Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Can’t stand the singer, band’s alright
His best album for sure
All this, but no surprises for this year's elvis costello album
I came in thinking Elvis Costello sucked, but came away thinking that’s too harsh. His singing voice is grating to me and a lot of his music doesn’t seem particularly original to me, however this album is as close as I’m going to get to liking him. It kept the energy up and I forgot how much of a jam Pump it up is. 2.8
4.5 A lot of great songs (this years girl), although I am particularly tired of hearing I dont want to go to Chelsea, (used to one of my favorites but I think im over it. Its not you, its me, sorta thing).
I’ve listened to this album more than almost any album ever made, and I still find new things to love about it. The perfect combination of punk’s energy with 60’s rock n roll and one of music’s greatest lyricists on display. Who else would be able to use “anaesthetize” in a song?
Fun listen. I like Elvis Costello a lot more than would be expected because I don’t listen to him much. I always like his music when I hear it though. A unique musician (although Joe Jackson sounds a little like him).
Fine musically.
Do we really need this much Elvis Costello? Luckily this was by far the best on the list. Still not the biggest fan of his vocals but some bangers on here including I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea.
I really like Costello's voice. I really like his musical choices in terms of style and the parts... I just don't seem to like the songs that much. I think this is the best of the ones we've had so far, but I still don't really love it. I suspect one day it may all come together and I will really like but as it is I merely quite like it.
Nope
Elvis Costello sounds like this every song: Euhyeuyhheeyuyeuh
Fun, punchy, kind of punk rock - ahead of its time! I was bopping my head throughout, highly enjoyable.
New wave? Naw. An English Bruce Springsteen filtered through pub rock.
I like this album a lot, but it set me up for disappointment thinking that he would put out at least one other great album. Not the case. Oh well, this is still great.
This album sounds surprisingly modern for being almost 50 years old. Which is wild considering it's called This Years Model when it kind of sounds timeless. Several catchy sings like hand in hand, radio radio, and Pump It Up. Definitely would play this again and I like the samples and sounds they use throughout the record. Well done.
If your a fan of the very stripped down garage band sound this will probably be to your liking. The second half of the album was in my opinion much more memorable than the first half. Starting at track 7 my level of enjoyment increased. Track 8 "Chelsea" had a nice percussive pace to it kind of felt a little Chili Pepper / No doubt ish with its kinda reggae sound. The album closes out on high not with the track 14 "Radio". I was only slightly familia with Elvis Costello, mainly being introduce to him in 1983 with his international hit "Everyday I write the Book", but beyond that I really couldn't tell you the title of another of his records. But all in all it was an interesting listen.
like, listen again brief two time listen
Boy's mad at his exgirlfriend who broke up with him because he doesn't fulfill her desires. He uses her too kill his feelings and sees her as a unique being, but that doesn't mean she's special. She uses him too, loving the image he represents and after breaking up (was the relationship even serious?), she goes for another person with the same fenotype/aesthetic. In the beginning of the ..... Living in Paradise: He died and is in Heaven ("so late but that's sarcastic, cuz he probably died at 18) and he's looking over at his relationship he had with his now ex girlfriend Next song: Now he's angry. "I suppose, big tears mean nothing You can count them as they fall" "Radio is a sound salvation Radio is cleaning up the nation They say you better listen to the voice of reason But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason So you had better do as you are told You better listen to the radio " Critique against technology. Elvis Costello is saying its used to control us.
Done
Get why people like them but he just seems ok to me. All songs sound similar...
booooo
So far, this album is much better than other Elvis Costello stuff I’ve listened to. It’s glam rock to the max. Great production, big band sound, very over the top and theatrical which is the Elvis Costello way but yet still simple song structure. More punk vibes on this one which I also love. Considering his other work I’ve found to be a huge slog, this one is a breath of fresh air. 4/5
5/10
Надо очень радостным быть, чтобы такую музыку слушать. Как по мне - какая-то шляпа: старенький поп-рок с намеками на протопанк типа студжес, но без месседжа и протеста, просто веселые песенки про жизнь и любовь. Второй раз я бы не включил, но и прям плохим не назову, просто не очень интересно...
Ojo igual se les ha ido un poco la mano modulando porque la voz suena bastante en comparacion con la voz principal y me ha dado un susto cuando ha empezado, un poco infumable ¿A que pollavieja se le ocurrio meter esto, le parecia relevante y por que? monotonia pura
This is a really weird album. It just... doesn't feel right. Like this thing came out in the late 70's, but it feels like a 90's album, but not in the best ways? I can still feel the 70's smoke lingering in most of the songs, and I'm not a huge fan of Costello's voice. 2.5/5? Its hard to rate this one, but its perfectly average, but leaning toward the 2/5 rating.
Niet mijn ding. Stem niet en muziek niet
just not my style, i don’t really like his voice too much. but theyre good put together songs with good lyrics most of the time.
You know I don't care for Elvis Costello at all. I just kind of find him boring, that being said, obviously the bass riff to "Pump It Up" is about as legendary as it gets, and just that alone has to bump this album up a bit.
I enjoyed this but not in a violent way
Not really my vibe. Sometimes his voice reminds me of Lenny
I can hear how much this album fed into new wave. Some tracks really catch my ear, but then something like Little Triggers comes on and I can’t stand it. His singing feels like a fake accent, almost like he’s mocking someone, and it completely kills the mood for me. This is the first Elvis Costello record I’ve sat through, and honestly I don’t get how he’s got half a dozen “essential” albums. That said, taken as a whole, the record holds together fine. It’s just that the vocals grate on me in a way I can’t ignore. 7/10.
2.5
4/7
🎸😄
It's really interesting. The precurser to punk rock - not sure if I'd listen to the album again, but glad I know it.
Better than Coldplay
meh
I don't think I'm a fan of Elvis Costello. I like this one better than the last album I got but it's not landing for me. I've been told by lots of folks I should love his stuff, yet it falls flat for me.
Good album and great band. Saw Costello back in 88 or 89 when he did a solo tour with Nick Lowe opening.
I was more familiar with Mr. Costello's debut - and was happy to dive into this record. Lots of fun songs in a jittery, new wave style. He jams a lot of ideas and words into most of these tracks - the emotions are ironic, angry, horny, discontent - but never feels negative or like a downer.
Well.. yes.Each song gets better and better. Wish I had spent more time with him in the 80s
Elvis Costello is a LEGEND and ALWAYS will be a LEGEND
can't see why some hate this so much and also can't see why others praise this so much
I really wanted to like this album but i find the vocals to be quite annoying and theres not a lot of substance in terms of songwriting here 6/10 Favourite: No Action Least Favourite: Little Triggers
This was ok
Imperial Bedroom is my favorite Elvis album, but this is a must album too.
This is a much better record than it deserves to be.
Pretty fire album
tem melhores né po mas não é ruim não deus abençoe o new wave
bom, é melhor que o "my aim is true". acho o the attractions bem bons de serviço. as letra são besta. mas é new wave até o cu fazer bico né, como pode. dá pra ouvir até algumas bandas br de new wave nesse disco aqui, que bizarro bom, eu até que gosto desse aqui. pó me processar, foda-se
The album is a little too long, but still pretty fun unbeat pub rock. Will listen again! 3.5/5
Not my favorite by Elvis Costello but a fine album
Had a couple of thoughts about this album. First, it was hard to place the time annd era of it. Sounded like something that could’ve come out last year and frankly was surprising that it’s from the late 70s. Second, there was inconsistency among the songs. Some were pretty amazing and others pretty boring. Overall, it was a good listen.
Banger.
Fun album. Definitely heard many influences in this like the Beatles, Bowie, Stones, etc.
It's a little too swinging for me. And I like swing.
Pretty good, though I prefer “My Aim is True”. 3.5 maybe. Great opener.
I’m immediately comparing it to the last Elvis Costello I had to listen to in the project and it’s better. I can still hear his influence in things I hear today, but Elvis particularly doesn’t do much for me.
My 358th album is somehow my 1st Costello on the list. Poppy and catchy with a little edge of punk in placing this along the lines of power pop & new wave. It’s also very direct and up-front, it feels vital, in your face, and like it’s laying out all the cards and not hiding tricks or secrets. Musically can’t be interesting without excessive complexity or showmanship, but songs tend to have a good beat and a good hook. The band is certainly tight and supports Costello well - Some cool bass parts and fills throughout, and the synthy organ sound can add a nice touch. Much prefer the energetic up-tempo tracks to the slower ones. Some lyrics are clever while others are cringey. Overall it’s an alright record with some solid tracks and interesting moments, other aspects I could leave behind
Not for me but decent album
Didn't realise that Voodoo Child used a sample. This is a decent album, not crazy about it.
# Album Name: This years model # Artist: Elvis Costello # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: I waas surprised with this. i wasnt sure what i was expecting. Good listen. Quite pop rocky. I liked it. # Top Tunes: Pump it up / chelsea / big tears / radio radio # Would I listen to it again? Yes
I remember actively not liking Elvis Costello as a kid, for no other reason than it wasn’t the cool aesthetic I was looking back then. It all seemed very 70s ‘shades of brown’. That said I did enjoy ECs solo album a few years ago and so was a bit more open minded coming in. I’m glad I listened twice as the second listen, walking around my suburban hometown in the sun, seemed to be the right environment for this I can’t say that I love it but the energy and hooks have caught my attention enough to make me want to hear more… which is a good job as I believe he has a couple more albums in here.
Already listened many times. 7/10
9/10
This felt like 90s ska revival, then it felt like new wave, then it felt like a bunch of other stuff, the album was good. Ahead of its time even.
horny jail.
This album felt very ahead of its time, and yet very influenced by the twenty years that came before it. A lot of fun, even if Costello has some weird views about women in some of these lyrics.
This is probably the music that springs to mind when I think of Elvis Costello. Seems crazily ahead of its time. 1978 😳. Somewhat overwrought lyricism in places, though maybe that's part of the appeal.
I kinda like the B-side and also Pump it up. Very cheerful and modern pop-ish.
I've never listened to much Costello outside of his singles. This is a fun and careening pop album. I can see where fans dig into his sounds and lyrics. Not sure that I'm fully a fan yet, but I appreciate what this album has going on.
Loved this. Parts sound like a reggae ska mix with the eccentricity of Steely Dan. Heavy bass and drums. Love his voice. Unique all around style.
If you have room for only one racist on this list, then this should be your guy.
A lot zappier than the previous Costello effort on this list (Blood & Chocolate). The version of This Year's Girl used for The Deuce worked much better with a female voice in it, too, but it's not a bad tune. A few very good tunes on here, but Costello still creeps me out a bit.
A decent album that still just about stands up. But it has aged badly in places with some of the lyrics. It's all very competent. Strong songs and musicianship. The singles stand out above the rest. It sounds like a soundtrack to a late 70's yoof programme.
A tight, sharp, and well-written new wave album full of attitude and cynicism. It’s easy to see why it’s considered a classic, with intense energy, strong lyrics, and a fantastic band. But personally, it doesn’t fully grab me. I recognize the quality, but it just doesn’t click. 3/5
great
I was wondering how many albums it would take before I got an Elvis Costello album through the generator (52, apparently). I've only ever heard the name, I've never consciously listened before so I wasn't sure what to expect. This is....fine. it's okay. There are some interesting riffs in a few of the songs. His voice is alright but does get grating over time and I can see some people really disliking it. I don't hate it but I'm not sure if I feel that the other 5 or so albums of his on the list is really warranted.
Doesn't do much for me.
At most points this seems like the New Wave that prefaced the ‘bad’ side of the 80s British synthy stuff. It has some high points, namely (I Don’t Want to Go To) Chelsea, the sort of track title that you’d expect to see in a listing for a fake album someone made as a satirical piece. Maybe that’s what Costello is trying to do here. As for lyrical content, I can’t say I payed extreme attention, but would anyone? I don’t think Costello would want his lyrics to be examined too carefully either. They seem to be about women, in a bit of a controlling sense. There’s probably some age gap power related dynamics in there too. Let’s not dwell further. But yeah, I wouldn’t hasten to point to this for a great example of a new wave album. More of a throwaway British album that got popular through one track (Pump It Up) and has thus outstayed its welcome.
slight pop and punk rock, not just slightly misogynistic but very, feels a bit mid but still outstanding, funny but also tender "No action"/"Lip service"/"Radio, radio"
OK but not really for me. The only other album of his I've listened to is My Aim is True, which is much better.
Elvis Costello is the definition of beige to me, I can't hate it and I can't find anything to love either. Pump it up is fun.
Elvis Costello has long interested me, but I'd only really checked out My Aim is True and a handful of other tracks prior to this one. I can't say I've been totally swept off my feet by him like I may have hoped, but I do really enjoy the company of his tunes and I'm open to taking things slowly to see where they go. This album felt sort of like my feelings towards a number of King Gizzard albums: I quite enjoy the overall sound and approach, the musical gifts are evident, and pretty much every song is at least kind of good, but almost none of them really struck me as GREAT. At least not upon a single listen. Not all music needs to do that to be great, though, and I've realized relatively recently that I'm definitely a big power pop guy, so I'll be sticking around with Mr. Costello to see where it takes me for sure.
I am tired of hearing this guy's voice. Are we going to have his entire catalog on this list? The music is ok on this one. 2
I usually like Elvis Costello, but this one didn't hit.
43/1001 Elvis Costello and the Attractions - This Year's Model Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Of all the Costello albums on this list, this is the one I'd definitely keep here. It perfectly crosses the pub rock styling with punk, with his oftentimes snarky commentary. The music sometimes feels as though it's going to become too chaotic considering how much is thrown at it, but never does. An album that you can see influence New Wave, 80s indie and to a certain extent the likes of the Police.
Quite fun album, and one which benefits from reminding yourself when it was made to properly appreciate the influence it has
This album sounds exactly as I expected from the art cover : very British, quirky and a bit full of itself. I don’t doubt its influential nature ; it might have been a novelty back when it was released, but it’s hard to appreciate now that this kind of music has been endlessly rehashed. It actually sounds like an early blueprint of what a lot of pop, pop-punk and Britpop acts would later try to do in the 90s (probably because they grew up listening to this). It’s not unpleasant, I even liked a couple of songs (like The Beat), but overall I found it mostly bland and unexciting. The words "inoffensive" and "forgettable" come to mind.
This is the definitive Elvis Costello album. If New Wave had stopped right here, I would like it better. No Action is a good leadoff but by The Beat, it is losing me. Pump It Up is probably his biggest hit, great song. I like this for the most part. Living in Paradise is a good song, catchy.
9/10 There are some artists that I should have listened to earlier, I didn't because I thought I would be more interesting if I skipped what many people thought to be great, I was wrong. Elvis Costello has just joined that list...
eh, its okay
1. No Action - 2 Bad pop rock music. Lyrically it's a cardboard cutout song with a boring chorus. 2. This Year's Girl - 4 It's a cross between budget Bruce Springsteen and budget Beach Boys. The vocals don't sound great at all. Instrumentally it's ok. Bubblegum pop rock. 3. The Beat - 2 It's more of the same problems as the first two tracks. Lyrically this track is all over the place and none of it makes sense. 4 - Pump It Up - 10 Great sound on the guitars and the drums. Solid lyrics accompany them as well. All round a great track. Deserves to be on a sports game like NHL. 5. Little Triggers - 3 Very repetitive and boring of a track. Vocals sound awful on it. 6. You Belong To Me - 1 Sho whop do whop rock. A lot of it hasn't stood the test of time from the stuff released in the 50s. This is absolutely no different. An age of music well and truly gone. 7. Hand In Hand - 2 It's the sound of his voice I definitely don't like the most. Singing "hand in hand" more than ten times over and over and over and over again is not helping matters. 8. (I Don't Want To Go) Chelsea - 1 This song absolutely makes no sense and Costello's vocals do it no helping. It's the pronunciations of the words and emphasis on specific syllables that turn me off from the artists and the song. 9. Lip Service - 2 It's a budget Beach Boys track. I'm not one who particularly likes The Beach Boys either so it washes over me as an annoying track more than anything else. 10. Living in Paradise - 1 More cardboard cut out bubble gum pop rock. "Oooo I loved you baby but now it's over" music. The kind you've already heard a million times done better. 11. Lipstick Vogue - 2 Same exact thing as the previous track but with better drums on it. 12. Night Rally - 0 Lyrically this track is abysmal. Starts extremely poorly before the verses come in but the lower vocals in the bridge do paint Costello as a great singer and then the track just repeats "night rally" over a dozen times. 13. Big Tears - 1 Vocally and lyrically this is a tough track to get through. Instrumentally it's a very cookie cutter track. 14. Radio, Radio - 3 Lyrically and instrumentally a much better track. The vocals still sound bad but overall it's a significant improvement from the songs before it on the album. Average Rating: 2.43 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 1.21 Rounded Down: 1 Star
Mainly listened to pump it up and radio. I preferred radio because of the message but it’s quite stereotypical rebel stuff.
Awesome !!!
Why are you gay
I have some of Elvis's music but not his whole catalog so was interested to hear this one. Its really good ! I like the production and the little tone changes that makes the songs more interesting but having said that the second half of the album felt a bit samey. Only one of these songs is on his greatest hits which kinda says it all.
Gosh, Elvis Costello is seriously so mid.
Great album
vier bis fünf
A pleasurable listen from start to finish. High three, not quite a four
Maybe delete the other Elvis Costello and just have this one on there
Not necessarily the perfect experience, but I enjoyed it more than the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album that I also recently heard. From the songs themselves, the thing that I remember most is that the Little Triggers song for some reason reminded me of the recent release by The Favours (Finneas, Ashe). I have no idea why though
This was good. Enjoyed it more than I was expecting, but when it comes to Elvis Costello, I never end up enjoying his music as much as I want to, if that makes any sense.
Though repetitive, this is a really catchy and enjoyable pop album.
My dad after a breakup [laylist
I’m not sure if this is my thing and yet there’s something quite likeable about it. At times, it has a feel of The Clash and a quick search tells me Mick Jones plays on Big Tears so I guess I’m not just imagining it. I’m not sure when I’d listen to this again and I don’t know if more listens would make me like it more but I wouldn’t be against it.
Solid outing from his days as a punk troubadour
This is prime Elvis Costello... at least for me. I understand some of his bigger hits are on other albums, but this is the vibe I expect when I want to put on some of his music. Radio, Radio is one of my all time favorites and the album was just delightful throughout.
Peut être que je comprend pas mais l’album est très blend. Submid de chez mid ; terre du sous-milieu
Ouais non j’suis pas dans le mood pour ce genre là. Bland et mal mixé
Très "feels good" comme album. Honnêtement y'a pas un seul skip; j'adore sa voix et ses paroles, y'a plein de mixups surprenants sur l'instrumental avec des sick ass bass lines. Vraiment surpris de jamais avoir entendu parler de cet artiste.
No action : whaaat c'est vraiment un son des années 70 ? en vrai ça ambiance ouf , je me vois grave me déhanché dessus. ça fait meme un peu teen beach movie. direct dans la playlist , je kiffe. c'est meme trop court !! This year's girl : j'aime bien mais c'est un peu ch paaaas... goofy ? The beat : waaaah le mood. carrément je vis la chanson c'est du lourd !! pump it up : ouai pour moi c'est trop fou. mais ça ambiance ça reste pas mal ( pourtant c'est la chanson qui a le plus d'écoute ) , il me faut surement une seconde écoute pour accrocher little triggers : pas ma tasse thé... je skip... You belong to me : sympa , mais trop répétitive. je suis un peu fatiguée maybe faire une pause dans l'écoute serais une bonne chose hand in hand : c'est quoi ce bruit de moustique mdrrr en vrai je pense que je bloque avec sa voix... genre tete à claque ? "apologiseeee" " daaaooooaaooown" , ch pas c'est trop exagéré. oskour le hand in hand en répétition , je skip... i don't want to go to Chelsea : frr c'est bon il me saoule , j'arrete l'écoute...
He sounds like discount Tom Petty or Randy Newman lite. Too much organ/electric keys too. I don't hate it enough to give it a 1, but it was really pushing the lower limits of a 2.
This one grew on me. I really didn’t like the first few tracks on my first listen, but I was enjoying the album by the end. I think I needed a little bit of familiarity to get into it, but I do just think those first couple tracks are my least favourite. Fav song: Living in Paradise - also liked Pump It Up, Little Triggers and Lip Service Least fav: No Action
Elvis Costello paytas-hacmon Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song - pump it up Least fav - (I don’t want to go to )Chelsea
Really really liked this album. Had to double check when it was made cause it could have easily been a modern album. Shocked that I've never listened to an Elvis Costello album before, and very happy (having read the reviews complaining about it) to learn that I have more Elvis Costello albums coming my way! Also Pump It Up clearly inspired the guitar in Brutal by Olivia Rodrigo, which is fun! Favourite song: Hand in Hand (or Lip Service or Living in Paradise) Least: Little Triggers
I like this man's music more and more. Great basslines. And after reconsidering and knowing Elvis Costello's music even more, I really love this man's art.
Very modern almost timeless sound. Voice can be a bit much. Not sure how to explain. Not bad overall.
Not bad sort of chill rock music. Good beats and vocals it just that nothing really stood out for me. I don't regret listening to it but I won't be in any hurry to listen to it again.
One of my all time favorite albums, brilliant!!!
Pretty good
Amazing disc…listened to it 1,000 times and it never gets old!
One of the top 10 rock albums of all time.
Really enjoyed it much more a variety in genres than I expected. On Spotify squeeze started playing after which I enjoyed more 😂
22
Lipstick vogue is an all time track
Elvis Costello is so popular and yet this was boring. lyrics were boring or insulting, music was boring or annoying, and I just didn't feel anything about these songs. there were maybe 2 songs that I wouldn't change if they came on
4.2 Stars "Pump It Up" is a straightforward yet underrated song. He's got a unique sound. Sometimes spooky rock. The Vox organ stands out in some tracks. Sometimes cheesy late 70's 80's sounds: "Lip Service" Best Song: "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea"
Another good album. Better than his offering that I've already listened to via this site. 'Pump It Up' is a classic, and there were a couple of other tracks that were good.
Achei o teclado frenético muito over, em alguns momentos eu pausei pra respirar um pouco, fora isso achei o álbum bom, mas não senti diferença entre as músicas, ele é bem linear, tão linear que parece que não vi a diferença entre uma música acabar e outra começar (acho que isso não é um elogio).
I did not like it at all.
Hmm. I remember really, really liking this maybe 5 years ago. This time, it didn't really gel with me. Some great playing from the band. Not sure about some of the songs. A bit dreary?
This slapped
I swear to Christ, what is it with Elvis Costello that has this listmaker so horny? Sure his music is fun and innovative (to a degree) but does it seriously warrant 4+ albums? That said, this one was probably my favorite of the bunch (so far... fuck). Good energy, really energetic drumming. And "Pump It Up" is admittedly a banger.
Sounds more modern than 1978. His voice is a bit annoying to me though, and I couldn't really get past that. Some fun guitar licks throughout. Not bad overall. Favorites: - Pump It Up - Living In Paradise
This is another artist I’ve heard of, but envisioned a completely different sound before listening (not necessarily in a bad way). The album is upbeat and easy to listen to, though it didn’t leave a super lasting impression after a few playthroughs. Overall, solid and inoffensive. Favorite tracks: - Pump It Up - Living in Paradise
Solid
I was going to give this a 3 halfway through but I was so bored by the end I couldn’t justify it
01) No Action - 6,5 02) This Year's Girl - 7,0 03) The Beat - 6,5 04) Pump It Up - 10,0 05) Little Triggers - 6,5 06) You Belong to Me - 6,5 07) Hand in Hand - 6,5 08) (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea - 7,0 09) Lip Service - 6,5 10) Living in Paradise - 6,5 11) Lipstick Vogue - 6,5 12) Night Rally - 6,5 13) Radio Radio - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,85 (69/100) Current ranking: 389/613 "Pump It Up" is great, the rest is average...
Yeah draw those syllables out why don’t you !
Never fully got him but this was ok
Brilliant
Upon 2nd listen through, I really like this. The voice needs a minute to get used to. Like, doo-wop New Wave. Pretty simple songs but funny and "in" lyrics. He gets it.
I don't get what the fuss is about.
Elvis Costello's style is pretty timeless- Pump it Up and Radio, Radio are the still the obvious top tracks.
not sure what to think but i like it
3/5
This is my second Elvis Costello record and I really enjoyed it. I love the variety of musical styles and appreciated how clean everything sounds.
opet kostelo, najbolji album dosad. iako opet nije nešto da obori s nogu. al ni najmanje mi ne smeta
whatevs
I'm not sure what I thought Elvis Costello was like, but it wasn't this. I liked it. I'll have to check out more. "Pump it up" gave me "Outlaw -Wild Wild West" vibes, which considering when they came out i guess is the other way around. It's the best song on the album, imo and will go on the 1001 playlist. +1 star because I was pleasantly surprised.
Interesting. Not terrible.
Good times!
Not my cup of tea
Fun but eh
goofy, but not in a fun way picks: the beat, pump it up
-meh… not bad at all but i’m not really getting the hype for this one as much as i did with Brutal Youth or even Blood and Chocolate -had some bangers. really good diversity in vocals and instrumentation, but his voice was just very grating to me at some points. 3 stars but barely -Favorites are This Year’s Girl and (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea
Fun
Yessss. Nice mood booster today.
Best nice
4 stars, I like the vibe overall. I woudl enjoy if it’s on, and a few songs stood out to me as classics. I can see where it influenced the generations after, the melodies and all are great. Some good guitar and bass work
Great band performances - much of the lyrical content hasn't aged well.
Surprisingly dope
Not bad
Felt very theatrical
I really like the early elvis costello, pump it up and radio radio are some good songs. Not really sure why he was considered punk, maybe there is some british thing I'm missing. I forgot how good lipstick vogue and little triggers are.
Love Elvis
Very good album. Not as appealing as My Aim is True bc the organ can get a bit whiney, but more variety and great listen
This is the perfect cross between The Clash and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I like two of his songs and the rest kind of blends.
I'm generally good with the hits when it comes to Elvis Costello. "Radio, Radio" and "Pump It Up" are classics, and there's some solid stuff on here, but I'm fine with the best of.
Pump It Up When You Don't Really Need It 1001 Albums Generator 67 (07/04/2025) Favs: No Action The Beat Pump It Up Least Fav: Little Triggers
Not my usual genre but highly listenable.
Love the vibe but I cannot listen to more than 10 seconds of his voice
Great collection of new wave tracks. Well written and performed.
I fucking loved this album. Just so easy to vibe with. Probably not all the way to a 5, but above a 4. Maybe.
Credit where credit is due: witty, snappy, angry, nasty -- all rolled up into one album
I LOVE this album!!!!
Enjoyed this! Nothing earth shattering, but fun!
buen álbum, no muy intenso pero tampoco demasiado blando, aunque quizás poco original
Good, early, Elvis Costello.
As a whole it's just an ok album for me—I do like Elvis Costello but a whole album feels a bit much and I don't really enjoy this style for too long of a listening period.
There is a sense that **Elvis Costello** didn’t quite fit into any singular mold of the late 70s or early 80s music scene. His work straddled several musical worlds, blending punk, new wave, pop, and classic rock influences, but always with his own distinctive twist. In that sense, he was both part of the moment and apart from it. This is the perfect example of how he had a way of blending angular, raw energy with more traditional elements of rock, pop, and even soul, which allowed him to transcend the short-lived trends of the era - to such an extent that this album almost feels like it could’ve been made at any time in rock’s history. This album has a sense of urgency and edge that wouldn't be out of place now. Even the production has aged well. It's almost **Weezer**-esque. "Pump It Up” is simply an all-timer. It's one of those songs that instantly grabs you and doesn’t let go. Because Costello's style and output is so eclectic I'm not sure he gets the credit he deserves.
Not a huge fan of his voice (if I want a nasal voice I'll take Tom Petty any day), but this was a nice bridge into the 80s and New Wave.
Enjoyed it more than I thought: knew the hits (Pump it Up, Radio) but entire album was kind of satisfying.
The band is really good and I feel like this should be my thing, but something just doesn't quite click. I wonder if any of the other 237 albums they have on here will fare better.
Old pop, not bad but not the best voice
Not my fave - didn’t really get into any particular song and didn’t feel moved or connected to anything.
Pretty good song-writer.
Fun album. An artist that I didn't know that I knew.
i will admit, there are some bangers...
Obviously Pump It Up is the major hot from this album, but the whole thing is full of bangers. Not necessarily something I'll revisit, but I wouldn't be mad if this came on. Great party music
I liked Elvis Costello’s debut, ‘My Aim is True’ but this one is definitely more background music to me and a lot less interesting.
Cool
Its good but my brain can't really pick out lyrics and I think this is where this record probably delivers. Musically reminds me of dire straits but its the same era.
The sound of repressed feelings and male angst; one of England's finest songwriter in the middle of his creative peak. Need I say more?
Many songs have a timeless appeal, but not many I would return to out of the album
++: This Year's Girl, The Beat, Pump It Up, Lip Service, Lipstick Vogue, Night Rally +: No Action, Little Triggers, (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea, Living in Paradise +-: You Belong to Me, Hand in Hand 7,2/10
i like the spunkiness/jazziness interesting baseline sound quality is kind of fuzzy so far i like it
Sounds pretty good for nearly 50 years old, Pump it up and Lipstick Vogue were the real hits here, the rest, somewhat forgettable, and the synth sounding thing is sounding a bit dated.
He's great isn't he - some classics on here. All in a good album, not blowing me away. Listenable.
Listened to this album recently as part of my 2025 resolution to listen to at least one new album per week. Wrote the following note for it on my spreadsheet: "I can totally see why BEE is so obsessed w this guy lol" (BEE = Bret Easton Ellis; he has certainly piqued my interest in Mr. Costello, but I've only dipped my toes in so far) Previously listened to 1 song (Pump It Up) Favorite Song: Pump It Up
Great album. An enjoyable listening experience.
fantastic album, very good work
I was familiar with several songs on this one - they’re nice but nothing special - the type of stuff that eats up radio airtime. The music part of his material is adequate and diverse. The lyrics - seemingly always complaining to or about his girl and other guys and monotonous vocal delivery - drags. Clear your throat, man. Two songs You Belong to Me and Hand in Hand have annoying repeating sections that go on too long. Middle of the road on 91x back in the 80s and still middle of the road today. 3/5.
Good stuff! I need to listen to more Elvis Costello. 4/5 #97
I don’t see what this one does that’s any different from the others we’ve had.
Seems innocuous/meh
another Elvis Costello album. And another time for me to go, damn….why don’t I listen to more Elvis Costello? Every song was great. Awesome album.
It’s good
Peak Costello is achieved Fun late-70s cheerful new wave songs to groove eccentrically to
Did not enjoy
Safe rock and roll. Not for me
I found most of the tracks 'annoying'. Didn't enjoy the singers voice and the music was very repetitive.
Wow. Surprised that I’ve never heard Costello (or at least this album) really talked about as an influence on Vampire Weekend. Can hear a link to later-era Old 97s, too. What a find. Favorites: “This Year’s Girl”; “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea”; “Living in Paradise”; “Radio Radio”
Fun album, solid pop songs. Sounded a bit like early ska, maybe that's the post-punk. He has such a distinct sound
Rock, 1978 -> 2
Harmless, happy and mostly meaningless. Just because it gave me some happy vibes I take this to two stars.
I was expecting to hate this from the first note onward, but the first song reminded me of American pop skate punk and kept me listening for a while. Then it went to what I expected to hear from a Costello album. I'll repeat what I said for the previous one: this release is of no meaning nor value to me.
Pump it Up is fantastic. But beside for that, I've never been the biggest Elvis Costello fan at the end of the day. It's fine, but nothing that has ever blown me away.
Classic Elvis Costello. Every song was enjoyable.
Good, but not great album. Definitely had some influence on later rock and I can appreciate that, but there’s only a couple stand out tracks. Still enjoyed it enough.
Decent music. Pump It Up is always a classic.
Awesome bass parts
Great music that stands the test of time.
Esta chulo
His voice drives me nuts, I don't really get the hype and didn't enjoy.
Неплохо, не лучший его альбом, но Костелло имеет свой стиль узнаваемый
Pretty good overall! I’d never actually listened to Elvis Costello but knew of him and how he was pretty popular and influential. So it was cool actually hearing that music. Some parts of it feel dated to that specific era, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
When i was younger I never saw the appeal of Elvis Costello. I listened to this with an open mind. It is much better then expected. But it is still unclear his appeal.
cool
Un álbum olvidable. no entiendo realmente cual es la relevancia de este álbum. Supongo que suena moderno para su época, pero en realidad creo que artistas más actuales se inspiraron en estilos como este, y por eso suena moderno para oídos jóvenes. Tal vez es una cuestión de gustos. En lo personal solo conecté con el tercer track, "The Beat".
Decent, strong start then mid
First song best. Good mixing throughout
Não sabia nada sobre Elvis Costello. Lembro que, algum tempo atrás, quando peguei o livro 1001 álbuns em uma biblioteca, eu estava pesquisando a respeito da lista, e me lembro de ver muita gente reclamando sobre a representação exacerbada desse artista na lista. Então isso era tudo que eu sabia sobre Costello, que ele aparecia muito na lista de 1001 álbuns, e que muita gente estava infeliz com isso. Imagine minha surpresa quando comecei a ouvir o disco e percebi que deleite que ele era. A voz dele é divertida, e a banda mantém um Groove fantástico, bateirista e baixista incríveis. Ao final da terceira faixa, eu fui ver a data de lançamento do disco, pensando "Ah essa pegada New Wave não me engana! Deve ser de '85, por aí!". Fiquei incrédulo com o que vi.1978?! Esse disco é então, um puta de um pioneiro, e muito a frente de seu tempo! Não sei se mais pra frente aqui no projeto vou me cansar do Costello, mas hoje, por enquanto, ele me impressionou muito. Adorei seu trabalho e espero ansiosamente ver que mais que ele fez. 5/5
Boys and gals, this is the end. No, not of the entire list, but of the massive, insurmountable 6(!!!!!!) Elvis Costello albums included in the list - for reasons unknown. This Year's Model is Costello's second album, and it's a great new wave/power pop record with catchy melodies and an overall energetic attitude. Wait what? There must be some Stockholm Syndrome kicking in at this point. The lyrics still leave something wanting, but at least Costello does not insist on forcing his voice into uncomfortable and annoying places on This Year's Model. Average Costello rating across 6 albums: 2.8. Significantly higher than I anticipated, but did we really need to listen to 6 more-or-less average records from the same guy?
So this is it. We’ve come to an end (for Costello-albums at least). There is absolute no need to throw 6 of his albums in our faces, but I can’t argue with the fact that he should probably have one or two records on here - and This Year’s Model is one of those.
I went to Chicago when I was 12 years old with my family. I had a gold Sony Discman and we went to Borders at some point. I bought Weezer’s Green album and this one. Not really sure why I picked it up. This was pre-internet and I vaguely knew the story of Costello’s performance on SNL and the legacy of Radio Radio. Since then, this album has always been a core for me. Costello coming into his angsty nerd own. A KILLER backing band that steals the show on most of the tracks. Not to mention Costello’s slick lyrical turns coming from an acid tongue. He pulls it all off without being trite. Killer album all around!
The only song from Costello that I knew was Oliver’s Army and I always thought he’d be of the punk genre like the Clash but this album seems more Ska to me due to the reggae influences in it. Wasn’t expecting to like this but I did. A lot more upbeat than I expected
Like the music, his voice not so much.
3.5 Let’s round it up!
Ehh. Quite annoying.
Does Elvis Costello sound a lot like Tom Petty? I don't like his voice all that much, but the album was nice enough to listen to. Definitely a vocal-heavy album and not a lot of interesting instrumentation.
Pretty fun sounding music but maybe a little bit samey. high 3/5
Solid to good album, and of course a GOAT track in Pump It Up.
I like everything about this but the keyboards... Which ruin it for me. The keyboards in every song are grating and render this album unlistenable. This is a shame because everything else is really solid.
I always return to the first three Elvis Costello records, perhaps because the local library had a copy of My Aim is True. As an adolescent I would tend to explore a new (to me) artist by listening to their most recent albums or whatever was in the Upper Hudson Library Catalog. I don't think that "This Year's Model" was available via inter-library loan, but when Rhino Records reissued Costello's catalog as double disc CDs I immediately bought My Aim Is True through Armed Forces. This Year's Model was a solid continuation of the accessible punk attitude of My Aim is True, without the abrasiveness of God Save The Queen. Every song is vital.
This is the one. I enjoyed this from the beginning to end. Just a classic sound by way of the 70s.
Also nice music for vacation!
Some songs are actually catchy
I feel this album suffered from the 70s vinyl label idea of no one flips a record. all the good stuff was on side A leaving nothing for side B
1. action - 1 2. girl - 1.5 3. beat - 1.5 4. pump - 1.5 5. little - 1 6. me - 1.5 7. hand - 2 8. chelzea - 1.5 9. lip - 1.5 10. paradize - 1.5 11. vogue - 2 12. night - 1.5 13. radio - 2
tiene alguna canción aceptable pero realmente no lo escucharía
Exceeded my expectations. A great little collection of catchy hooks.
Quite good actually, very varied to keep you entertained & solid album
Classic
Very good!
Not a big fan of Elvis Costello’s voice. It’s a little too whiny for me. The music of this album was very jumpy. Heavy on the drums. Just not my jam.
This wasn't really what I expected, but my expectations were completely irrational, being rooted in a vague association my brain made between Elvis Costello and Elvis Presley. So really I knew nothing about Costello going in. In the end it was just alright - I like the energy of it, couldn't really make heads or tails of the lyrics, and found it a bit samey after a while
probably the best elvis costello album
Some decent sounds,but mostly whiny rock
Хороший такой альбом, хотя сначала не понравился. Не понял хейта в сторону Челси :/
Zittoooo
Pretty good album.
Some voices are so distinctive that after a few words , Elvis Costello is one of those. All a bit samey. Very mid
Found this one a lot duller than the last EC&TA offering we had on here. A couple of good tracks but overall this one didn’t really do anything for me and I couldn’t really get into it.
I think he is a better songwriter than an artist. Some of the songs work especially Pump It Up, but his voice really doesn’t.
Dear non-UK 1001 listers. Just to set the record straight, Elvis Costello really isn’t a big deal at all in the UK. His vocal sound is also annoying to us. We are as mystified as you as to why he deserves multiple albums on here. Amen.
The first of many Elvis Costello albums to come. Pump It Up was a known banger, but I have to admit that the rest of the album really landed for me as well. Weirdly felt a lot of Green Day in this album, I wonder if there was any influence there? Either way, this was good.
Very good
Verge of being a 5, 4.45
I tried to care, but couldn't :/
Good, didn’t make me go stupid go crazy tho.
Typical EC. Never really my jam although I think it probably should be. 3/5
Elvis Costello didn’t invent sardonic pop (it was Dylan, right?) but he did alchemize it into something that was too punk to be a Randy Newman-esque singer/songwriter take on it, and too singer/songwriter complex to be Clash-esque punk. He’s the more literate version of both and although at least two other albums are most frequently cited as his masterpieces (My Aim is True and Blood & Chocolate), This Year’s Model is the one where he really provides that thesis. You can’t have a record collection without it.
I’m not very familiar with Elvis Costello. This was a fun, well performed album with catchy songs. I liked this better than any Elvis Presley works as I find The King over rated.
Surprised to listen to an Elvis Costello album I kinda liked. Imperial Bedroom was the only album (and music) of his I have listened to thus far, and that completely and utterly (probably unfairly) destroyed his name in my eyes. This is fun though. The Beat and Pump it Up were great. The latter was sampled by the Rogue Traders on Voodoo Child, a song that brought me back to my NOW THAT's WHAT I CALL MUSIC (64?) days...
Costello's voice, for me, is incredibly inconsistent. It's sometimes very good, sometimes just fine, and other times it's pretty rough. That inconsistency ends up hurting the album as a whole for me. Because I really like the vibe and the band! The Attractions as a whole are really good and do a lot of interesting things! I honestly wished I really enjoyed this album, but it ended up being alright enough. Favorite Song(s): This Year's Girl
This album got old fast, and I mean really fast. The songs are fine, yes, and I initially enjoyed the upbeat tracks. However, it never strayed away from that formula with the exception of Little Triggers. Everything else was upbeat fanfare with, what are frankly, not great vocals. They're very punk adjacent, which is not the part I disliked. It was the constant gasping noises that deterred me. Singing doesn't always have to sound effortless, but this was 14 songs of it.
I liked it a lot! It felt like a precursor in a way for college Rock and some 90s stuff (I was hearing some Weezer at times weirdly) and not everything hit but a lot of it did.
Not a fan of his voice, however better than his other albums on the list Best Song: Pump it Up Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 2/5
One of two EC albums I enjoy. I like the punchy pop punk of this one, and I was actually quite surprised to find that I liked it. It’s maybe not as accessible as My Aim Is True but I think on the whole this is a better album. The songwriting is great, I like his pathos and balance of the social and the personal. The music is fun, and catchy. I liked it a lot. Definitely will listen again and should be included on the list because it has influenced a lot.
Gode melodier. Fantastisk bass.
I like his stuff/this genre generally, but this album has a bunch of his best tracks: "Radio Radio," "Pump It Up," "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea," "This Year's Model." A tryhard nerd icon.
¿otro más de este pelado insufrible? No.
Heard some songs that I didn’t know were Elvis Costello! Pump it up and Radio Radio
Хороший исполнитель, но в настроение в этот раз не так сильно попал
A little harder edge than My Aim Is True, and a little less accessible. The songs are catchy but not with the same punch as some other stuff. Good solid punk
Finally got an Elvis Costello album! I don't even think this is his best work but man it's still pretty much perfect. The rhythm section sounds good, the organ sounds good, and the lyrics/singing convey a sense of contempt and frustration that I don't think you usually get in pop music. He's good at capturing unpleasant conflicted emotions (and at suggesting connections between personal relationships and larger societal malaise) whereas most pop music still thinks that 'authentic' means ham-fisted and unsubtle. (I think he gets an underserved reputation as an angry young man, or as the epitome of 70s/80s Britain, but these tunes are universal. There’s a great 2021 reworking of this album, Spanish Model, with Latin American artists, many of them women. It still works great. We’re all messy like this.)
This is an album I already know and love, so I really tried to handle this listen with fresh ears. But the thing is, I still remember the first time I heard This Year's Model, back in my early 20s, because it blew me away. I went through like two years where I only listened to Elvis Costello as a result of this album and Get Happy!! (which is inexplicably not one of the six Costello albums on this list). It's like his music is perfectly tuned to my tastes. I didn't know music from this era could be so fun and fresh and distinctive. I love his voice, his lyrics, his melodies. Yeah, first listen or 500th, this one is an easy 5.
Not for me, no attraction to this.
An absolute vibe, seemed like this has inspired a lot of others, a thoroughly enjoyable listen
Hadn’t listened to this before, but was such a bop. Have saved for future listens!
Elvis Costello is one of those artists that everyone says you need to like in order to be taken seriously about liking "good" music. But, when you ask anyone why you should like him the response is, "I don't know, I don't particularly like him, but that's what they say." His music is pretty middling at best. Maybe it was creative and new sounding at the time, but it's pretty bland and boring. I see that he has a lot of representation on this list, and I will be giving him 2's at most just because no moderately talented artist like him deserves that much on a list like this. Especially considering he has similar representation in number of albums as bands like Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson who arguably deserve much more representation than a bland corporate rocker from the late '70's and '80's.
Very fun and catchy. I'll listen to it again.
It's good
Fine, nothing special