying but some of the instrumentals are quite good

Interesting pop/punk style. Meh

I wasn't familiar with the artist or the music that much, but I was very positively surprised by it. It was generally pretty upbeat and the singer's voice took some getting used to, but in the end was also pretty pleasant to listen to. It just missed the exclamation mark for the full points. 4/5

Pretty fly album.

I was not a fan of this album. Something about his voice just did not click for me.

Elvis Costellos poppy sounds are always a fun listen, but the sequence of short and lively songs left little impressions. A fun listen, but not one I'm not going to revisit

I don't particularly enjoy Elvis Costello's vocals or his music overall. It can be repetitive and grandiose at times, which I feel is why Pump it Up is one of his only hits, given that it has an easy hook and simple rhythm. That said, his music sounds ahead of its time and I can see why it found popularity in a time without much competition among the genre.

I couldn't really get into his voice, but the instrumentals and music itself was very good. You can clearly hear how much this album has meant for later genres that I really enjoy so it gets points for that.

Not exactly a grating voice, but it gets a little annoying after so many songs. The album feels very modern for the year it was released, it's timeless. Sadly, aside from Pump It Up, it wasn't that interesting to me.

Eh

No me acordaba que existía Elvis Costello. Me arrepiento no haberme puesto a escucharlo después de ver su disco en 'Días de Vinilo'. Muy bueno, también pensaba que era más viejo pero es del 77/78, ya con el New Wave. Muy entretenido.

If I had to keep one Elvis Costello on this list, it would be this one. I think this captures Mr Costello at his most accessible, though of course he’s still as pretentious as ever. And the dude’s voice. Good God Christ *this dude’s voice!* I just hate it. And he sings too much because his songs are too verbose. He has the classic singer-songwriter disease of caring more about the words than the music. Anyways. Not my cup of tea, but “Pump It Up” and “Radio, Radio” are straight bangers. THREE STARS

I really do like the thought and ideas Costello put into this album and some of his other albums (but mainly this one.) But I just can't seem to jive with him other than a song here and there. I'm not completely sure what it is, I think it's the way he sings the lyrics (not the voice) are what I don't like. Also just a lot of the tracks are underwhelming, and lack any substance for me. This is my second listen of this album (first listen was a year and a half ago/before I started the generator.) Second listen didn't help it's case, I can't get with some of his other albums, so I might simply just not like music of his. Oh well, at least "Pump It Up" is an amazing song. Highlight Song/s: "Pump It Up"

Classic must-own for anyone with ears.

This is a strange one for me, because I can tell the music is good, I can tell Elvis Costello is a solid songwriter and vocalist with a backing band playing a great album, and I listen to a healthy enough lump of Costello that I'm neither unfamiliar with his work or actively not a fan of him. This all seems to point towards a favourable review. Tragically, I just didn't click with this album. I can't even put my finger on anything specific, there was just no spark. Good musicianship, just lyrics, good songs, dare I say good album overall. It pains me to give what-I'm-deeming an objectively good album a middling score of 3, but the lack of personal connection on this one... I can't compute it, it just didn't work for me. I've seen plenty of people leave 1 star reviews for the same reason, I'm not going to be that cruel, it just, as so many people have said before about so many different things, wasn't for me. Sorry Elvis.

Too much upbeat angst

This is probably the best album of his I’ve heard so far, and it’s still not very good. His vocal style comes off as a bit pretentious to me, which makes it harder to get through even when the music itself has some energy behind it.

While I can see the influence this album has and some songs were really good. This album as a whole wasn’t mind blowing, but I will return to a good chunk of songs.

no es mi estilo, no guardé ninguna canción y no lo sentí particularmente timeless

The first Elvis Costello album I got, I only really noted for two things: a white dude saying the N-word and how goofy Goon Squad was. So I'm happy that This Year's Model was noticeably better. The singles, Pump It Up and Radio Radio, were noticeably the best part of the album. But the rest is solid. The Beat was pretty good, Lip Service was neat, and something about (I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea was pretty funny. If the rest of Elvis Costello's stuff is like this, then it'll be much more enjoyable to go through.

I feel like I could listen to it again? It’s alright. I feel like a lot of these albums are just meh

I don't quite love it but I certainly didn't mind listening

Day843 - this has been probably my favorite elvis costello album yet.

Solid power pop album with plenty of hits. Loses a bit of steam towards the middle, but finds back to old form in the second half. Oh, and I accidentally found out what They Might Be Giants must have listened to when they wrote "They'll need a crane" ... spoiler: It's "Hand In Hand".

Love, love, love this album. One of those albums you could play at any time and it would be the perfect time to play it!

Classic

All elvis Costello sounds the same to me

If Television time traveled and also became the get up kids

I've concluded that I don't like his voice and can't get past it

'Radio, Radio' is an all-time banger. This isn't my favorite album of his, but still a wonderful, bop-filled listen.

It was alright, cool use of church organs but didn’t sound like anything I hadn’t heard before

Elvis Costello's redemption

Crazy that this was made in the year it was I can appreciate the expression in his voice But idk. It was surprisingly fun sounding though

Pretty meh

No sé si es malo, pero Elvis Costello me aburre taaaanto.

Surprised how modern this album sounded! Incredible bass tones and really locked in performance by the whole band. It's funny his name is Elvis bc he sounds a little like Elvis. Clearly an influence on [[The New Pornographers]] and other indie hybrid synth/rockers. I'd give this album a 4 but I felt the underlying gender tension was uncomfortable. It seems there's been a lot of discussion about whether this album is misogynistic or at least adversarial towards women or whether he's simply assuming that persona/viewpoint as a chacter sketch (supported by the album cover). Either way it's something that might make me less likely to revisit what was otherwise a great album.

At points I wanted this album to be over and hated it and wanted to skip this trash. But also at points there are like hints of good things in these trash songs. i tried to force myself to like it. I couldn't.

ehh 2.4

I have to listen to this one again because I was doing some other stuff while it was on, but I heard enough to know it's at least a 3.5 that I'd round up to 4. This is now the second Elvis Costello album I've gotten, both 4s. I think I'm going to have to do a deep dive

some reason i've always loved this album, just like Iggy Pop. I had a moment in my teenage years where this just did something for me.

Vraiment trop répétitif... J'ai bien cru que je n'arriverais pas au bout !

Pourquoi pas C'est assez entraînant J'aime bien l'idée C'est assez répétitif quoi 3

On s'emmerde un peu non ?

Good and very talented

Great Songs: No Action, Pump It Up Good Songs: Tiny Steps, This Year's Girl, You Belong To Me, Hand In Hand, Lip Service, Lipstick Vogue, Radio, Radio, Mid Songs: The Beat, Little Triggers, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, Living In Paradise, Night Rally, Big Tears Bad Songs:

I'm digging this one. Not the biggest Elvis Costello fan, but I'm coming around. There's some fun stuff on here. It's interesting hearing this and knowing when it was released. You can hear how this style began to permeate throughout the 80s in particular. Dig it.

Goyslop

There are a lot of reviews on here whining about there being too much Elvis Costello. If anything there's not enough. Radio Radio is a damned killer song, and the rest of the album is nearly as good.

ist eigentlich ganz okay. trotzdem klingt er schmierig und gut ist das album auch nicht. reicht langsam mal mit elvis costello

Nee, dit is nog niet het laatste album van Elvis Costello dat we voor onze kiezen krijgen! Zes albums heeft de man erin staan, en euhm ja, waarom eigenlijk? Ik vind het wel aardige muziek, maar zo speciaal is het nou ook weer niet. Ik bedoel, wat staat er op deze plaat? Een zuurstokorgel, een ripoff van The last time van de Stones, en het typische neuzelstemgeluid van de man zelf natuurlijk. Hier is echt helemaal niks bijzonders aan. Zonde, want hier had ook gewoon nóg een plaat van Morissey kunnen staan. Hm, nu ik het over deze snoblieveling heb, wanneer krijgen we dáár weer eens een album van? (Kijkt naar het album van morgen) Oh ja...

Het is elke keer een verrassing wat de man levert. Het is deze keer vrij toegankelijk, soms gaat het richting de latere festival-rock, soms richting radio-pop. Echt onderscheidend is dit album dus niet, maar het luistert prettig. Dat is ook wat waard natuurlijk.

Nummer 5 als ik goed tel, hierna nog 1 te gaan. Ondanks mijn aversie tegen Elvis Costello vind ik dit misschien wel zijn beste album. Het is lekker uptempo, er zit een fijne bas in en er staat een hitje op. Misschien dat ik dit album wel zelfs 4 sterren durf te geven.

Love this album and especially Pump It Up.

This is pretty good. I’m a bit of an Elvis Costello fan. I probably wouldn’t own a copy of this but it’s probably better than The Black Album.

A little bit of Elvis Costello goes a long way. This is the first of… *sighs* SIX??!! HE GETS SIX!!?? The first of 6 Elvis Costello albums I have rolled for this project. The thing about Elvis Costello on the site is that every single one of his albums have a below average rating. This is the first album in chronological order for him on the site, and the second highest rated. My God, if this is almost as good as it gets for him I’m going to be lighting this bot up with 1’s and 2’s. This is not the first time that I’ve railed on the authors of the book for including an artist multiple times. In fact, I don’t even think this is the first time I’ve done that this week, but it really REALLY needs to be said this time. There is no freaking shot you need to put this guy on here more than once. Unfortunately, I hate his voice. Just absolutely can not stand it. It’s better on some songs than others, but the way he sings just specifically annoys the hell out of me. The instruments also just don’t do much for me either, especially paired with having to carry the weight of that voice. I wanted to give this a 3, but the entire back half of this album is just bad. It starts off fine I guess, and “Pump It Up”, his biggest hit, is catchy enough. I mean, it’s not amazing but it’s pretty catchy. The only other song worth note, and my personal favorite on the album, is “(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea”, as I also found it catchy. I think what ultimately makes me give this a 2 is that not only would I never return to any of this, if it was on and I heard his voice I would actively try to turn it off. It bugs me to no end that Elvis freaking Costello gets an entire 6 albums on here. I mean seriously, that’s just ridiculous and should not be the case. 6 little poison pills that I’ll wake up to at one point or another and just know I’m in for a bad time. Top it off with the fact that this is considered perhaps his best work, and I’m rating it a 2. Not a good look, not a good first impression, and not a good first album. I gave it the day, but it was a struggle to even give it that.

Reminds me of the beetles a little and I do think that the beats are fun and refreshing he good with his wordplay and writing 7/10

Actually pretty good! I was skeptical given how much this guy's been on the list but this one was enjoyable.

It was fun but forgettable

Elvis Costello is definitely not my favorite — just doesn’t connect. Uninteresting harmonics, fair to poor vocals.

Another ok album. Another not my style.

Love this. Light punk / new wave is right up my alley. Light punk in that the music is more complex than more punky punk, but snappy and energetic.

I hate it

I noticed some RHCP lyrical style

Some catchy stuff at points but mostly amnoyonh

Not a fan of Elvis Costello, the voice is irritating, the songs all sound the same and after two albums now I pray I don't get any more anytime soon.

Reminds me a bit of no doubt - curious if Elvis C was an influence on them. Great bass lines.

!!!

Ah my nemesis, we meet again... This one wasn't actually too bad. I do really like Pump It Up. Songs were ok, voice still terrible. Not the worst thing I've heard and it was short enough 3 ⭐️

Album 165. This Year's Model (https://open.spotify.com/album/3QyqhSxACBlGzsai7TqB1G?si=FyY3CnIvRRS8XC4jSf24jg) — Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1978) Not bad, but absolutely forgettable for me. Fuck, there're five albums of this dude in the list, it'll be harsh. 2/5 No liked songs

Will definitely revisit this.

It just could never feel right if someone asked you who your favorite band was and you say Elvis Costello. Like there really isn’t a single “cool” feel to this guy. It’s like Billy Joel. Always losing sounding. Soooooo I’m not sure who is really responsible for the sound of this album. Did the Attractions bring relevance to Elvis or was it The other way . around? Pump It Up sounds like that’s non rap Wild Wild West song. Despite my assumptions on this album, I’m impressed. I don’t doubt that Elvis became pussified as the years went on and is stuck in adult contemporary but I guess there was a time when he had fun.

Finally, the last Costello album on this list. And all sound the same, somehow. This is his second album, so a bit more on the lower end.

definitely his best work but i don’t know why there’s like 100 of his albums on this list

Best Elvis Costello album so far

Elvis Costello is so weird. Some of his stuff is so painful to get through. And some is great. Luckily for me today, this one falls in the latter category.

Álbum divertido, dinamico. Así muy especial? No lo sé, se parece a muchas cosas que he oído. Pero eso no le quita lo divertido

5/10

The best Elvis Costello album. Some absolutely classic guitar pop.

Excellent album. A 3,8

Siento que es un indie ochentoso, podrían ser tranquilamente temas de los strokes o arctic monkeys pero con un toque ochentoso. Me hizo acordar a the kooks ni bien sonó el primer tema.

Nothing interesting here.

Unified in sound and themes. Dude's a masterful lyricist and a lot of the attractions stuff goes hard, maybe this hardest.

How is it possible that Elvis Costello is English and David Byrne is American? I could never figure that one out.

Has some great radio hits, but his voice and the album seems shrill. High end intensity makes it hard to listen to.

Loved this album. Not a bad song. Can’t wait to listen again.

Not bad, but no for me

I will not include the bonus tracks from the 2021 remaster in this review. Ahh, yes, the first album with Elvis Costello's backing band, The Attractions. If there were ever a Costello record that I was most looking forward to, it would be the one featuring the hit "Pump It Up", the very first of his tracks I heard on the soundtrack for Rock Band 2. With that said, how does This Year's Model hold up? I will be honest, this is the first Costello record on my album journey that I immediately fell in love with. From the get-go with "No Action", this album boasted hooks for days. It's clear that Elvis & the Attractions took inspiration from their favorite 60s artists, while also embracing new wave elements and even a bit of punk energy in the instrumental compositions. Steve Nieve's bright keyboard playing helped accentuate Elvis's tasteful guitar licks, bolstered by an impeccable rhythm section from Bruce and Pete Thomas. It certainly helped that Nick Lowe did a stellar production job, making every note pop with such crisp quality. Along the way, Elvis wrung out some strikingly visual and nervously riddled lyrics. From describing his faltering relationship as cold and distant over the phone on "No Action", to the dark, abusive nature of the fashion and media industries on "This Year's Girl" and "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea", to the uncertainties in adolescence and early manhood explored on "The Beat", to the full-on sexual frustration on "Pump It Up", "Little Triggers", and "Lip Service", to the anecdote of two lovers going straight to hell together on "Hand in Hand", to the soul-crushing corruption of self on "Living in Paradise", Elvis managed to infuse these tales of vicious disillusion with some delightfully spiteful wit and double entendres. Probably the hardest-hitting track comes at the very end with "Night Rally", where Elvis calls out fascism and other such movements that goad people to target and dehumanize those who are different or don't follow along. The abrupt ending sent chills down my spine. I don't have much to say, cause This Year's Model is an astounding record, not only cementing Elvis Costello as an ingenious singer-songwriter, but also establishing one of the most noteworthy backing bands in rock history.

Good

No Action. I like the irony of the lyrics. 2 songs in, I can see why listeners hear misogyny. First side is pretty good. Listening, it's more like a dude who's going through a heartbreak, and he's working through his emotions. Can't say I've ever really listened to Elvis Costello before. I like it. Pretty abrupt way to end an album.

Way too many Elvis Costello albums in this list. It's not terrible it's just the same old stuff.

"oh hey I know "Pump It Up" maybe this album will actually be good" It was not

Sophie - I know Elvis Costello by name only, and I wish it had been kept that way. This just did nothing for me. I don’t find the songs to be very individual and the style of his voice isn’t pleasing to listen to. The lyrics are weird. There’s genuinely nothing I enjoyed about this. 1/5

this will be another perfect album. i should listen to TYM at least once a year. perhaps i will remember to do so after this. there just is not a bad song on this beast of an album. p.s. the 2021 deluxe version is chock full of great demos, outtakes, and live trax. very worth hearing if you've only heard the original

Certainly one of the better of this legion of albums by Elvis Costello. I think this is as high as he goes…

Nada

Gun

Cookie-cutter /5

Is it bad that I couldn’t do a whole album of his in one setting? I find his voice too annoying to hear his lyrics which are supposed to be his best stuff. I finished it. A grand total of one song that I’d like to hear again. (Lipstick Vogue) I just can’t seem to get into Costello despite a lifetime of trying…. Sorry fans.

#88/1001 🇬🇧 I like the earlier era Elvis much more than his later stuff. This is punchy, up beat record with some sharp lyrics and a great backing band. I think that its Best tracks: (I don't want to go to) Chelsea, Little Triggers, Pump it Up.

Classic

The really superb instrumentation gets sunk on almost every track by Costello’s repetitive vocal bullshit. Chelsea definitely the standout track.

This made me realize that I like Elvis Costello maybe only in small doses. Lots of good songs though.

5/10 Best songs: You Belong to Me, Lip Service, Lipstick Vogue First time listening to Elvis Costello and my big takeaway is that his vocal affectation and pared back music give big pop-punk vibes, albeit 20 years too early. I'm of the opinion that this would be a good album if it were sung by someone else (who didn't do the specific pretentious affectation Elvis does). It's not exactly bad, and a few songs are pretty good, but I sure don't think I'll ever willingly listen to this album again.

I enjoyed some of the ska sounds and guitar riffs Saved song was The Beat and (I Don't Want to go to) Chelsea

I am a vocalist. Something I get asked from time to time is if I have any tips on how to sing well. I don't--most of my experience comes from singing along to Mike Patton in my car. The one tip I could provide, if any, is to really put your back into it. Embody the words. Invest in what you're saying. Even if you're a "bad singer" you can find the right people as long as you're presenting confidence. I have never heard any of Elvis Costello's music before, but obviously, the first thing that struck me was his voice. He's a fine singer, but his enthusiasm is what got to me. I found it very easy to get over the obstacle of thinking "why does he sound like that?" and just appreciate it. Then came the impeccable drumming. Then came the savvy, nimble basslines. One by one, every piece came together, and each song sticks to your brain like peanut butter. Side A runs through the listener like a freight train, and while side B slows things down, all the tracks still have the minutiae that make them distinct and satisfying.

All sort of sounded the same but there was nothing actually terrible

Great album cover

A classic. The consistency in songwriting here is unreal

Fattar vad Gessle gillar med dessa. Gillar inte hur han sjunger men musiken är ok.

Meh

Lo escuché mientras hacia la cama

Enjoyed this. Thought the performances from the drummer and bassist were top tier. 4

Not gonna go track by track. All my life I figured I hated Elvis Costello. Not sure why. Maybe the Elvis name? So I really expected to hate this album, but I didn't. It was alright. Just new wave without as much of the synth element, which admittedly is the part I like most about new wave. Pump It Up and Living in Paradise are the standouts. Writing's alright, I think the lead singer's kinda limited vocal range contributes to the post punk feel. That one organ sound did start to overstay its welcome a bit by the end. I'd call it a 2.5 or so.

Pump It Up = classic. Also familiar with Radio, Radio. The rest of this is alright. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Different sound, unique to Elvis Costello. (3)

I didn't love or dislike this, and I look forward to not loving or disliking all of his other albums.

168/1001 First listen. This guy is hard on the ears and hard on the eyes. He still trudged on and made a name for himself though. There’s a lesson in there kids. 4/10

Urgh. Second Elvis Costello album in a week. The man can’t sing.

I was listening to Little Triggers and I got concerned since I know how Oliver's Army goes. Was he going to say it again? Anyways, this is where my love for Elvis Costello begins to subside and I begin to hear why a lot of you can't stand him. There's points where his voice becomes too much, like he's doing an SNL impression of himself. My Aim Is True is solid, but I didn't expect to not really love the two Attractions albums I've gotten. There are great songs on both that are on albums with other songs that I don't care for. Out of any new songs I could've found, I will admit that Lipstick Vogue is a great one. Oh, Elvis, you'll get that one and Radio Radio and Accidents Will Happen...and I Hope You're Happy Now. Shoutout Bruce Thomas on bass (6/10, 3/5 on this scale)

Another amazing record from Elvis Costello. He has such a great, unique sound. Part Buddy Holly, part Bruce Springsteen, all rock and roll. He can also be quite tongue in cheek, which is always a plus in my book when done right. Or course here, it is.

I thought Elvis Costello was olderschool than this, this sounds like Weezer. 78, huh!

this years model well I listened 4 times today. no fucking clue what genre this album is, is it jazz is it punk what's with all these fucking organs? it's all just frenetic rambling, if the doors were an inspiration it's lacking mystique. the title comes full circle, as there's two versions. enjoyed the 78 recording more. took a while to hear the lyrics, cause I was just confused about instrument choices, and the weird backing vocals. unsure what Elvis deal is, is he incel, is he top g, is it satire, (Seems too personal for that) is he just cooked out. there's some decent musicianship here in isolation, but fuck me the vibes whack 2/5

Nothing to bad or good. Feels like 2000s rock in some songs. Low 3

Uninspiring album. Sounds like Ryan gosling doing karaoke. Funky synth keys(?) which were neat but not enough for me to enjoy the album.

Fav- you belong to me 3/5

#316/1001. I really respect artists, who have a unique sound, are instantly recognizable and write their songs in a personal style, all this fitting to a slot in the musical map we didn't know had an empty spot. And while Elvis Costello is surely one such artist (not the only one like that in this list), I still just don't like his music (not to mention his voice). Repeat listens might help it but I doubt it.

Second Costello album this week, apparently there are more to come. Liked this significantly more than the elephant album the other day. Tighter, more focused, more tolerable lyrics and songwork.

Es más o menos equilibrado aunque mucha de su música parece por momentos usar la misma pista o que tienen arreglos muy muy similares fuera de eso para una tarde entretenida y descubrir variedad está bien

Buen álbum, con mucha energía

I genuinely thought this album was from the early 2000s, ahead of its time Favourite track: Living in Paradise

I love Elvis Costello. Is this his best album? no, but his first 4 or so albums were perfection. This one is up there.

bitter, lowkey misogynistic, and unfortunately really good. but just so we are abundantly clear Elvis, women don't owe you anything boss 🫩 Fav Song: Hand in Hand Least Fav: You Belong to Me

Holds up.

Had some good songs, overall quite listenable

Demasiado alegre para mí gusto

Ei tuo Costello oikein iske ja niitä näkyy listalla riittävän

Это было интересно! Обязательно переслушать!

no

His sound is fine. But really isn't something I'd go seek out to listen to, more just something milquetoast to have on in the background. Standout is "Pump It Up"

You latched onto the wrong Elvis, guy

No era necesario poner más discos de Elvis Costello. Me gusta pero prefiero descubrir nuevas cosas. En su línea

___________ I I I I < 🧍‍♂️> I I I 💀 I I ♟️ I.🚶‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍.. I ◼️ 🟥🟥🟥🟥 ⬛️ 🟥🟥🟥🟥 Aww, Man…Elvis Costello Again!?!? Is Iron Maiden even in this thing????

Pros: It's 20 minutes shorter than 'Brutal Youth', it has "Pump It Up" on it Cons: It's ANOTHER Elvis Costello album

Really struggled getting through this album. There were bright spots instrumentally, but I really couldn’t get over Costello’s voice and how most of the album felt like a parody of the worst of classic rock. Not looking forward to how many times this guy is gonna show up on the list after this first impression. Favorite Songs: “(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea”, “Lip Service”, “Lipstick Vogue” Least Favorite Songs: “Little Triggers”, “You Belong To Me” Low 2.

I have heard of Elvis Costello I had not listened to This year's Model I had heard the singles. Pretty good. Pop punk might the the best description I can think of. Tighter and cleaner than punk, but has pop sensibilities. I liked it.

Ok

Reasonable

his voice and vocals easily overpower everything else that is happening in the album. the lyrics in every song feel overabundant for just 2-3 minute songs and just boring. especially when there is so little variance in how he delivers them.

"Pump It Up" is such an all-time bop. Patrick Stump has to be a Costello fan.

Punchy! Sounds different enough from other 70’s rock on this list that it kept my interest all the way through. Solid 3.5.

This was a nice listen. The blend of new wave and punk, paired with lyrics exploring objectification, angst, and desire, makes it a good way to start the day. The downside is that the first half is far more memorable, while the second half feels a bit padded. Some of those tracks could have done more on the instrumental side, and the vocal performance occasionally slips into autopilot. I'd revisit the album at some point to see if I missed anything. My favorite songs are "This Year’s Girl" and "The Beat".

Great

It's ok

4/7

Yeah, um that was........different? Interesting? Unusual? I hadn't noticed this before with Elvis, but there is a similarity in his voice to Tom Petty. Sadly, his songs aren't as good. This is a 2.5 all day. So, does it get a 2 or a 3? I mean it is somewhat better than a lot of the 2s, but it would be at the bottom end of the 3s I've given. Tough choice.

Not my cup of tea

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? 🤔 Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? 🤔

Eh. Enjoyed the first 1/3-1/2 and then I fell off.

A lot of my experience with this album was "ohhh, he sang that song??" Short and sweet. Fun stuff!

My dad's chicken (no flavor)

Some decent moments but overall not for me

Enjoyed that, big standouts Pump It Up and Radio Radio.

Elvis Costello's voice just doesn't do it for me but I like the actual songs . It was also a decent length for an album and a decent enough time

not my genre of music I try to like it but I cant

Elvis Costello's second album lives up to the promise of his first album. Every song on here is a banger. A perfect mix of new wave and punk rock. At least, the attitude of punk rock.

Dope

Quite nice.

It was pretty fine, but in general, I'm not a huge Elvis Costello fan. I don't dislike his music, though.

Feel good 70s music! 2 stars.

I accidentally listened to the back half of this record on shuffle, so I had to go back and listen again. Some heaters on this one. No Action, Pump It Up, and Living in Paradise are my favorites. Weirdly enough My Aim is True was one of my most listened to albums in college. Love that record. This one isn't as cohesive imo despite having more critical acclaim. I like it. 3.5/5

they really knocked this one out of the park. so many great moments here, both from Elvis (lyrically + vocally) and the band (melodic bass lines, rhythm guitar that charges forward with the drums, the occasional sprinkle of organ). the four songs that kick this off are outstanding ("Pump It Up" is such a jam), and you gotta give props to whoever was responsible for the sequencing of the tracks across this LP. the slower songs never stand in the way of the momentum or feel out-of-place. I have to imagine these songs were fun as hell to play live with this group.

Reminded me A LOT of Spoon.

There is something off-putting about this album, but I cannot put my finger on it. Is it my mood today? Is it the singing? The lack of essence? I really don't know 5/10

His best song is "Just give a kidney, to a father or a dad", and that wasn't on this album for some reason. Really disliked the singing on this in the morning but the backing band is great! Some great wee tunes, but lacklustre writing and ok singing performance. Overall good

This was great!! Kinda gives vibes similar to the cars, so that's right up my alley. 8/10

Quite fun, catchy. Don't looove his voice but it's okay. Band is really tight. Don't like the cover. 7,5/10

It’s ok. Elvis isn’t a very good singer, so if you can get past that…

Love this nerd. He’s a gem

I just can’t get over his voice. I really hate it.

i bet it smells soooo stinky in that recording studio

A cradle of genius. Every song is a treasure! No matter what mood you’re in it will be lifted by this masterpiece

I listened to it more than once!

Album 11 3/15/26 I know the first two Elvis Costello albums well, saved the weekend album for Sunday. I think that the full reissue tracklist is the definitive version, with both I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea and Radio Radio. B side Big Tears I'm indifferent to. I don't actually listen to Elvis Costello albums often but have a lot of his music in my playlists, because I'm indifferent to so many of the songs. My Last Year's Model listening experience was overall positive. The album explores a few different styles and tempos without changing instrumentation. I'm a sucker for combo organs so no complaints there. The skill of the whole backing band is too good to single out any one member. Elvis as a songwriting force has hits and misses but a lot of his best work not written for the debut is on this record. Aforementioned I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea and Radio Radio are outstanding tracks. Some of the lines from the latter about anesthetizing the way that you feel will always stick with me. The busy drumming and bass on Chelsea are matched by Lipstick Vogue, another personal all time favorite. Pump it Up and No Action round out my top 5. The main issue with this album is that even though this wasn't my first listen and I just completed it, after the top 5, my memory of all the other tracks blends together. The quality control just wasn't that great, but there aren't any stinkers here in my opinion. The all around strength of Radio Radio, the fun of the faster tunes, and my love for Nick Lowe productions is what propels the album to a light 4 for me.

The better Elvis

4.5

4.5

If there is a case i've ever made that I should absolutely love this artist this is the album. There are some there is quite a bit that I really dig about this I like his melodic illusion to 60s pop music but filtered through late 70s Post Punk. I absolutely adore the energy of this album. And one thing I noticed while listening to this one is how much The Cars basically lifted Costello's post punk oddities and filtered it through a radio ready power pop drive. I should absolutely love this album. If I had a lick of sense this would be a solid 10/five stars. But I don't . For some reason I still feel a bit at arm's reach from his sound and I've never been able to really put my finger on it. As far as for specific thoughts on this album side one is definitely the hotter side. Between "No Action", "This Year's Girl" and "Pump It Up", that side has the post punk grit I usually eat up. (For some reason, until now, I never realized how much The Escape Club's "WWW" stole the groove and melodic verses from "PIU"). But to me the one song that I truly loved on that side was little triggers which to me had a great '60s balladry to it. The second side had its moments but nothing as immediate or in your face as side one period. The only other song I would want to mention from the album is the bonus track "Radio Radio" which has a fkin killer groove and a song that I always feel like I should like a lot more than I actually do, especially given the SNL lore behind it. I'm going to stick in an 8.4 for the album but this is definitely one that I should revisit from time to time cuz if there is a key that will actually unlock my hidden Elvis Costello fandom it would be this album (8.4) ★★★★

Good melodic songwriting, and a very cool energetic approach. 4.5 stars

Great album. Pretty much picks up where his debut left off but with a tighter band. Highlights for me are "No Action", "Pump it Up", "I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea", and "Lip Service". Would be a easy 5 if "Big Tears" and "Radio Radio" were part of the official tracklist, but as it is, 4.5 stars.

Anok Yai is apparently this year’s model. Kendall Jenner last year’s. This one has the odd excellent jam like Pump It Up and I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea (as a fellow Liverpool fan I can relate. Such a horrible plastic club) but overall is not quite as poppy or as glorious as the immediate follow-up Armed Forces and doesn’t hold a candle to the smooth sophisticated lounge masterpiece that is his collaboration album Painted From Memory with Burt Bacharach which should surely be a priority for the book ahead of this one. Low 4.

Pretty good

My favourite of his albums so far, some great pop songs with catchy riffs

3.5/5. My third Costello album so far, and this is honestly the best one yet. there’s a lot of fun little riffs and bass grooves on here where it almost starts feeling a little post-punky. Highlights would probably be “pump it up”, “little triggers” and “I don’t want to go to Chelsea.” Elvis Costello also shows himself as a solid lyricist here. A good album overall, there’s a decent handful of songs I could see myself coming back to. I agree with the critique that Costello is over-represented on the 1,001 albums list, but if any of them belong, this one is probably it.

When No Action, the first song started, it gave me so much of a mid-2000's vibe that I had to double check that I was listening to the right album. The rest of the album though is a lot more "normal" for its time. Still, an interesting discovery as I'd heard the name but never listened to Elvis Costello. All things considered, a pretty okay album.

I enjoyed parts but overall this wasn't for me. 4/10

8/10

quite irrelevant to me

While I've always viewed Elvis Costello as a skilled and intelligent song writer, I've never been a particular fan of his work, and that remains the same after listening to this. There's nothing bad about it - Pump It Up is a solid pop rock track as is the Blondie-esque Radio Radio. The majority of the rest of the tracks just sort of passed me by, leaving me asking myself why he wanted to sing in an American accent when I knew he was from Liverpool! I think i was expecting it to be a little bit angrier, but found it a little underwhelming. A middling 3 stars.

This is easily the best Costello album I've properly listened to. The musicality of the album appeals more than his others. Interesting, original songs, and feels a bit less gimmicky. I still don't completely connect to his sound, but this is a very good album.

Peut-être victime de l'attente à Lyon Part-Dieu, mais vraiment pas séduisant...

I’ve loved this album since it was released in 1978. You can zoom in or out on this album. If you zoom in, you find quite a confusing mix of emotional insecurity, detached observation, social commentary (including on contemporary media themes) and even some politics. If you zoom out, without getting too hung up on specific meanings, you hear the massively invigorating effect of Elvis Costello having added The Attractions as his backing band - collectively, they are simply brilliant - and song upon song full of lyrics that are snappy, articulate, clever and sometimes funny. The songs from this album that were hits at the time, such as Pump It Up (an all-time rock classic) and (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea, are extremely well known and deservedly so. But there’s much pleasure to be had from lower-profile songs such as Little Triggers and Night Rally. Certainly there’s more vulnerability in this set of songs than many allowed at the time. For all the sneering, male-voice bravado, you get the distinct impression of a young man who was excited and emboldened as a newly-minted rock star, whilst simultaneously uncertain of his status in that world and, in any event, more than a little disgusted by the shallowness of what he found around him and the consequent effects on his own and others’ behaviour. This album has been hugely influential, recognised as a bridge between punk rock and new wave. It still sounds great today.

I've not really been a fan of Elvis Costello over the years, but listening to a full album from years ago makes me think I've been a bit unfair. It's not a bad experience. Musically and lyrically good. I still don't like his vocal style, but it is what it is.

Dunno why it just feels like a bit of a chore listening to this today! It is not the mood but I’d take it over bloody linkin park

Pretty darn good for 1978. Good BPM but meh on variety. Bops: 1-Pump It Up 2-(I don't want to go to) Chelsea 3-Radio Radio

Ok I’ll officially say it, after all of these Costello albums I no longer like him. It’s just the same shit over and over again and that would be fine if it was so original it was inventing its own genre like a lot of The Who albums, but this is just 60s style radio friendly rock n roll with better more modern (for the 80s) production. So it’s basically a complicated tribute band with an annoying grating singer. The weirdest part about me getting so sick to death of this man and his band is that I can concede that this is probably their most pop culturally relevant album, it has all his biggest hits like “radio radio” and “pump it up”. But I’m just done with this act, I went from being moderately impressed with albums like “Armed forces” which is probably my favorite album of his, to being just so upset and frustrated with his persistent presence on this fucking list. He has completely overstayed his welcome for me. I pray that this is the very last album I get of his. And I won’t rate this album based off of my disgust for his entire body of work, I’ll keep it civil and review this album honestly and not give it a dramatic score, I just can’t take any more of this man.

Et album jeg har hørt på før, men aldri gitt en ordentlig sjans. En god blanding av new wave og power pop. Kan høre at artister som Weezer og Jeff Rosenstock har tatt inspirasjon av dette. Det bør derfor ikke være noen overraskele at dette også er bra. Costello har en sentimentalitet i stemmen sin som er veldig effektiv. Top 3: The Beat, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, Lipstick Vogue

Alright

8/10 poprock de los 90 hecho en 1978. Canción destacada: (I don't want to go to) Chelesa

I thought this was a strong second album by Costello! A fun British new wave album that wasn’t too deep or mindblowing. I do find Costello’s voice to be a little irritating to listen to at times but overall I enjoyed this album and would give it another spin in the future!

сухо. скучно. стиль исполнения не нравится(( потужные выдавливания. напоминает какую-то театральную постановку, где взрослый мужик олег отчаянно пародирует крутого панк рокера женька, по диснеевски загибая коленочки. в текст не вникала. может там и расскрылся весь гений костелло...ну короче если не дай бог в мире не останется музыки, придётся включить этот альбом.

Nice

231/1089 my first Elvis Costello record! i really enjoyed this actually, i was a little apprehensive going in but it’s consistently pretty good and has some highs and no glaring lowss, though i don’t want to go to chelsea felt SO long i can’t believe it was only 3 mins faves: The Beat, Lipstick Vogue, Night Rally, Radio, Radio 72/100

This is a great album. Good songwriting, original, influential. Rounding up to a 5 to rebalance all the unnecessary 1s.

One of my absolute favorites of all time. Favorite songs are "Pump it Up" and "This Year's Girl".

Punk Rock vibes

Izvrstan debi

it is what it is, heard it few times and I don't really care

Really didn't like this one.

I can see why this is a historic album, and definitely some great playing and songwriting, but somehow it falls a little bit flat for me in 2026.

A+

Okay, chill rock. old school

I guess this is power pop? I don't know. I don't really see the connection to punk nor do I have enough of an understanding of new wave to see how this fits in. The songs are mostly okay— I like the fruity little organ but I don't really care for EC's exaggerated vocal stylings.

02-03/03/26

loved this one

Your uncles band kinda music

3/2 I've heard the song Pump it Up many times before but never knew the title or artist of it. Rest of the album is alright

Good felt like it would have fit in seamlessly in the late 90s.

stuck between 2 and 3

I know this is a classic. I didn't feel like the first tracks are that special but then it got really better. Very good. Pump it up is a really cool song.

The Attractions hit the ground running on this one.

Growing up there was a friends dog named Elvis Costello and I didn't know the reference until I was older. A great listen! An amazing album full of hits. Need to get this on vinyl.

decent. can hear a lot of effort went into this music

I audibly groaned when I got another Elvis Costello record today. I'm still put off by his irritating voice, but the songs are so well put together and catchy that I eventually wasn't as bothered by his whiny vocals. Songs are snappy and don't get enough time to stagnate. You get pulled in by the hooks and it's time to move onto the next track. Costello wears his influences on his sleeves and you hear his love for early Beatles mixed into powerpop sound. The bass in particular had many moments that reminded me of Paul McCartney. You can see how new wave bands were influenced by the music found on here. The opening guitar riff of 'Lip Service' lays out the blueprint for great Smiths song. Costello's backing band were another high point for me, with the organ playing being the cherry on top. 'Pump It Up' and 'You Belong To Me' wouldn't be as infectious as they are without the drive that the organ brings to the songs. After having a terrible time with Brutal Youth, I'm very pleased and surprised that I actually enjoyed this.

This was a solid listen for me. Not every song hit, but overall I had a good listening experience. 3.5/5 rounding up to 4

Esta bien pero hasta ahí.

I cant put my finger on it, but I just cannot get in to Costello. Couple of tracks saved this from being a 1

не то, чтобы ужасно, но не хорошо точно. ничего примечательного на мой вкус. звучит довольно современно, но не сказать, что это комплимент. абсолютно не нравится голос и манера петь. возможно даже из-за этого сложно перетерпеть альбом и слушать дальше, вдруг что-то стоящее будет. 1,5/5

This guy is interesting, but the song writing is not the same

zdecydowanie sredniak tegoroczny model, jesli brac pod uwage cala dyskografie costello

Ah yes, 1001 Elvis Costello Albums to Listen to Before You Die ft. an indescribable amount of Britpop. Look, I don't mind Elvis Costello - but there is no fucking need for SIX Elvis Costello albums on here, they almost all sound the same. It's fucking ridiculous. All you needed to include on here was this, Armed Forces, and MAYBE My Aim is True. There's no other reason to include the rest of his shit. I didn't even know he had so many albums until I started doing 1001. Anyways, complaint aside. Yes, this is good. I'm sick to death of Elvis Costello really but the first four run of songs on this album is incredibly good. Pump It Up is probably his best song apart from the one on Armed Forces where he just HAS to say the n word. I'd say this is his best album for sure. I wonder if things worked out differently and I'd been given this album before the other 9000 Elvis Costello albums would I have given this a 5? Hm. Probably. There really isn't any skips on this. FINE, I'll give it a 5.

I felt conflicted about giving this a 5 but honestly the only moment where I wasn't enjoying myself was the very end of Night Rally. Is that a reason to knock of 20% of a grade? Absolutely not. Highlights: This Year's Girl, Pump It Up, Little Triggers, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, Lip Service

This is very good gym music I’m in the album started off hot with some great songs to run and lift weights too, so I definitely added them to my playlist but after I got out of the gym, the album sort of fell flat so it gets another three out of five for me because it has its purpose don’t get it twisted I might come back to it when I need a good gym pump because I mean pump it up was fire. But I went through the deluxe edition 40 songs over two hours. There are some good songs in here but nothing that blew me a way to get a four or five so three is where it lies.

Mi menos favorito hasta ahora