This Year's Model

This album is terrific. Loads of topnotch songs that are energetic, danceable, and offer more to think about than just sex and drugs. Every track is strong. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-this-years-model-by?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

A classic of New Wave, This Year's Model is packed with some of Costello's most oconic and subversive songs. Pump It Up, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, and the especially rebellious Radio Radio. The latter song caused a stir on Saturday Night Live when Costello was told not to play it, ironically an indictment of broadcast censorship, but did so anyway. This Year's Model catches Costello and New Wave in general, at it's true height - just before it all went corporate - when it was still on message. Musically, his later album Armed Forces may have been better, but it was also much more polished, the antithesis of the Punk/New Wave DIY ethos. This Year's Model is a snapshot of a rare moment when music and social conscienceness melded into the perfect synthesis of both.

Costello makes some average ahh music. Nothing special about it

Enjoyed the lyrics and band performances of this but I'm not a massive fan of Costello's vocals. So much so that I don't think I'd listen to him regularly. Highlights are Pump It Up, Little Triggers & Lipstick Vogue.

Thanks for this Christmas present. Now I get to listen to the Walmart version of Bruce Springsteen.

Meh

This is a pretty typical Elvis Costello album. Tim: "It's everything I love about Elvis Costello."

Glammy og litt ekkel sånn rockabilly faenskap?

Loved. Classic Elvis

As some wise guy once said, "Razor sharp slices of neo-garage rock, fueled on amphetamine and Aftermath, quick-witted and tight—and an object lesson that the New Wave could compete on the old school’s field." (This is the second album I've been dealt in a row where I've been cited as a source on Wikipedia. Spooky.)

Joah.

Was sort of cool at first, I liked No Action. Kind of one note for most of the album though. Don't feel like it belongs on this list.

Fantastic album.

1 or 2 cute songs. Not very into this type of melodies.

I usually don't mind Elvis Costello and I quite enjoy his voice, but this album was just a bit boring to be honest. Nothing managed to stand out and every song just kind of passed me by, not the worst thing I've ever heard by any stretch of the imagination, but hard for me to find the reason it's on a list such as this.

Ik ben echt een sucker voor lekkere beats, dus The Beat is right up my alley. De up-tempo nummers zijn zo ongelooflijk veel beter dan de ballads(Little Triggers klinkt echt niet goed) en ik ben er nog niet helemaal uit wat ik nou van de zanger vind. Hij klinkt als een soort overdreven versie van zichzelf? Als dat ergens op slaat? Sowieso vind ik de instrumenten en de beats echt de ster van dit album, de zang is vermakelijk maar instrumentaal is het album echt top. Soort van funky of is dat weer new wave? Geen idee, misschien ben ik stiekem een new wave fan, goed om te weten. FAVO: The beat, Pump it Up, i dont wanna go to Chelsea

Great song writing and really catchy spiky tunes - my only negative is his vocal delivery which just don't really do it for me. A high 4.

It seems like everywhere I go I see his name, but I’ve never heard his music until now. It has just never interested me, I guess. Solid rock and roll. Won’t listen to him before someone I like, though.

I like him more than I don't most of the time. Occasionally awesome, occasionally I want to turn him off.

Influental, energetic and iconic for sure, but not quite for me.

Boring and annoying... kinda like Joe Jackson but a lot less cool

Fine, not impressed

242/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

Good album.

Classic Elvis!

Elvis Costello er fínn tónlistarmaðurbog allt það en ég skil samt ekki sjarmann sem hann hefur. Ég get alveg hlustað á hann og mér finnst lögin bara allt í lagi en ég myndi aldrei velja mér sjálfur að hlusta á hann. Lögin eru ekki nægilega góð til þess að mig langi til að hlusta á þau aftur

fine, just fine

Still sounds fresh. 3.5*

Desde que vi que era el disco que traía Pump it up, una de mis canciones favoritas ever, me emocioné. Y resultó genial que descubrí al menos 4 canciones más que me encantaron también, y el resto del disco no está lejos. Me encanta Costello, escuché el disco dos veces seguidas y me dejó con muchas ganas de echarle una repasada a toda su carrera. El tipo hace música genial.

3.1 1x catch up 12/9

All sounded pretty similar. Fun songs but not my favorite for every day.

Costello es especial, deambula entre el pop, rock, jazz y vertientes niveles que no desafinan para nada. Poseedor de una voz tan natural engarza en sus arreglos y melodías su genial y personal toque. Siempre me gustó y mi nota es 5

I love the punk influences in this album. Elvis Costello & Joe Jackson making punk more palatable for the masses, with out disrespecting the genre.

It was fun but I wasn't hooked

Was pretty good, although I didn't care much for it genre/style-wise. No Action, This Year's Girl, and Little Triggers were alright, rest of the album was kinda brain-numbing. Better than Ermes Costello as a character.

“Pump It Up” is a banger. Otherwise, I just don’t think Costello’s songwriting is for me.

This is phychopath music. I'd rather listen to a banana ripening. Or the last beat of a dying person's heart. Or the sound of a million horse hooves stepping on a million broken bottles. Sounds grim? You did this to me Costello! You fucking did this to me!

Rating: 8/10 A fun and catchy album, instrumentally very strong and good enough vocally to be enjoyable all the way through. The bass lines are especially incredible.

No

7/10 This is my third EC album so far, I’m finding the list’s obsession with him surprising. Is he responsible for at least 0.3% of the most notable albums ever? Having said that, enjoyed this one. Punky power pop with excellent production. Maybe doesn’t have enough variation to really grab me, but you can clearly hear its influence on a lot of things that came later Best: Pump it Up

整體舒服、可以聽完的感覺，但沒有特別突出的地方。電吉他的、其他樂器的搭配很喜歡，尤其是「chelsea」。

Last year’s model.

Vintage, not quite showroom condition

this guy again feel bad for the guy who made this book, they're clearly a huge elvis costello fan and like everyone on this site is sick of hearing him. this is definitely my favorite elvis costello album i've heard so far. either that or I'm starting to warm up to him

8/10…proto punk / power pop

Radio Radio 10/10. Kan rigtig godt lide lyden på det her album

Lyder så lækkert! Taber pusten lidt på side B, ellers havde det sgu været en 5er

Thank God this eventually ended... I HATE his way of singing it felt like an entire album of scubidubidubidawababa... If it was up to me, I'd never listen to another Elvis Costello song.. But this is the 3rd album on the list, so you never know..

Not really that memorable. Kind of samey.

It was typical Elvis. A little bit goes a long way. 3

I wouldn't guess 1978 as release date, the sound feels recent. 3.5->4

Wow I hate this. Feels like getting hit on by an ugly guy at the bar.

Pretty good.

It’s Elvis Costello

Goid

Listened Before? N Meh. I wrote a whole review for this and I lost it. Sadly, I think this one is a solid album but not really a stand out. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Pump It Up

Quick and light hearted. The album felt much shorter than it actually is.

3.5 the clash solista

Es un 7, pero por ser elvis costello, vamos a acercarlo al 8.

Not sure how to describe it, but this whole album rubbed me the wrong way...

Fun album, easy to listen to

Pretty good. A couple 5 star songs. Although EC might be another example of an artist who might be better represented by a best of compilation on this 1,001 list instead of multiple albums that each have a couple classic songs.

Hard to believe Elvis Costello followed up his excellent debut with a possibly better album. Or maybe not, but it’s extremely good nonetheless.

We appear to be entering the Elvis Costello phase of the generator. This is very good, but does not have that same something that My Aim Is True has. I wonder if this album is suffering from us listening to them both so close together and my comparison between the two. Would this get a 5 if it were first? No way to tell. (Probably not)

Not sure how much of my review reflects how I was listening to this (while at work) but this all felt very same-y. I like it a lot but there wasn't much variation in tempo, tone, etc. That being said, when I could "tune in" the bass lines in this were dope. One of these days I really need to get back into playing bass. Also, any time I listen to Elvis Costello, I'm reminded of a friend of mine who asked me what I was listening to back in high school one day. It was a local-ish pop rock band called Ultimate Fakebook. She listened to it and said "Oh, they've got a real Elvis Costello thing going on." I, being a stupid teenager, balked that my musical tastes were being compared to anything that remotely well-known/popular. This is coming 20+ years too late but, Kali, you were right. Ultimate Fakebook still rules. Real Drums Forever!

What I really like about this album, beyond the energy and recording quality, is how each member is giving it their all and work tightly together as a single unit.

Well look what we have here another fricking Elvis Costello album. If this guy makes my Spotify top artist I’m blaming the guy who made this list. I picture him in his living Tom right now doing the gahdamn twist to this record while his wife looks on in utter horror. Now, with all that hate out of the way, this album wasn’t the worst out of his apparently vast discography. It was actually one of the more enjoyable ones that I didn’t mind having on in the background while got ready for work. So kudos to you list guy, you got one Elvis Costello album out of 1000 kinda right. 3.5/5 stars

Think this more enjoyable than other EC albums I've heard but I find it hard to get past his voice which kinda grates on me.

A bit more masculine and far more refined, the second album from Elvis really shows off this talents as a writer, player, and musician finder. The Attractions elevate his sound from My Aim is True without turning it into something too complicated. It's packed with energy and complexity. One of his best

What an annoying album. How is he (at least) 5 times on this list?

Funky oldies, ok

Great rock album. Standouts: Lip Service, Pump It Up, No Action, This Year's Girl.

Out of my way, nerdlinger.

And you're telling me the critics put this guy in 6 times? I reject the notion that I must listen to this guy 5 more times.

Probably my favorite Elvis Costello record so far!

Ugh. Boring!

If I could give this album a 0 star I would. Boring and uneventful. Sad and pathetic. Bad and worse.

Solid 3. I immediately recognized Pump It Up as the song that Olivia Rodrigo’s Brutal was allegedly copying, so I’d say there’s at least a bit of merit to that claim.

Started out thinking this was at least a 4, with strong hits like “Pump it Up” (on my “Jackson” playlist), and “Radio Radio”. The rest of it was surprisingly bland, with memories of most of the tracks, but only a few still clicked with me — “Little Triggers”, “Hand in Hand” and “Lip Service”. Most of the rest started out fine but didn’t go anywhere. So down to a 3. Still waiting for “Imperial Bedroom”…

Great getting ready to go out album for some reason

Extra star for doing an extra album in Spanish.

Really groovy. I ended up liking the second half a lot better than the first, but it's all around pretty good. Costello's expression in his songs are really a standout here. Love the use of instrumentation and the audio balance was fantastic. Favorites were Lip Service and Lipstick Vogue

I have been enlightened. If My Aim Is True was Elvis Costello’s Blue Album then this would be his Pinkerton, and not just because I think he and Rivers Cuomo look kinda similar. This is a really great album. It combines pop-rock, reggae, new-wave, R&B, and many more styles. You can hear the style of The Smiths and The Police in some of these songs. The lyrics are hard hitting as expected.

I liked it more than I thought I would

***An ok album

Elvis Costello and the Attractions really threaded the needle between New Wave, Punk, and Pop while always being accessible to a wide crowd. The music puts me into the mind frame of the era it came out, it captures the feel and pulse of the its' time.

I really expected to like this more than I did. The only song I knew of his was Peace Love & Understanding, and I like this song. I just kind of kept forgetting that I was listening to this album, unfortunately.

Fairly inoffensive.

Solid. 4

I like his voice and the style but only a couple songs really grabbed me.

Exactly what I thought it was going to be and exactly what I was avoiding. I don’t understand the appeal and it all sounds so corny to me. His voice is so hard for me to get past. The music itself seems like it could be on a commercial. I don’t know not for me I guess

ну такое, приятное звучание гитар в начале, но регги вайбы не пнравились

Hell yeah

Liked it better than I expected but still just kinda fine. Definitely more rock n roll than I thought Costello was

the catchiest songs you've ever heard about the worst guy you've ever met. I was fully unprepared for the sheer amount of anger that Elvis Costello radiates on these songs, much of it directed towards women! rock music and misogyny are no strangers to each other, of course, but with this album, I think Costello and The Attractions approach the subject with a satirical angle that's not immediately apparent on the surface. Costello's vocals, particularly on this album's most bitter songs like "Little Triggers" and "Hand in Hand", sneer and simmer with a barely contained rage... and yet The Attractions always make you want to dance! their music acts as a foil to Costello, deflating his rhetoric and turning it back on himself. this is a deeply unsympathetic portrayal of Costello as a man and a human being, and I think he's fully aware of that. hence, this album is an absolute ball. punk rock energy with powerful hooks, all tied together by that kooky organ. decent 8/10.

This is a nice pop CD, I know a lot of people who really love it and have listened to it before. Something about it just doesn't do it for me though. Even relative to other New Wave acts it's got three features that to me kind of drag it down. One, it's pretty lyrically-focused - that's his style, that's fine, but I don't really care too much about lyrics. On something like "Chelsea" he's spitting out words machine-gun style like Bruce Springsteen, but the harmonies and melodies are unexciting. Two, and this is related, Costello is a relatively poor singer - he's got limited range and kind of a reedy voice. The most excitement he generates with his voice on the whole CD is on "Pump It Up" where the whole band shouts the hook all at once - that's fun, but it's like a cover for his limitations. And last, for a power-pop-y CD, it's just not that lushly orchestrated. Compare it to Cars eponymous, which came out the same year and is obviously part of the same musical movement. Costello doesn't have the same depth of sound, the same wonderful vocal harmonies, the same massive hooks. I like "Pump It Up" a lot though. That's a winner.

I do not like Elvis Costello, but this probably the most tolerable of his works

It's... not my cup of tea. The vocals are off-putting, it's like Elvis is trying way too hard to stand out. Aside from a few songs, most are unforgettable, and more than a few have creepy overtones and borderline misogny written in them. Dated, but I can understand why this might have been influential back in the day. Best songs: The Beat, Radio, Radio Worst songs: You Belong To Me, Living in Paradise

I have no strong thoughts about this album either way. You can hear some of the more modern indie-rock in this record ahead of its time. But beyond that there is little lasting impression.

I have never really listened to Elvis Costello before this, something of a new discovery for me. In my head he was more in the realm of Nick Cave - don't know where I got that from - so was surprised at the poppy chirpy record coming through. I enjoyed listening to it.

Number of Elvis Costello songs I've now heard: 79 (6 entire albums) Number of Elvis Costello songs I remember: 0 I've now heard every single Costello album on this list and I'm very happy that I can now go on with my life never having to listen to or think about this guy ever again. Actually sort of impressive to write 6 entire albums of literally nothing.

No filler, all killer!

I rather enjoyed a few tracks here. I’m not a New Wave guy, but this was pretty good. This is my first Costello album, but it’s my understanding that many people feel he is over represented on this list. I’m curious if my opinion of this one changes as I get more of his stuff generated.

Why the fuck does Elvis Costello keep appearing on “best of” lists??? He’s written maybe two decent songs and produced any number of bands into his idea of mediocrity.

good!

Very nice - definitely my favourite Elvis Costello that I've heard. I've listened to it twice today, and enjoyed it in two quite different ways. The second time I found it quite moving in parts and lyrically fascinating.

was expecting to like this waaaay more than i did. i think fundamentally i don’t care enough about male whining to enjoy this ):

Fake Elvis revient avec un album plutôt correct, je dirais même un peu fun, rempli de chansons et de paroles.

Pretty darn good. I always overlook the Elvis'

Very monotone and not much musical variety on this one. Throughout his career he has managed to write several what I would consider classic long-lasting songs. The only one on this album is “Radio Radio”. Ok and maybe “Pump It Up”. But there are several clunkers (“Night Rally” and “Hand in Hand”). And lots of forgettables. Not his best work. Apparently there are four Elvis Costello albums on this list. This one could be removed to make room for somebody unrepresented.

Meh

Mainio levy! Erittäin hyvää poprokkia. My Aim is True on biisien osalta lähempänä meikän herttaa, mutta ei tää kauas jää. Annetaan nyt neljä tähtee. 4/5

Tästä costellon levystä jopa ihan tykkäsin! Sopivan ironista vinkunaa. 4/5

Loved it

Apparently every shitty not this hack committed to tape is something I must hear before I die. Well. I'll continue to mark each a single star.

A couple okay songs the rest are forgettable.

Not for me. Might be a bit biased as I had a headache. Then again I didn't have it before I started listening to this album so it might have caused it.

Lively and well put together , excellent bass 4.6

I had never really listened to Elvis before this list. I was familiar with his hits, which I liked, but the first full album I tried was "Armed Forces," which I didn't care for. This album, along with "Imperial Bedroom," has been much better, and my impression will likely improve after repeated listening.

Gotta love some Elvis Costello

More of this shit.

Pretty good album! I liked “Radio Radio” quite a bit.

3 stars

My favorite Elvis Costello album.

A fun, upbeat album. Really liked the sound on this one.

The other Elvis did it better.

Probably his best album. Power pop with attitude

no action- i hate his voice. 5 this years girl- 5 the beat- 5 pump it up- 4 little triggers- 4 you belong to me- 5 hand in hand- 6. i like the line "dont you know i got the bully boys out changing someones facial design" chelsea- i have a hunch this song is about sid and nancy. ok i dont think im right. oh well. 5 lip service- 5 or 6. song that plays when all the characters just got outta school and getting into their cars living in paradise- 5 or 6 lipstick vogue- 5 night rally- 6 big tears-5 radio radio- 5 it was ok

My favorite Elvis Costello album. More cohesive sounding than the first one. No skippers on this one!

Оч мне этот очкарик понравился, спасибо этому сайту за открытия такие. А то слушаю одно говно электронное

like every other elvis costello album this hits me absolutely nowhere, no real strong feelings about this, although i did find it to be about 15% more grating than his other albums

Best Song: Lipstick Vogue. The bass in this song might be the highlight of the whole album. Worst Song: Hand In Hand. Ending the song with an ad nauseum repetition of the title isn't the choice that I would have made here. Overall: I really don't understand the appeal that Elvis Costello has to warrant so many places on this list. His exaggeratedly staccato delivery really starts to grind on me after a while, and the instrumentation around it is just okay. Inoffensive and unexciting.

This Year’s Model rips, there are some soft moments but it mostly rips from start to finish. The Attractions are fantastic, especially drummer Peter Thomas. Lyrically edgy, sexual (I’m surprised he hasn’t been cancelled yet) Costello always seems to toe the line of just the right amount of subtle melody. This is a great punk rock album 8.8/10

Do not enjoy Elvis' voice, sorry.

This was the first time I’d listened to an Elvis Costello album and perhaps a bit more familiarity with his other works might help to better understand where this sits. He can certainly write a decent song and there’s probably more to discover in his lyrics with repeated listens. Can’t tell if he’s much imitated since or just doing what others had done before and blending musical styles together to make something that’s new. I’m sitting on the fence with this one!

Some outstanding tracks like (I don’t want to go to) Chelsea, but I can only cope with Costello‘s vocals in small bursts.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, the influence on early Blur quite apparent. Mostly cracking tunes, highlights being This Year's Girl, Pump It Up (obvs), Chelsea (why on earth was this substituted on the US LP) and Living in Paradise, the latter having a stonking bassline. I'm not usually one for punk, but this is melodic and has the right amount of spike. Definitely one to add to the collection!

EC always struck me as likely an insufferable wanker in the same vein as Bono. I find his voice incredibly annoying and put on, which is hard to look past: he sounds like he's trying so hard, which gives an insincere, inauthentic impression. I did enjoy the music on the more angular punky tracks and felt i was able to look past his vocal on some: particularly the Beat. Tracks like Hand in Hand and Little Triggers are everything I find annoying about him. I think you can hear quite a lot of the pop punk that was around in our youth in this record. It's a genre that similarly suffers from try-hard whining vocalists.

Good. I had never listened to them but I can see why people like it

Overrated.

This Year’s Model Nice to have this after My Aim is True last week, you can hear the development between the two and it really showcases what was great about Costello in this perido. The Attractions definitely have a rougher, more punk edge, eschewing some of the more 50s touches for a spikier and more aggressive, more angular new wave energy, which suits the mean spirited sentiments of the songs. There’s some very good bass playing and I love the drum sound that Nick Lowe gets on here, that echoey tom is great, particularly on This Year’s Girl and Pump It Up. And Steve Nieve’s keyboards are excellent, and really make the album what it is, the organ on The Beat is fantastic and you can hear echoes of that almost seaside sound in Modern Life is Rubbish and Parklife. It’s a great set of songs too, although written around the same time as My Aim is True they feel more developed and considered with better arrangements and some great catchy melodies. No Action has a similar function to Welcome to the Working Week on My Aim is True, a short sharp burst of energy, setting the snarky tone of the record. This Year’s Girl is great, with that Ringo-esque drum pattern and the taut angular guitar. I love The Beat, great chorus and that keyboard pattern. Pump it Up is of course an absolute stomping banger, Subterranean Homesick Blues-esque in its rapid fire verses, great keyboard riff and just a great song. Little Triggers is another superb track, harking back to some of the doo-wop and 50s influences on My Aim is True, but another truly great song and highlight of the album. You can hear The Beatles in the opening riff to You Belong To Me, before the keyboard kicks the pace up and it becomes a taut little rocker. Hand in Hand had a nice gentleness to it’s opening, recalling Alison, before the drums kick in and it settles in with some great organ and guitar and catchy chorus. I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea is another absolute banger, with that great spiky riff and rhythm echoing the lyric. Love the drums, bass and acoustic guitar on Lip Service, and that piano picking out the way to the chorus is great. Living in Paradise has more fantastic keyboards, dripping between the lines like honey through the gaps in the floorboards. Excellent song. Lipstick Vogue is also great, with that almost East Asian sounding intro before the frantic bass driven edgy verses. I love the atmospheric intro to Night Rally, echoing the unseen oppressive theme of the song, some superb playing and and the abrupt cut out is great. I know Big Tears and Radio Radio are additions on the re-issue but they are also great tracks, love Mick Jones’s guitar on Big Tears and Radio Radio of course is another classic early Costello single. Love the version from Saturday Night Live My Aim is True was and is a 5 and this is better, so it can only be a 5. Great album, no weak tracks and right at the peak of the Attractions and Costello’s fraught, tense, energetic yet melodic powers. Have always loved the cover too. 📷📷📷📷📷 Playlist Submission: Pump it Up

It was ok

I have listened this albums months ago. It is a good album but it is not may most suitable genre.

I love the vibe and the sound. Elvis has a lot to say, but never really seems to say anything. He doesn’t really let the tunes simmer, not a ton of instrumental breaks, yet I didn’t walk away feeling like I’d heard anything poetic or insightful, but maybe that’s just me.

Clean vocals and production, but not something I'd re-listen to for fun.

I have always been a fan of Elvis Costello and was introduced sometime in the mid 80's to his music. Now this fact made it so my working assumption was always that he was from "around then." Turns out this is a much older album and my mind is blown! This stuff is STILL ahead of its time in a way. Clearly I see this as a huge deal because that means he had to put himself out there and dare to step up; an honestly very difficult thing to do! But there it was. And here we are. I would probably give this a solid three star rating, I don't think it is his best album. However a one star boost is absolutely deserved in consideration of when he put this timeless album out!

no es mi estilo amiguin pero no taba malo

Fan Tas Tic. The drive and excitement. The angst. Elvis loves music, and if you don't love this, you don't love music.

Such a fun record. Looks ahead to Spoon (sounds like Britt Daniel's raspy howl on "The Beat") and back to The Rolling Stones ("You Belong To Me" recalls "The Last Time"). Fully sixteen tracks, but it rolls by and you turn it over again.

It's fine I suppose. I liked the hits on here and nothing stood out as bad or boring. Don't really see why Elvis Costello deserves 6 placements on this list though.

Ehhh, huh. Hated this. The guy voice is awful and none of the songs have anything interesting going on. Kinda skipped my way through it.

No

The Beat I Dont Want To Go To Chelsea

This Year's Model carries the same sharp lyricism from Costello's first album, but with a more pop-refined approach to songwriting that makes it more appealing to wider audiences. This is best exemplified by Pump It Up and (I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea, both songs utilizing a strong driving rhythm to sell Costello's excellent new wave hooks. One of the few Costello albums that earns it's place on the list.

I like his edgy tone, kind of angry but cool. Some of the songs were good, others were just meh.

I enjoyed this album, especially the guitar riffs and catchy lyrics. I appreciate the music but wouldn't go out of my way to buy the album. The listen was good but I know that others would appreciate it much more than I can. I really enjoyed the energy in "Pump It Up", 'Lipstick Vogue', and 'Radio, Radio'. The organ in the tracks were a great touch.

Started very promising but I lost a bit of interest

A really good album with a lot of great songs. My favorites were Pump It Up and (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea.

trotos

Nah still a 3 it’s catchy but I have and will hear better here

This has the perfect dose of 70’s tongue in cheek cringe, but all the tracks absolutely slap. I love the production, and Elvis Costello has definitely grown a ton on me since first listening to this project. There’s no denying the catchiness of these songs, and that this is perhaps his most rounded record I’ve heard so far.

Nice tunes, nice voice, nice sound… won’t play it again though.

Guter alter Brit-Pop. I Love it.

Eh, nothing crazy. Ok at best. 4.5/10

I love Elvis Costello and this is probably my favourite album full of gems. Pump It Up is a banger.

Pretty fun album. Enjoyed it. Standout songs: Little Triggers Lip Service Night Rally

Some really strong singles and hits and some less entertaining tracks. Elvis Costello is far too represented on the list but this one does definitely feel like it belongs here.

This album gives me 70's high school vibes or even like summer at the beach surfing. Elvis' voice is super forward and just has that perfect 'tang' to it that pulls you into each song, each crescendo - its great. I do think this album is a very specific listen where I'd need to be in the mood for it in order to really enjoy it, but it hit the spot today.

3.5

New wave pioneers

I never understood why my mom enjoyed Elvis Costello and I still don’t. I guess this is the shit that was exciting for people before the internet existed.

fun sound, didn't expect to know as many songs as i did.

Best of the Elvis Costello albums so far. I could listen to this.

People who I admire musically always love Elvis, but I've always struggled to get into it. That being said, this was a really good album!

So good

Yeah not bad some odd songs though

Listenable

Who is this record for? Definitely not me. Which is fine. But this record seems like it is made for people who are now 55-70 years old. This record does not hold up. It's definitely not timeless. Nothing in here sticks. It's boring. Come to think of it, I don't know a single Elvis Costello fan in present day. Maybe Diana Krall... Because she's his wife. But shes probably tired of his whacky-ness.

DNA everywhere. One of those albums you can hear in tons of modern pop, indie, and rock. Interesting rhythms. Catchy melodies. Soulful singing. It's easy to see how this album is such a strong influence.

One of a couple out of the 7 or 8 Elvis Costello records I have zero issues with being in the book. Brilliant.

Didn't have enough time but enjoyed what I heard

Hm, this does not sound like '78. Way ahead of its time. Sounds 90s to me. And alot of the others more like late 80s I actually didn't hate this one. And will give it 4 stars.

I feel like if you want to take a serious dive into the history of music, much of Elvis Costello's work is a right of passage. As this album shows, he is very much an artist with his own voice, but you can hear the influences as he wears his heart on his sleeve; taking the sounds that influence and interest him and concocting his own experiment out of them. This is definitely one of his better works. Lyrically, Costello is more angry here than usual. Reflecting on a very materialistic society through songs like 'This Year's Girl', 'Pump It Up', and (I don't Want To Go To) Chelsea. Reflections on the struggles of early manhood in 'The Beat'. Dealing with alienation in 'Lipstick Vogue'. And voicing strong criticism while portraying a fear of the far right in 'Night Rally'. This is all packed onto music that is energetic, catchy, with a raw punk attitude; but also feels extremely well produced. He takes elements of punk, channels them through a slick filter, and you can almost hear every pop punk band of the late 90's/early 2000's owing much of their sound and ideas to Costello. Personal highlights: 'This Year's Girl', 'The Beat', 'You Belong To Me', (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, 'Lip Service', 'Living In Paradise', and 'Night Rally'. It's a pretty packed album with only a couple of songs letting it down a smidge. But otherwise, this is pretty prime Elvis Costello. 4/5

2,5

I've been kind of ambivalent about the previous Elvis Costello albums I've gotten from the list. I have to say, this was fun. I liked it and I think if I devoted some time to listening to it again, it would grow on me more. More of a 3.5.

Another singer I know but none of the songs.

9/13/24. Fun, good energy rock album with a lot of pop elements.

An early mix of jazz with pop. Found again Elvis Costello thanks to this.

I do have a soft spot for Elvis Costello. Thoughtful and articulate lyrics, even if a bit obscure at times. Notable songs on this album are "Pump it Up", "I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea" and "Radio, Radio".

Nerding out so cool With an energetic sway Slickly delivered

I listened to this album while doing homework in class. I didn’t enjoy the last album I had of him, and this was more of the same. It’s fine, but not anything I enjoyed. No standouts because I didn’t stop to check my phone while I played the album.

God, what a great album!

Good album. Not really for me, but had a few really enjoyable tracks.

I don't think it was bad, I just didn't really like it. I bet this would be fun at a live show, but for sitting and listening as normal it wasn't for me. I can definitely hear how this was influential for other similar bands to follow.

this was released almost exactly at the midpoint between the death of Buddy Holly and the release of "Buddy Holly"... coincidence??

mmmm not for me. sanitized and clean, nothing to grasp onto.

divertido jazzy y tirando como a blues, I like that 7/10

6/10

I'm not happy that ANOTHER one of his albums is on this list. And even more unfortunately, it's definitely the best one so far. 3.

This is my favorite Elvis Costello album to date. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

What a banger from Elvis and company, solid from start to finish. The mix didn't age as well as the songs on it, sometimes sounding a little mid focused or over compressed, but that doesn't detract from the quality performances across the whole album. The issues in the mix actually do help to highlight just how awesome the bass lines are in every song bringing the instrument almost in front of the vocals at times. Check out "No Action", "This Year's Girl", "Pump It Up", "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea", "Little Triggers", "Lipstick Vogue" and "Radio, Radio"

4/5

My Elvis Costello listening has always only been the more famous tracks and then not really many listens of those. So I was intrigued when this popped up as an album to listen too. And… I really enjoyed it… will defo listen to more of this.

Elvis Costello. In het begin van mijn reis kreeg ik hem vrij snel twee keer en toen kon het me niet bekoren. Nu krijg ik hem nog een keer en m'n conclusie is eigenlijk onveranderd. Aardige muziek met een wat vervelend bijdehand klinkende zanger. Ik ben er nog steeds niet kapot van.

Not really my type.

These early Elvis Costello albums are great fun, lots of energy, love the sound.

Ei sietämättömintä Costelloa, ihan ookoo. Mutta onko näiden kaikkien Costellojen paikka tosiaan tällä listalla? Ylitarjonta luo inflaation, ja ajattelen tästä levystä, että plääh. Enkä edelleenkään tykkää tästä ironisesta otteesta, vaikka just tän levyn hammondeista tykkäänkin. Se luo liian ”hälläväliä, kyl te tiiätte että mä osaan” -tunnelman.

Yllättävän hyvä eka biisi. Ja toka. Kolmas? Ja neljäs! Tämä on kai sitä Elvis C:tä, joka ihmisten mielestä ansaitsee kulttimaineensa (huijaan vähän: olen minä nämä biisit ennenkin kuunnellut). B-puolella artisti vajoaa siihen koulumestarimaisuuteen, joka on pitkään varjostanut hänen uraansa. Mutta myönnetään: Costello onnistuu maneereistaankin huolimatta. Ja ehkä vähän niiden takia.

Excellent

Great

Album 514 of 1001 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - This Year's Model Rating : 4.5 / 5 I like most from him I hear but there is always something keeping from putting him over the top. Like listening but I don't think I would ever be craving to hear something from him.

if every song on here was as good as "pump it up" it would be a very good album! otherwise it's just OK. fav tracks: pump it up; the beat; you belong to me; (i don't want to go to) chelsea

I was hoping that on another listen through, different songs would stand out to me than the last time I heard it, but that didn't quite happen. The same songs that I got hooked on last time were the standouts again, and all on the first ~1/2 of the album. I think the album gets pretty repetitive by the end, and even the songs themselves are a bit repetitive by the end of their runtime. Though it was a bit tedious by the end when listening to it together as a complete body of work, I think that most of these songs would stand out to me as fun and interesting if they were mixed in with other artists' songs, so I still really enjoy this album overall.

Not his best but still a solid entry, Pump it Up is iconic

Solid album with multiple hits. Will listen to it again.

Never listened to this album before. Pump It Up and Radio, Radio are the singles, and the rest of the album is generally just annoying. Though some tracks seem to have inspired later, better, acts. Go To Chelsea in particular is a precursor to Mirror in the Bathroom, which was released 2 years later. The lyrics are better off being ignored as Elvis comes off sounding like an Incel. Barely giving it a 3

Thought this was a pretty clever line: Cause meanwhile up in heaven they are waiting at the gate Saying, "We always knew you'd make it, didn't think you'd come this late"

Definitely worth listening to. Unlike some albums, this was really easy to listen from beginning to end, and I wouldn't mind listening to it again. But "being easy to listen to", that's also the problem. Pretty much all of the songs are "good", but they don't evoke any strong feelings, in me at least...

Meh. A few really fun tunes. Overall not standout.

I can’t tell if it’s hackneyed or influential but I know it sounds like songs I’ve heard a thousand times before in the corniest way.

Liked this better than expected but still very much background music to me

Possibly the most accessible Elvis Costello album I heard. Super irritating regardless. Please don’t compare him to Weezer — Weezer at least wrote hooks people remember 😰😰😰 Elvis is correct that he gets "No Action" though.

This album is soooooooo freakyyyyy! Elvis Costello you are a freak!!!!

What a fun album. Radio Radio right at the end is spectacular and Elvis' voice is mesmerizing throughout. Great style, timeless.

Each song was better than the one before it, if there was another album at that pace I probably would have liked it.

This album feels dated even for when it was released. Every song felt overtuned and was unappealing to listen to. Some catchy moments, but nothing in my opinion that stood out as good other than fleeting riffs. Chiefly derivative and uninspired

I will always struggle with his voice but I didn’t hate this

3/5

Unremarkable. Sounded like 80s music before 80s music was a thing. I don’t love 80s music

Recognized some hita but overall eh

Poppy sounding Elvis Costello

It gets the "I just listened to spiritualized" one star bump

Best album we’ve have from EC.

This was a fantastic new wave album. Catchy, experimental grooves throughout and a lot of fun to listen to. Notable Tracks: - Pump It Up - Hand In Hand - (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea - Lip Service - Big Tears - Radio, Radio 8/10

Ihan kelpoa keskinkertaista rokkia. En tainnut aikasemmista Elvis Costellon levyistä niin pitää mutta tämä on kyllä parempi. Parhaat: The Beat, Hand In Hand, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea

Never listened to this album before. Pump It Up and Radio, Radio are the singles, and the rest of the album is generally just annoying. Though since tracks seen to have inspired later, better, acts. Go To Chelsea in particular is a precursor to Mirror in the Bathroom, which was released 2 years later. The lyrics are better of being ignored as Elvis comes of sounding like an Incel. Barely giving it a 3.

A few good solid songs on there, but not an album's worth.

First time listening to this album. Pop punk with distinctive guard dog like vocals. Many of the songs I've known and enjoy when they are played, but there were a couple of new to me songs that caught my attention like "Lip Service" and "Lipstick Vogue". "Everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed".

Distinctive voice and generally good, although a bit punchy after a while.

Wow...amazing debut album. Will listen to it again.

Costello’s best album, full stop, and it’s largely thanks to the Attractions. They’re a phenomenal backing band—tight, precise, and woven impeccably with Costello’s vocals.

So opposite of the other music of the 70's. Which made it interesting, and in retrospect, it still is

I'm not the biggest EC fan, but like his songwriting. This album is deceptively inventive without any real hits (I had only heard Pump It Up before). Some cool rhythm changes and details here--reminds me of early Springsteen.

This guy was at the beginning of a creative explosion to where for many years he was practically farting out absolutely devastating tunes all day long. They are pretty much all very negative, desperate and cynical. Pissed at the world, pissed at himself, pissed at his ex (current and future), often all at the same time and all told incredibly cleverly, like a modern Cole Porter. I think this is the first album with The Attractions, Elvis's amazing backing band for an incredible run of perhaps half a dozen albums over the next 6-7 years, all produced by Nick Lowe, a legend in his own right. This run of records stands out as one of the truly great musical accomplishments of the twentieth century, in my opinion. I mean that seriously. Maybe I am forgetting someone but I would say maybe only the Beatles and Miles Davis had such a consistently fertile and productive period. Sounds like very few if any overdubs on this. Very straightforward production and arrangements. Just a basic capture of a sick band playing kick ass tunes like their lives depended on it. You can hear their youth in how far on top of the beat every song feels. I bet if they re-recorded this today every song would be 10 beats a minute slower. Lipstick Vogue is a young player's tune, for example. You don't hear midlife people writing or performing such fast, high energy and emotionally desperate songs. I think this is EC's second album? His songwriting has really tightened up here. He sounds like you don't want to piss him off or else you will be permanently eviscerated on wax in a cleverly biting way. But no one hates themselves as much as Elvis hates himself. He's the GOAT of cynical self-loathing. I dont want to kiss you I don't want to touch. And while we're at it, I don't wanna go to Chelsea, either! This record could have been named (almost Seussically) All The Things I Don't Want To Do. And I'm here for all of it. All the buttons of my overcoat They have fallen off one by one You wouldn't even like me if you'd never had a drink You wouldn't even like me if you never stopped to think Standing in the shadow, turning wives to widows Don't you know, big tears mean nothing You can count them as they fall Big tears mean nothing When you're lying in your coffin Tell me who's been taken in Tell me, who's been taken in Tell me, who, me or yous been taken in Tell me, tell me, tell me

Although I know there are far too many Elvis Costello albums in this collection, I'd definitely vote for this one to remain in a more-reasonable 1001 albums collection, and would be perfectly fine if this were the only one, honestly. There's a lot of great energy and variety in the tracks, and I enjoyed the songs I'd never heard before as much as the hits on this album. (And what great (early) videos/promo films for "Pump it up", "(I don't want to) go to Chelsea", and "Radio radio", although I feared for Elvis' poor ankles throughout.) I also enjoyed reading that Costello managed to piss off Lorne Michaels of SNL by playing "Radio radio" instead of what they agreed to, and got banned for 10 years from SNL. And while the Wikpedia entry for this album is at least twice as long as it should be, I appreciated how it captured how the album was received when it first appeared, as it's often hard to get a feel for what a nearly 50-year-old album sounded like when it was just born. And I completely agree that the Attractions really don't get their due as one of the great backing bands. It makes me curious to listen to the recent version of this album, "Spanish Model", with all lyrics sung by Spanish-speaking singers (but the Attractions remain).

I really liked "My Aim is True" and bought it when it first came out. And then I was done with Elvis Costello. Everything I heard later didn't impress, and I felt guilty that I'd abandoned him. Listening to this album, I stand by my choices. Just not that interesting to me.

Ok album but too punk for me.

This was fine

mid but good

Pre-listening thoughts: I have heard the name Elvis Costello but he feels like one of those things I should know more about but don’t. Like it feels like not having seen The Sixth Sense like I just missed him somehow. Post/during listening thoughts: I would never guess that this was made in the 70s. You could tell me this was 90s/00s and I would believe you. The production is genuinely really great. I will agree with everyone and say there are too many Elvis Costello records on this list but I think at least 1 is worth a listen (not a “you HAVE to hear this before you die” kinda listen but rather a “this could hook you and you might enjoy it casually” kinda listen). It does sound like he’s saying “cause she’s dishes, girl” in This Years Girl 😭. I really like the sound of this though. It’s definitely good but I’m also not sure how memorable it is? Lotsa organ. This is good but nothing is super grabbing me. I think the second half is stronger than the first. I could definitely hear how pop punk stemmed from stuff like this. 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nope Fav tracks: No Action, (I Don’t Want to Go To) Chelsea, Lip Service, Lipstick Vogue, Radio Radio Least fav tracks: Little Triggers

Another Elvis Costello album. And I am still left eternally wondering why he has the status that he has. This is... Okay.

I own this album on CD, but looking at my Apple Music records, it looks I only listened to it in its entirety one time, and I don't remember much about it. However, I do remember asking for it for Christmas because I'd heard "Pump It Up" and thought I'd give Elvis Costello a try. Well, a try was all I gave him. I never really listened to him much until I started this project. This will be my third album of his to review, after Armed Forces and My Aim Is True. I'm expecting to enjoy this album as well. Hmm, well, now I understand why I only listened to this album once and only came back for additional helpings of "Pump It Up." This album was really boring. Musically, it felt like there was way to much restraint in the arrangements. In Costello's other works, I really enjoy the tension between chaos and order that tends to permeate his sound. There really wasn't much that was fun on this album. I like Elvis Costello's singing, but even his vocals sound a tad dull here too. "Pump It Up" is easily the biggest winner off this album, and "Lip Service" and "Lipstick Vogue" were pretty good too. All in all though, there's just too little to enjoy on this album. Everything that's not those three songs just runs together to me. This was a major letdown for me, but now that I've reviewed all of Elvis Costello's albums from the seventies, I'm really curious as to how I'll feel about his later work.

This really did nothing for me and I’m surprised by its inclusion on the list.

Not my favorite Elvis album but not bad. 3.5

What a great album, he redefined gritty yet refined pop. so many excellent songs on the album. Everything sounds tight. You get some hints of the coming sophistication his following efforts will contain.

i dont know why none of these 70s albums are hitting for me. i thought this was fine but i wouldnt save any of the songs .. sigh

A marked improvement from the previous album. This one actually sounds like it was recorded by musicians and professionals, and features sone actually memorable tunes. Still comes off as generic and doesn’t really feel like it has an identity.

while I can say I've now listened to an Elvis Costello album and that's part of the reason for working through a list such as this...I didn't like it, repetitive and got bored quickly

Not my cup of tea, only got through 1.5 songs

2 Costello albums down

This started to grow on me. Not all over the place, but in little spots.

First listen. Not my kind of thing.

Good but didn’t impress me - Radio, Radio is always good though

Elvis prototypical angry young man record, he practically spits some of these songs. He was considered "punk" by some when he came on the scene that was based more on the attitude than the music. Top 3 EC record for me

I've always liked Elvis Costello. His music covers a spectrum of genres - rock, pop, punk, new wave, country, etc. I like his songwriting, his distinctive voice and his delivery always adds another interesting element to the music. This album is among his best if not THE best. It makes me want to dig out his CDs.

With 6 songs I liked I'm giving this 4 stars even though there were 7 other songs that I was indifferent to. My faves include: The Beat, the commercialized Pump It Up, (I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea, Lip Service, Living in Paradise, and Lipstick Vogue. There's a lot of energy here and even in my driving listen I picked up on the mysogyny talked about by the many reviewers in the Wikipedia article for this album. But then you also learn that The Rolling Stones Aftermath was a major influence on this album and you understand. It's art. It doesn't mean that Elvis Costello wants to be a woman-hater. Anyway, there's a lot of good stuff here and then some other stuff that's just kind of here, but the good stuff is really good stuff hence the 4 stats.

Elvis Costello parece Berto Romero en la portada.

A good album to listen to if you want your child to think “who is that weird man,” “why are you listening to that weird man instead of hanging out with me,” and “I’m bored now I’m going to head to bed.”

What genre does Elvis Costello go under??

Nothing too offensive, other than some iffy lyrics at times. Probably not one I'll revisit anytime soon and not too excited to get a bunch more albums from him. 2.5

it was like, okay. this is the first of the albums i've listened to where i didn't save any of the songs

Early Elvis Costello is my thing. Great new wavy - power poppy - punk-adjacent tracks that do not leave your brain. Love it!

The energy of fantastically smart punk, but with a much more colorful sonic pallette, and a much more interesting range of subject matter. Not every song on here is a winner, but there’s a solid selection of bangers. A little ‘80s new wave preview too! Excellent.

This is fine. Maybe his best record as a whole that I've heard. Nothing against the songwriting or playing or style of it all but Elvis Costello just has a few hits for me and that's about it.

Nice Pop album

Enjoyable at the time, but writing this an hour after listening, it’s not memorable

That’s how you do inventive pop music. Flawless listen.

This is my second Elvis Costello album and I like this one even more than Imperial Ballroom. This is a really great album and I'm excited to see what other Elvis Costello albums will sound like. I have always listened to Costello's greatest hits but the songs are felt somewhat disconnected for me, though I did enjoy some of the tracks. It's better to hear Costello's albums, because it feels more cohesive to me and this album is no exception. Really great album with songs that clock in between 3 and 3.5 minutes. The organ and keyboards really stand out on this album, which I did not expect. Great surprise to me that I enjoy this album so much.

One of my favorite Elvis albums.

This was the first Elvis Costello album I bought on vinyl. Largely bought because of music media reviews as a must have album. I remember been a bit disappointed when I got it home and listened. Like most Costello albums I’m familiar with it contains some great songs interspread with lesser forgettable ones. Good to hear the songs I like again but skipped through the filler ones. Technically a good album with fine musicianship. This was an iconic album at the time but for my tastes it has not stood the test of time. 3/5 12/7/24

Probably only my fourth favorite Costello record and somehow still on the verge of 5 stars. Just wonderfully performed and written. 4.5/5

2.5

The man loves his keyboard. Thought it was a really good album just don’t know when I’d ever seek out throwing it on again.

I liked this, pleasant for afternoon drive. Vaguely sounded like Lenny Kravitz at points?

Recognized from girl talk. Sounds like Lenny kravitz in little trigger. Didn’t love it at first probably bc I never have listened to Elvis Costello (that punk rock blind spot). But some of it grew on me. Likes the accordio-ish sound, which seems unique. Listened to on drive from Trapani to Agrigento in Sicily

Meh

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, probably won’t remember it. Also not a massive fan of Costello’s voice for some reason.

I’ve never been all in on Costello but I needed to hear something with songs and new wave after a procession of average albums so he gets marked up.

maybe i’m just not in the mood for it but i thought the album was just okay? the first two tracks were not bad but it got a bit boring halfway in

Really fun album. This Elvis guy knows how to make a banging tune - even better than his namesake! Best Track: The Beat Worst Track: Big Tears

Best Song: Pump it up Worst Song: Night Rally

83/100

My favorite Elvis Costello record. So many good tunes. The B side has a few misses. But you can’t ever go wrong with Radio Radio.

I have said a few times that there are too many Elvis Costello albums on this list. This one, however, absolutely deserves to be here. A fantastic and energetic new-wave-and-kind-of-a-bit-of-everything-else record with really fun lyrics and some great musicianship (especially highlighted on Lipstick Vogue)

Pretty good

# Playlist Track - The Beat # Notes - First time listening to Elvis Costello. - Is there some SKA in this thing? I ended up listening to it a few times. A bit more annoyed at first, then got more used to it, and then actually thought it was really cool. - It sounds modern at times. It's fun, but there are a few downers, so I'm taking a start out.

I'm really digging this album. It's got a great groove to it that makes me want to keep listening to it.

Fantastic!

I might like this more if his voice wasn't so annoying