Brutal Youth

Why are there 6 albums of this garbage on here? Did the writers get high and confuse him with Elvis Presley?

You know, this whole list makes a lot more sense when you realize it was written by a single Gen X British dude. Explains the obsession with Elvis Costello and mediocre Brit Pop. I have never enjoyed or understood the appeal of Elvis Costello and this album sure as hell didn't change that.

If this list were extended to be the 1,111 AYMHBYD, I'm sure we'd get at least 3 more Elvis Costello albums. We certainly don't need all SIX we already have on the list, but I don't think that would stop Dimery & Company from packing a few more into the list if they could - extra impressive since Costello isn't even British. This is my fourth attempt at connecting with an Elvis Costello record, and it's gone about as well as the other three. In theory, I should like his music. In reality, his vocal delivery is annoying, bordering on obnoxious, and I cannot get past that to enjoy anything else going on. I was briefly excited about the blues guitar work on "All The Rage" but it was too little too late for this record; my opinion was already set.

Not great. Bit too much rock for me.

The best Elvis C. Incredible mid career comeback

An annoying album by an annoying person with an annoying voice. Almost everything about this pisses me off. There are a few listenable moments, but not nearly enough to make up for the bland music and the shrill, constantly shifting vocals. Just go away, Poser Elvis. 2/10

Discovering Costello once again as this morning’s album of the day, my only reaction was a very long sigh of despair. And yes, I’m pretty sure I’ll never be a fan of his work. But I have to admit this one surprised me. It’s from 1994, and Costello seems to have caught at least some of the 90s vibe. He pushes his voice hard enough for it to occasionally turn rough, distorted guitars appear here and there, and at times it gets surprisingly close to what Weezer were doing around the same period, just less garage. So, a genuinely good surprise from an artist I expected absolutely nothing from. And I mean nothing. The album is pretty consistent, some melodies actually stand out for once, and by the end I could imagine listening to it again. Which painfully forces me to give Elvis Costello 3 stars. Just barely. :)

Why is his voice so annoying Why is he a Buddy Holly impersonator Why is this an hour long

This is the Temu Elvis ... and yes, it was fairly brutal

Great album. maybe the last Elvis Costello album that I really like - the songwriting and singing is just right along with the classic stuff like MY Aim Is True and Armed Forces.

Every time I listen to Elvis Costello, I get excited that I too can become a successful musician, even though I’m a piss poor singer.

Some good tracks on here, and lots of variation. But some of it, like “my science fiction twin” just comes off as cheesy.

LOVE LOVE

Decent but not exceptional EC record which suffers from being overly familiar. Having the Attractions on board in one form or another is actually a curse here since the record naturally invites comparisons to EC&TA masterpieces like *This Year's Model* and *Armed Forces* and comes up somewhat lacking.

I posted my review and it turns out this mathematically tops my list of "albums I like more than everyone else." Interesting! I wonder if people just have Elvis Costello fatigue (six albums is a lot) or maybe hate his voice, which I don't mind, but I can understand. But I love it, and it's now held up over repeated listens. There's a lot written about this album related to the Attractions reforming (they didn't, not really), but for me, this is just a great collection of songs. Every song is punchy and melodic and given enough listens, I think I'll be singing along to a lot of them. A really satisfying and enjoyable listen.

It was decent. Powerful lyrics. The music itself just didn't do a whole lot for me.

Aight

I’m torn because some of it was pretty good but some of it was horrible… I got kind of used to his awful voice by the end so I’ll round it up

Decent - enjoyed, prettty distinctive style - need to revisit so giving a 4

The reality of kids in underdeveloped countries.

Those songs in TV shows where they need a filler song so they write a song that explains what's happening like "Dave is going to the store because his daughter is annoying..."

Eh, fine.

Music for running barefoot through the grass. Boring

I haven't had the opening track of an album make me wince as hard ever since Trout Mask Replica. The rest of the album was just as horrible. The vocals are SO JARRING it's genuinely hilarious how anyone allowed this to be released. In the words of Elvis Costello himself: "This is hell, this is hell I am sorry to tell you It never gets better or worse"

Easily one of the most over-respresented artists on the list. I liked This is Hell quite a bit, but found the rest of the album so forgettable.

I was a huge Elvis Costello fan in the 80's and early 90's, but stopped listening/buying his albums after Mighty Like a Rose. I'm kind of glad I did since this album was his next release and it just doesn't hit the same as his earlier work.

Almost one percent of the project is Metallica and Elvis Costello albums. I don't enjoy the pseudo doo wop style nor do I like the shouting/calm post punk delivery that's most evident on 'clown strike'. Calm down man.

One of the less interesting ec's for me. Mostly can't really hear much interesting. Not a huge fan of the band sound - prefer where the earlier records sound like a smaller band. That last song is really excellent though.

I don't know if I'm just sick this week or if I don't get Elvis Costello. He for sure has his bangers, but this is like the 5th EC album I've gotten. I think its fine. Its about the same as all of the other ones. I can't tell if its better or worse. I'm just not in the mood.

This a a solid album. A lot of good songs and a good energy. I listened a couple times.

yeah ok

Annoying. My review is track 4 00:00-00:13

Jesus Christ how many fucking Costello albums did they put in this thing??? "It's a kind of murder."

perfectly listenable I guess, but why would I pick this when My Aim Is True is sitting right there

A better album from him his voice still occasionally grates but some well worked songs here. I can see myself revising

Whyyyy does this guy has 6 albums on the book omg. The singing is bad and this album is annoying. Its feels so fucking long too, no song really standout.

Wasn't super memorable. I liked 13 Steps Lead Down most

I like how Costello's voice always sounds like a rebellious teenager. Aside from that, everything else sounds more of the same. It's very good, but there's nothing different to justify its presence on this list. 4 stars

2 stars. Some minimally catchy moments but not a fan of his vocals

music and band performance: 4 stars vocals: 0 stars avg score: 2 stars There's some really interesting music on here, too bad it's ruined by that voice.

While I still hate this guy, at least here he understands that reserved is the way to go. The harder he tries the more he sounds like shit

There is a delicious malevolent air running through this album. Kinder murder is nasty and catchy. This is hell addresses the rubbish music of the time which on reflection is nowhere near as bad as the less than roaring 2020s. You tripped at every step is an admonishment of a fated lover. Lyrically amongst his very best songs. As is londons brilliant parade which is another broadside at Thatcher which is thoroughly merited. My favourite costello albums have an edge. This is amongst his best

No

It didn't do a while load for me, but I'm not dreading the next Elvis Costello album in unlike when I get something from Neil Young.

An absolute gem, a hidden peak. I’m very pleasantly suprised.

Awful

Decent enough. Somewhat standard Elvis Costello fare. Not sure why it is on this list.

Day 1032 of having to listen to Elvis Costello albums. Look, I've made it clear I'm not a fan but he's fine. Surely even Elvis Costello fans think this is too much for one list? I won't make the "This is Hell" joke. Anyway, this was another of the "this was alright". Probably one of his better ones on the list. When it started again I quite liked Pony St. And some of the rest was fine, but a day or two later I don't remember it and I probably won't see it out again.

it’s still elvis costello so i enjoyed this but none of these albums can touch my aim is true

Ah, the ever present Costello. I'm starting to think he might have written this bloody book. I feel like every one of these songs has a bit in it where I go "oh, that's interesting" and then as soon as my interest is peaked it just fades into generic Costelloness. I though it was getting to the end so I figured I'd start writing my review, turns out I was on track 8 of 15. Sit tight Martin, you never know, perhaps there is a good song coming up... Turns out, not really. This album is too long. I think his lyrics are quite clever, but his music doesn't capture me enough to allow me to reach the point I am listening to them. I wonder if a Costello greatest hits could have saved me a lot of bother with all these albums.

This is my 3rd Elvis Costello album after "My Aim is True" and "This Year's Model." I think this album is 3rd out of those two. Not because it is bad. There is just something about the album that makes it not as good to me. There is still a good level of musicianship and variety to the record, but it occasionally gets to be grating. I didn't want the other two albums to end but this could have ended after "Sulky Girl" and I think it would be a better album in my opinion.

It's the voice for me. Yes, there are other things about Costello's music that aren't for me, but it's really the voice that makes my blood boil. And on this listen, which is my four or fifth Elvis Costello record so far, I had the thought that Elvis knows HOW to sing, he just....can't. His vibrato is nice, and he's on key, it's just......the way his vocal cords are formed make him sound more like a goose in heat than a real human boy. Anyways. Please stop making me listen to this guy. TWO STARS

Elvis Costello is one of those names I had heard just by being around music and pop culture all my life and this is the first time I have listened to one of his albums. I gotta say that I thought it would be better. The lyrics are great, but the music isn't there to back them up in my opinion. He sounds like the hate-fuck baby of Anthony Kiedis and Rivers Cuomo. Maybe his other stuff is better, but this was not it. I have a final question: is this supposed to be the British answer to Bruce Springsteen but about a few years late?

Really not quite good

favs: you tripped at every step rating 0.3/5

I like Elvis, but has he really changed his overall sound over between 1977 and 1995? No. He went all Burt Bacharach and mellow weird after that, but this album falls right in the same-old-same wheelhouse. It's an ok album but did it move the needle, did it break new ground, did it have any hits, do people still listen to it? All a resounding no. The listener counts are sad for an album this old by such an established artist, no one listens/listened to this album. I enjoyed "Kinder Murder" but the second two-thirds of the album was honest and truly boring. Weak choice. You can do better! This is Brit-bias at it's finest, that trend continues within the Top 1001. 2.5 stars.

17sec into the album and i cant. id rather listen to 10hr fart noises

Very little to say, didn’t like it. Couldn’t get past how much I dislike his voice. Drowned everything else out. Next album please

This dude corny as hell bruh. Never saw the appeal to Elvis. The album happened. Not bad but not good. Never listening again.

This album more than any other really grew on me. I can’t really describe what it was but the first song that caught my ear was this is hell. I like the lyrics and he has a great voice that isn’t too insistent. The more I listened I started to like tracks 3,6,8,9,10. So now that’s 6/15 I feel like that’s a solid 3star right. But I implore you to listen to this album a few more times. It gets better

I like a lot of other Elvis Costello albums, but this one was fairly forgettable. Sort of like if someone made an album trying to be Elvis Costello

Not really sure what else to say here. It's clear that the author of the book has a heavy bias towards Elvis Costello. Hard to believe this album was released in the 90's, as I didn't really sense any notable evolution or change in the band's sound. While I've certainly heard worse, this was just incredibly inoffensive.

This album caught me by surprise. I was not expecting it to be as good as it was after a few dud and experimental albums he had in the early 90s. This was a bit of a step back to familiarity with lots of great tracks and it sustains it throughout the album. I enjoy Costello but not a massive fan, but this is was great to listen to. my only gripe is that it could have been cut short a bit and weeded out a fewer of the weaker songs, Quite a few notable songs though. Still too Soon to know or This is Hell was my standout track. 4 stars

I think it’s fine, but I don’t get why there are so many Elvis Costello albums in this 1001 book.

Some good guitar work, nice vocals, good writing - I always have liked Elvis.

I like Elvis Costello and his unmistakably unique sound, sneer and quirky cadence...but I found this album unremarkable. Yes, it's clearly Elvis and you'll get your fix of him...but nothing stands out for repeated listens. If you want the best Elvis you'll need to go to his first three albums (My Aim is True, This Year's Model, Armed Forces). Now THOSE are truly special! 2.5⭐️

No thank you

I listened to a decent amount of Elvis Costello when I was in high school and I still like some of his work. This one is not it for me, though.

Highlights: Kinder Murder, Sulky Girl. 2.2

Of all the Elvis Costello albums on this list, this is my favorite. But I wonder sometimes if it doesn't take 15 minutes for the guy to write a song.

lol. lmao, even. But I do think this is finally my last Costello entry. How far we’ve come. I think ‘Imperial Bedroom’ was my favorite, but this is second. I wish his songs were more concise. He’s a good writer with a strong ear for a hook, but he repeats himself one too many times on a lot of these tracks. It makes catchy choruses or interesting refrains into annoyances. I’m conflicted on his voice. Sometimes his tone and delivery are just too much and really bother me, then sometimes (even in the same song) I’m impressed by how technically gifted he actually is as a vocalist.

nicht meine Musik, hatte so Folk SOund und da bin ich kein Fan von

Den Namen schon oft gehört, aber jetzt das erste mal die Musik. Nichts verpasst.

Nervsack

I think this is my least favourite of the EC albums we’ve had so far. Struggled to engage with it.

Started off ok with a few catchy songs but soon went downhill.

It’s quite something that after 4 Costello albums, there hasn’t been one song that I actively wanted to listen to again. At the same time, I don’t think there is a song I disliked as such either. He has a really unique and special talent to unmove me. Knowing there’s 2 more albums to come, call me cynical, but I’m not expecting this situation to change.

Correcto

I remember finding this in a lot of cut-out bins at used CD stores in the 1990s. Warner really thought they had a hit on their hands. It’s not that I dislike Declan - and I understand he’s a pretty generous, affable sort from old neighbours. But the curse of slightly older Gen Xers swearing up and down that he is the greatest ever is insurmountable when it comes to the at times very conventional arrangements and sounds (the organ). Declan’s voice is in fine form here, particularly on Favourite Hour, but to no effect I really care for. Shrugs.

Decent.

The Good: Finally, we are told the truth about Elvis’s youth! The Bad: It wasn’t brutal enough… The Ugly: The above was un-called for… I had a lovely chat with a buddy of mine about 2 years ago about Elvis Costello, mainly due to the fact that I really knew little of his music, yet the first album that I was presented with on this list was a pleasant surprise for me: This Year’s Model. I gave it a 4* rating… His next album presented to me, My Aim Is True, was praised with a 5* rating! Since those two albums I’ve started to fear seeing his name pop up on the list as all consecutive albums have received 1-2* ratings. Why? Because, aside from the first two albums mentioned, he stopped being punky, and tried to be more chanconier (that’s French…) and he sucks at that. So, do I care about his Brutal Youth? No. Why? Because he doesn’t seem to care about the effect a shit record has on my day… 1*

Boring. I think I remember enjoying the other one I listened to, but this was very disappointing.

3/10

a good album i like a few music

It sounds like he’s singing, ironically, like he’s purposely trying to sound like a weirdo

It's OK, not much to say

stooooop making me listen to this crap please stoppp

kei ahnig wie de so viel albe uf dere liste het de dude. he bis etz huere cute eigentli mega gueti songs aber ussert londons brilliant parade nöd so viel edge irgendwie. sehr afoch sini stimm und decent band. de bass isch meistens recht cool. he nüt bsubders aber nice. möst nöd do sii.

ohjaaa hanmer erst gad denkt, mier hend scho z lang kein elvis costello meh gha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KUHL!!!!!! wenigstens ischs albumcover würkli sehr cool hahaha mini chopfhörer hend kei akkugerät meh gha und bin gad echli froh gsi (es isch bis jz überhaupt nöd schlimm gsi aber me mussen chli hate) hmm s het recht en alternative rock und ah stelle sogar alt metal vibe (zB de schluss vo 13 steps lead down) finds na interessant this is hell isch iwie mega es cools lied? es isch ganz sanft und lieblich und ener reduziert und denn natürlich als gegesatz d lyrics (zumindest das wo ich ghört han) s album isch jz chli ruhiger und nüt sticht jz megaa usse aber ich finds na cool? gibs ungern zue you tripped at every step gfalltmer au easy, au weg dere sanftheit iwie OMG ES GAHT NO SO LANG bi just about glad singt/schreit er na geil! favourite hour isch mega schön als abschluss, er fizzt reeecht anne?? s het auchli en disneyfilm-vibe wo iwie de herkules heartbroken isch hahaha jaa han hii und daa rig na freud gha, aber es isch Z LAAANG de elvis isch sooo es nepobaby

Holy shit why is this guy 6 times in this list. What's so different about this album from the others. It sounds the same, he sings the same, about the same things. Nothing new or interesting to be found here. 5 down 1 to go, not looking forward to it

It gives me no pleasure to present the Derek & The Dominos Tryhard Award to this album. ‘Overrated’ is a lazy epithet in most cases (because of question-begging about the rater), but in the context of this list, EC, with six (6) entries including this turkey, definitely qualifies. WikiTIL: This album is punk rock ;D

I always love Elvis. This isn't so brutal! It's certainly youthful. I like it.

Oh fuck, I thought I was free of Declan's gravity, apparently not... Brutal Youth felt like an absolute slog. At nearly an hour long, it’s a tedious, overlong collection of bland 90s alt-pop that just drags on and on. Like so many others going through this 1001 Albums list, I am completely exhausted by the sheer number of Elvis Costello records we're forced to endure, seriously, six albums is absurd. His signature sneering, pitchy vocals are incredibly grating here, making all the tracks blend together into one unremarkable mush. And honestly, this is boring as hell. Why couldn't they pick Spike instead? At least that had "Veronica" and "Tramp The Dirt Down".

I really don't get the infatuation with Elvis Costello. Some of the songs are interesting, no doubt, but his voice is just not that great. It's not that he isn't capable of hitting notes, it just isn't pleasing to listen to. I could look past this if the song structures were great, but they weren't on this album. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good either. 2 stars

Favorite Track: Science Fiction Twin

Cool album, will have to listen again soon.

Ім,я знайоме. Цікаво)

Boring

Better than I expected. Costello has this quality to his singing where it sounds like he's sick. It's kinda grating, but it also kinda works. My favorite tracks were "Clown Strike" and "Rocking Horse Road". 2.5 stars.

Worse Elvis is so boring.

As quirky as expected. Suspect he is a weird guy. Borrows a lot of styles from other bands and puts them together into an eclectic mix that doesn’t really flow on an album. Fine to listen to but not really innovative or interesting.

This was the most tolerable Elvis Costello album so far.

Sure whatever it was fine. Please God tell me I’m free from Elvis Costello. If we had stopped at 2~ albums I think I’d have learned to appreciate him. After however many we’ve had I’ve gotten incredibly sick of him.

Didn't particularly resonate with me.

I read that "great songwriters" such as Elvis Costello get specially attention in the 1001 list, which means I've got another 5 albums to wade through. By all means add one or two for Elvis' cultural impact... Bux six. C'mon. There are at least four slots here that should be given to something more deserving.

I saw other reviewers complaining about his voice. I think the bigger issue is that the melodies he writes don’t suit his voice. I didn’t like this. This album is not unique or interesting. It’s a style that’s been done to death and this was not a fresh take even in the 90s.

I just read that he has 8 fucking albums on this list? This one started off so boring but genuinely picked up near the middle at least.

2.4

Nope. This is a Costello to far. I believe only This Years Model and Armed Forces should be on this list. About a week ago, the generator tried to sneak Blood And Chocolate by me. Didn’t happen. And it sure as shit is not going to happen with Brutal Youth. At best, Brutal youth is a transitional record on the road to mediocrity. I’m a Costello fan, but Elvis has made some crappy records. Brutal Youth is half crappy. Probably because Elvis’ creative muse whatever that is leads him to actually believe that everything he writes is genius. That is the confidence one needs I guess to be a rock star, but as a listener becomes tiresome and a bit off putting. It also leads to this disconnect with the average fan because there are always new artists and more pleasant listening experiences. Brutal Youth doesn’t expand the Costello musical vocabulary - it uses the wonderful Attractions to masquerade fairly weak material. Truly, if you are a fan can you name any of the songs on this record? Any classics you can sing? Of course not. Because none are present on this record. The last truly interesting Costello record for me was Get Happy and probably for the majority of fans perhaps King of America. After that Elvis has spent much of his time lost in the artistic wilderness. Unfortunately, he will never be found. 2/5

I only knew one track: "13 Steps Lead Down", which is interesting because apparently the next track (This is Hell) is the top one for the album. The overall sound is a little like Billy Joel, so for a mid-90's album it feels more "dated" than "classic". The other Elvis Costello album had one track that I liked (Watching the Detectives) but for me this album didn't have a similar hit.

I don’t think that even legendary bands, like the Beatles, need to have 6 albums on this list. So, Costello definitely doesn’t. This album would be easy to omit.

Continuing to enjoy hearing more of this guy

Continuing to love discovering Costello, but this one didn’t feel essential.

Bit of a one trick pony isn’t he? Nothing original going on here compared to his previous work and puzzled why this is on the list. 2

Never listened to Elvis Costello before. Unsure if this was the best candidate for a first timer

I was served two Elvis Costello albums 10 slots apart--and I hated the second even more than the first.

Pretty good album, not his best but decent

i absolutely hated the first elvis costello album i got (my aim is true), this album i hated a little less. didn’t love it though

Decent 2,5

Couple of decent songs but …

#429 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ I can't stand Mr. Costello. His voice bugs me, his music is always the same and I don't give a toss about lyrics. I can tell it's him only by the sound of his vocals, nothing else stands out. Nope, 1/5

*insert generic complaint about the amount of Elvis Costello albums on this list* But for real, this one is the most baffling addition yet. Almost an hour of the blandest, snoozer songs of all time. And I've never noticed how bad of a singer he is until this album. The song writing on this album is just bad, everything is so generic and repetitive. This Is Hell is more repetitive than Around the World by Daft Punk (I do like this song though). For some reason I also thought I heard him say the n word on multiple songs, but I was in the car and had no way to check. I doubt he said it, but it is weird I thought I heard it in 3 separate songs. This album is sooooooo boring. Low 2.

Good but all his songs sound the same to me

People love this guy. But I actually don’t know anybody who does. So maybe nobody actually does. I don’t get it. The lyrics aren’t earth shattering. Nothing is catchy. Maybe you have to be from a different, self-important part of the country to like this.

there's a reason you've never heard of this album

Feels like the songs are as good as any later Costello, but the production is slightly off.

I think this list should change its name to 1001 Elvis Costello Albums You Need to Hear Before You Die.

Tried to review this fairly by ignoring the roughly 19 'essential' Elvis Costello albums we've received thus far. Not as good as armed forces I'd say but probably second best, though I'm splitting hairs as they all deliver a very similar experience. Still think you wouldn't get the garage rock I like without Costello but he doesn't ever get out of his comfort zone really, which is okay as long as I don't have to listen to a string of albums.

Looking back at the many Elvis Costello albums we've had, I've definitely undergone a transformation: from "not-really liking it", to, "fan". Not as good as his debut My Aim Is True (maybe he peaked immediately), but he can write a cracking song. Surprised me that this was from the 90s, sounds more like the 70s. Kinder Murder, 13 Steps Lead Down, Clown Strike, London's Brilliant Parade, and Just About Glad were the standouts - but some of the album was pretty repetitive. I'm still a bit salty about his cancelled European tour with Neil Young, if I'm honest. Would have been absolutely fantastic - but I hold that against Neil Young, rather than this superior Elvis.

6th Elvis Costello album! This guy really liked him. I thought this one was pretty good. Think he's better when it's Elvis and the attractions which apparently this one was. Nothing immediately stands out as memorable, but thought it was solid 3.5

Mediocre at best. A few songs are ok, others not so much.

Well yes, this is an Elvis Costello album, with songs that sound very much like Elvis Costello, because everything Elvis Costello does sounds vaguely alike to me because I was just never into Elvis Costello. (I laughed when a song called “This is Hell” popped up. Come on, it isn’t quite *hell* to have to listen to this, Elvis Costello is a good songwriter.) It’s a perfectly fine album, just another one of those instances where I’d prefer to hear the songs interwoven in a radio set with other stuff instead of having to sit through an indigestible brick of Elvis Costello.

I'll give it up to Elvis for the fact that in the mid-90s he didn't try to adapt to the changing tastes of the musical landscape by throwing in a bunch of feedback and crunchy guitar (I think he did this later). It's almost like he took a step backward – his voice starts sounding like a crooner, the songs get more dynamic and there's orchestration. Not sure I really like it that much, but the effort is there.

I bet if you love Elvis Costello, every single one of his albums is amazing and needs to be on this list. In fact, I quite like Elvis Costello. There are several bands and artists I quite like. I still understand that there are people who very much don't enjoy this music, or who think it is "fine", maybe, but far from essential. I enjoyed my time listening to this.

I feel like anyone that doesn't already know the albums on this list would be seriously surprised to find out that this guy has six. As much as I disagree, I feel like someone can look at the seven Bob Dylan albums, nine Bowie albums, or twelve Beatles albums (7 Beatles, 2 Lennon, 2 McCartney, 1 Harrison) and say "I mean, they are Dylan/Bowie/The Beatles, after all. I'd put all of those on my list of albums to listen to before I die." I feel like the usual response upon finding out this guy has six is something to the tune of "What do you mean this guy has six albums on the list? I didn't even know he had that many!" I genuinely think that you could get rid of everything but This Year's Model or My Aim is True and be fine, although I'd be fine with dropping the number of Elvis Costello albums down to zero. That being said, the album's about as mediocre as This Year's Model. My ears just can't tune into this guy for more than like fifteen seconds without his voice starting to go in one and out the other.

Some of the album was good.

Lot of really good tunes on this, at least at the start. A lot of cuts here could have been classic Elvis number 1s from the early days. I didn't follow closely the Attractions/no Attractions/some Attractions discussions, just trying to enjoy. And enjoy I do! Years ago, I participated in a What Are Your Top 10 Elvis Costello Songs and I can't remember exactly but pretty sure I selected 13 Steps Lead Down. Granted there does seem to be some filler here, but when he's on, incisive, insightful, intriguing Declan here.

Lots of great songs on here, though perhaps a few tunes over the limit.

It's fine, but i'm docking it a star because it doesn't belong on the list.

I think this would get a 5 star from me just for the cuteness of little Elvis on the cover. Who is his equally adorable friend!? (I searched...not too deeply...and couldn't find) I know we have a lot of Elvis Costello on this list and this album is not one of my favorites (although I did own it) but I can happily listen to Elvis any time and it's a 4 to 5 star experience.

Meh

Love when artists say the album title in the lyrics of a song that isn’t a title track like on Favourite Hour. Another quality album by Elvis Costello with biting lyrics like you would expect. His vocals and melodies are also still high quality here. Cant really call this revolutionary as it’s mostly a relatively safe “more of the same” album. Favorites were This Is Hell, 20% Amnesia, London’s Brilliant Parade, and Just About Glad.

Dudelt angenehm im Hintergrund vorbei. Das Album letzte Woche von ihm hat mir besser gefallen.

I’m now halfway through the list. And by the list I mean ‘Six Elvis Costello Albums to Listen to Before You Die’

I really like Elvis Costello but kindly: what the hell is this one? It’s mixed terribly. Like why are his vocals SO forward? Especially with a lot of these songs being kind of vocally demanding, leading to Elvis stretching for notes he shouldn’t be? It got better as it went on but overall, a little too long. Honestly could cut like 4-5 tracks.

my 618th album, and my sixth and final costello record.

Sicuramente un album carino, forse un po’ ripetitivo ma non male

True to form and lively as a whole. A brilliant display of unique and stylistic design that can only come from one man!

This is really so shit and annoying

I almost kind of admire how much he stays true to his sound so much that this 90s album sounds exactly like the other stuff. Maybe I’m not getting it tho…sounded the same to me tho.

Almost an hour of listening to quirky lyrics is pushing it. He needed to reel himself in a bit.

4/10

doesn't do much for me

3.1 2x in MEX - > MTY

Idk if I don’t like this because I’m out of school but I don’t think I would have enjoyed listening to this regardless.

Wow, this sucks. The music is not very interesting, while the vocals are grating.

No bangers here but still an impeccable Elvis album.

Wow "Pony St" is horrible, reach into a bag and pull out some notes and then throw them around. can't get past his voice, sorry

i just don't care.

Didn't know this one well from the EC catalogue since its more 'recent'..."Kinder Murder" sounds like him doing a Pixies song. Its pretty vintage Elvis Costello - tuneful songs, snarling vocals, touches of different genres, Beatle-esque harmonies/backing vocals. The Attractions sound great as always. I loved the first two songs, "You Tripped At Every Step" and a few others, but songs like "20% Amnesia" feel like when EC is trying write a dense, challenging melody and do too much. Its cool but somewhat disorienting (even if he squeezed a "You Belong To Me"/"The Last Time"/"I Feel Fine" riff in there). 3.5 with a little bloat, so I'll round down; but I did enjoy it.

Jube. Plaadil on üks hea lugu ("This Is Hell"), mõned on talutavad ja ülejäänud tundub nagu julm lahmimine. Vokaal on vahepeal ikka nii haigelt ebameeldiv. 2.2/5

Oh look, another Elvis Costello album! This is one of the six albums by Costello in this book, and I have heard four of them. I can say there are too many Elvis Costello books in this album, and yet, I have enjoyed most of the ones that I listened to. This was a fine album as well. I don't know if I consider it compelling as some of the others I have listened to by Costello, as it did seem a bit long in parts. My favorite songs: Pony St. Kinder Murder This is Hell You Tripped at Every Step 20% Amnesia Just about Glad

Just don't like Elvis Costello very much unfortunately, there are worse Costello albums and this one I dislike mostly, a couple of better tracks in the latter half (20% Amnesia, Sulky Girl)⭐⭐

It was alright, nothing special or unique about it. Wouldn't come back to any of the songs, but didn't hate them.

Pretty decent but feels like a weird selection for this list

Pretty dull but a welcome enough break from 'The Birthday Party'

Why is his voice so annoying Why is he a Buddy Holly impersonator Why is this an hour long

Elvis Costello is always a bit weird. I don't usually think it's fantastic music, but it's always kind of weird and kind of fun in a way. I never really end up tuning out because it's boring at least Standouts This Is Hell 3/5

No idea why we have so many Elvis Costello albums on this list.

Tired of Elvis Costello now -1 star just because there’s no need for more than 1 of his albums on this list

I love the late 70s early 80s Elvis Costello and this had some remnants of it, but nothing really hit for me.

I feel confident in saying Elvis Costello has never made a bad album and deserves marks for forever moving forward. This album supports that thesis. The band is tightly wound in that perfect Attractions way, Elvis is about to pop out of his skin half of the time. Dreamy Steve Nieve keys. I don't know if it's essential but it dispatched me on a journey of listening to all those EC records I never got around to so thanks!

Some good moments but overall, it has the feel of a stage production soundtrack that is a little all over the place and fussed-over. So great on the early albums, The Attractions sound like a bar band here, and nothing stands out the way his early songs do. It’s like he can't decide between returning to his rock-and-roll roots and cutting one of his forays into jazz, classical or cabaret. This was also firmly within the period when he started releasing bad album covers.

I am sorry to the Elvis Costello aficionados here, but six EC albums on this list? Seriously? Is this guy equally consequential to the Rolling Stones (also 6 albums on this list)? Is this guy nearly as consequential as the Beatles (7 albums)? Is this hell? I think Elvis knows the answer.

Fine I guess but I lost interest in Elvis by this period and never really got it back .

Fuckin sucks

Way too much Costello on this list - he just isn't that good

Musically it’s great, but to me Elvis Costello’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

This is not brutal youth, it's just brutal. I just hate Elvis Costello. I hate the amount of Elvis Costello on this list. I just can't stand it.

Good memories

Awesome album by one of my favorites. Every track is good, most are great.

oh this isn’t presley? first few instrumental notes were good then his voice made me immediately angry about being subjugated to 56 min of it. i’ve gotten to 20% amnesia and holy shit this is terrible!! why is it in this list!!

охуеть мне очень не понравилось

Really enjoyed it and on the whole good BPM for a running sound track

P-p-p-p-pretentious p-p-prick. T-t-t-t-two stars. Just kidding. 1.

Great album

I mean yeah it's alright

Later Costello is ok but not as good as early Costello.

I don't know what it is about this man that is so... weirdly charming? Even when half of my brain can acknowledge "this song is boring" the other half is so enamored with the fact that you can hear him putting his whole pussy into it. He is going all in. Having a fucking ball. And then every now and then you do get a song that is both fun and good. This is a rounded up 3.5. I don't think I understand Elvis Costello, but he compels me though...

ngl me costó DEMASIADO escuchar esto

i find the strained vocals overly masculine and frankly kind of grating. might get flac but a little weezery. i’m tired of whiney men.

Christ, this man is irritating.

This album was not really what I was expecting. I figured 'Elvis Costello isn't one of my favorites but at least it'll be fun to listen to.' I was wrong about that. It was a chore. This is an odd choice for the list for sure. I mean most Elvis Costello is not fantastic but is at least tolerable. This is not that. Would not listen to this again, and it kind of put me off him a little. 2/5

I think I’m just not that into Elvis Costello.

Rock that’s just a little off the beaten path. Elvis Costello reminds me of Talking Heads in a way, but unfortunately I don’t really care for either of them.

Brutal listening

Middle of the road Costello.

I think I want to like Elvis Costello more than I actually do. I'm drawn to his lyricism, tone, occasionally his sound-- and yet. Some songs here are genuinely good. I liked Kinder Murder, . Really like the title. I think I just need to listen more, not less. An acquired taste that I think a younger woman from southern California needs to have a lot of exposure to to connect with. I want to like him.

cool cool cool

Had a lot of charm, but ran pretty long

If only Elvis Costello tried not singing like this, I might like him better. It certainly didn't help his case that I could only find this album on YouTube and had to sit through ads between every song.

A bit of return to form to his earlier releases. Elvis sounds good, but this is probably 5 songs too long.

I've already had an Elvis Costello album within the last week. "Brutal Youth" is pretty good for what it's worth. My favourite track is "13 Steps Lead Down". If only the other tracks on "Brutal Youth" were as cool. Most of them were uninteresting and not worthy of the 1001 Albums List. 3 stars for "Brutal Youth".

2 because some of these songs might be good with a different singer, but wow I hate Elvis costellos voice and it is pushed up so high in the mix, nowhere to hide. Excruciating

What the heck was the production on this. The drums sound like they’re in the bathroom with the door cracked open while it sounds like he’s singing at an awkward level right into your ear. It made mediocre songs sound so much worse.

Brutal listen

Sucks! How is this on the 1001 albums you have to listen too. Elvis Costello has much better records. This is a disgrace.

wow the most underwhelming album to date. it’s my most surprising dislike, i was expecting to enjoy this but it’s just grating and whiny and his voice is so annoyingggggg. it feels like he’s yelling at me and the drums are just constantly crashing in the background it’s so overstimulating. i have zero desire to ever listen to anything costello ever again. i was initially gonna give it a 2 but when i listened to it with daniel later i realized how pervy it is so now it’s down to a 1. it’s just not good and i wish i hadn’t heard it tbh.

Every song feels like it goes on too long

Holy fuck. Kill me. Kill me before this does. I cannot sit through an hour of this. No please no. This sounds like music from a shitty 80s musical. Or a theme song for a shitty 80s musical. His voice is genuinely insufferable. Oh my god. This fuckin album is a kinda murder. This is kinda like if bruce Springsteen sucked. This fuckass album is hell. I hate this. I wish I had amnesia after this. Favourite: Genuinely none Least favourite: Pony St.

Like listening to a shit, punk Dylan.

It was okay. I think I've liked other Elvis Costello records more

Didn't really care for this one as much as the previous one I listened to .

Love Costello’s voice. So unique.

About 30 mins into this I was thinking this was a classic 3 star. I was enjoying it fine. Even if like many albums on this list it certainly wouldn’t qualify as a “must listen” but then realised I was only half way through the album. No reason for this to be an hour long. No reason for this to be on the list, but i like to reserve the 1 stars for the real irredeemable stuff.

Day 271 and I’m feeling jaded with this. You don’t need to hear 6 Elvis Costello albums before you die. You should probably listen to 1 or 2 tops. 1 star for being a pointless inclusion on the list.

This Is Hell indeed, Elvis

Liked it. Third Costello album I had to listen here - "Too much albums of him on this list." I wrote after the second one.

Why!? Why!? Why!? 4 Elvis Costello albums!? Why!? Was this list written by Elvis Costello? Why do bad things happen to good people? If I end up in hell, no doubt I'll be subjected to a lifetime of this. Why? Just why.

Every song felt uniquely sabotaged. If it had a good hook, he overextended his range. If it had a good riff, it had an obnoxious hook. I didn't enjoy this.

3/10 I’ve had a middling opinion of Elvis Costello up to this point, and Brutal Youth is my fourth deep dive into his work. Sometimes he puts together some engaging and compelling pop/punk/new-wave/rock blends that have good melodic sensibilities and enough groove and zip to keep the ear engaged. Other times, he tends to lean far more into a lyrical focus that results in music that feels like it’s there as an accompaniment rather than the main event. Sadly, this record falls the furthest into that latter category of any of his records I’ve heard up to this point. For some people, it might be a perfect approach, but as someone for whom lyrics are secondary, and who still doesn’t know all of the words to some of his favourite songs, that relentless focus on storytelling, narrative and lyrical density just doesn’t sit well with me when it detracts from the music. Don’t get me wrong, there’s actually some decent stuff on here, but it all feels so stretched out and sporadically placed between sections in which Costello rambles on and on with little musical focus. Every now and then my ears would perk up before things began to drift or repeat and inertia set in. What doesn’t help is that, despite some attempts to add a bit of stylistic variety to the song selection, it all feels very one-dimensional. And the biggest complaint on that front is with the lead vocal, as Costello seems to sing in more or less the same way regardless of whether he’s singing an up-tempo punk leaning song, or a quiet piano based ballad. And the production only exacerbates things, with the lead vocal typically way too prominent and the rest of the band sitting way too far in the background to command any real attention. Frankly, this album is way too long and doesn’t have nearly enough variety or quality to justify its length. By the end, I couldn’t even tell whether a track was bad or if I was just bored of the album droning on and on. It’s not bad enough to give it the dreaded 1-star treatment, but he was probably only a track or two away from dragging it down that far just by the seemingly unending nature of the work. Pony St. - This sounds very reminiscent of earlier Elvis Costello work. The mix is very odd as the vocal is too prominent and the arrangement feels quite thin in places. Melodically, it’s pretty rambling and his vocal is a bit too punchy to suit the more rounded sound of the rest of the track. It feels a lot like he’s trying to cram as many lyrics as he can, rather than leaving space and allowing the vocal to breathe. Kinder Murder - This feels a little bit more coherent, but it’s very repetitive and doesn’t flow very well rhythmically in quite a few places. He makes some slightly awkward melodic choices now and again on his repetition of the song title that just jar against the fairly straightforward power-pop composition of the rest of the track. It’s ok, but feels quite bland really. 13 Steps Lead Down - This a fairly pop-punkesque track that drifts into a more new wave sound in places. It’s definitely the strongest effort up to this point and the variation in arrangement between verse and chorus is pretty effective. It still feels like he’s trying to cram too many words into a space that they don’t quite fit into, but at least we get a bit of instrumental soloing, with that section being driven, noisy and rambunctious in all the right ways. This Is Hell - The chorus to this isn’t bad, despite the cheesy backing vocals that sound like someone doing a bad Ringo Starr impression. The verses are too long and rambling though and manage to be both repetitive and unfocused at the same time. I kind of feel like this is almost a musical stream of consciousness that wanders along with no destination in mind. Clown Strike - This is much better. It’s got a nice bit of swagger and groove to it and feels like it’s building to a fun pop-soul chorus that… just never arrives. Great verses with cool layered grooves between guitar, bass and drums, but then it sort of peters out into a weird, sparse and drifting chorus. The vocals are too loud and their force doesn’t suit the more subtle delivery of the rest of the track either. What a weird and incoherent track. You Tripped At Every Step - The chorus here feels very familiar like it’s incredibly similar to some earlier Costello work, but I don’t know it well enough recall which song. It’s a good chorus though. The verses here are decent, if a touch meandering here and there, but the overall vibe and consistency is far better than some of the earlier tracks. It does become relentlessly repetitive towards the end though, which is a shame. Still Too Soon To Know - A fairly bland, meandering ballad. His vocal intensity really struggles to withdraw enough to match the vibe of the rest of the song and it’s rhythmically quite stilted. Pretty boring too. 20% Amnesia - A cool punky rock ’n roll effort now, but again, the grit of Costello’s vocal doesn’t fully connect with the rest of the track for me in a few places. It’s very wordy and meandering again, and some of the breakdowns and bridges are just awkwardly written and distracting. It’s a really odd instrumental blend too, but not in a cool way, more of a confusing way. There’s a decent core to this, and the chorus is pretty cool, but the execution just feels a bit inconsistent. Sulky Girl - This leans towards a more slow-groove soulful number and I think the lead vocal would work better if it was a touch lower in the mix. As with quite a few tracks on the record, it feels like he’s trying to cram too many lyrics in, which makes it feel a bit rambly and not precise enough. The tone of the rest of the track is pretty decent, and it has some nice dynamic range and builds. But some of the parts just drag on for too long and it’s not musically interesting enough to justify it, despite some really nice moments. It’s not bad though. London's Brilliant Parade - Another meandering little number. Musically, there’s not a lot wrong with it and it feels like he’s trying to maintain interest, but he just rambles on and on, so everything loses focus. I guess music that’s overly focused on lyrics isn’t for me. This is entirely tolerable, but there’s nothing in there that jumps out or grabs hold of me, so I have no real emotional connection to it at all. My Science Fiction Twin - Good lord, he takes forever to get to the point, doesn’t he? Everything just feels musically unfocused, despite having some really great moments, but they’re either dragged out to the point that they’re no longer great, or interspersed with stuff that’s a bit wooly or uninteresting. And this album is too long by this point. Rocking Horse Road - The word of this album is meandering. It all just feels like it’s been unnecessarily stretched out and bangs on for far too long so that, even when I actually like some of it, it just repeats or stretches things to the point where I lose interest. This track is the same, some great playing, some quality bits of writing, but it’s too long, too rambly and way too unfocused. Just About Glad - By this point, we’re over three quarters of an hour in, and I’m not sure I can tell what’s good and what’s not any more and it’s all just blending into a formless mass of Elvis Costello. It’s decent enough, I guess, but there’s nothing that makes it stand out from the seemingly endless pile of Elvis Costello songs that exist without any real purpose. All The Rage - So often, he fails to leave space in his relentless string of lyrical diarrhoea, when the music could really do with breathing room. This is a plodding one that does nothing to excite or invigorate and just chugs along, and every extra song by this point is dragging down the overall score of this record. Favourite Hour - And to close us out, we have an aimless, drifting ballad where he sings about “a tragic waste of brutal youth” in a way that is somehow both uninspiring and melodramatic at the same time. Turns out this album is pretty much a tragic waste of 57 minutes.

Idk I wanted to like it more

To his credit, "flogging is a dead horse" is how it feels to play back another Elvis Costello at this point. I hope the woman with the leopard-print tights takes him for all he's worth.

I'm realizing how much I love sensitive crooner who writes songs like 'Sulky Girl.' This wasn't groundbreaking or nearly as tight as his first album, but I like the overall genre he's leaning into with this one - singer / songwriter, a little bit of rock and a little bit of roll, 80s pop, etc.

Some things I thought along the way: Was this song in that commercial? Oh this rules He’s pretty whiny and annoying Music in the 90s was was more simple He’s still got it Doesn’t this sound like every other song? Ooo jaunty! 🤷🏻‍♀️

anyone else think the mix on this record is awful? had a hard time getting past that.

It’s good

Since this is my fourth, count em fourth, Elvis Costello album, I’ve invented a little game. It’s called catch the time he very unnecessarily and racistly drops the n word. Seriously this guy is worse than Tarantino. Even if it weren’t for that, this is still his weakest project on this list by far and honestly just isn’t necessary to be on this list.

This is probably one of those forgettable, mediocre, 3* albums but because it's ANOTHER Costello album it's a 2. 2/5

Pretty Good. I don't know how this stacks up with his other albums because I'm not that familiar with Elvis Costello. But it was enjoyable for the most part.

Brutal indeed

he sounds whiny and constipated, he sounds like the inner thought process of everyone on the website listening to his music.

Weirdest thing, really. It sounds almost like everything I really enjoy in music since my adolescence years yet it annoyed me and I couldn’t make myself like it in the slightest. Probably it was an important and influential thing but for me personally it’s like everything is a bit off.

The album was good, but I think I prefer 70s Costello to 90s Costello.

Costello drops a hard R for no reason whilst doing nothing else of note

В этом альбоме такой сильный голос, столько поддерживающих бэков и перкуссия оч радуееет. Очень много интересных ходов вокальных, когда думаешь, что на тон скакнет все, а по итогу пол тона и оч много таких моментов. Такие еще духовые нежные, поддерживающие, ваааайб. Еще фонощка Сирия эти нежные, вааайб!!!! И нравится то, какой он вроде бы и разноплановый по тихим, громким, спокойным, веселым песням, но весь в одной выдержанный стилистике. Очень продуманный и при этом такой свободный и живой, мега круто!!!

A lot of songs that I would probably enjoy more with a different singer

I've never got on with Costello's commitment to genre-hopping: while it showcases his versatility and musicality, it makes albums a confusing listen. But there's some great lyrical work here, bleakly highlighting a myriad of social ills.

Seems like another wannabe Dylan and Springsteen, which is a very high bar to try and meet. Nothing offensive in this but nothing extraordinary either. Pretty solid but far from great.

Very enjoyable, though his voice sounded kinda bad in a few tracks. Would listen again

Bit tired of this guy

Ja jemig, de zoveelste plaat van Elvis Costello. Gewoon nog weer meer van hetzelfde en geen enkele hit of überhaupt iets opvallends. Dit is echt bij lange na niet bijzonder genoeg voor deze lijst. Het luistert wel weer aardig weg, maar ik kan niet voor elke recensie iets origineels verzinnen, dat deed Elvis Costello immers ook niet voor elke plaat! Want dat is wel duidelijk onderhand.

Meneer Costello brengt ons ditmaal een definitie van de vergeetbare 3. Het album zakt vrij snel naar de achtergrond. Echt vermaken met of lekker ergeren aan kan ik niet. Het grote aantal andere Costello's in deze lijst is dus niet eens het hoofdargument om dit album niet in de lijst op te nemen.

Het zoveelste album van de verkeerde Elvis, ik heb niet eens meer de puf om op te zoeken hoeveel we er hebben gehad en hoeveel we er nog moeten. Het album begint met precies waar ik een hekel aan heb bij hem, zijn irritante nasale zang is hier veel te prominent. De lijst heeft me gisteren nog even doen opveren met Jimi, maar het drukt me nu weer met de neus op de feiten: het is een verschrikkelijk slecht boek. Ik ben al veel te vaak mild geweest voor Elvis en ik ben heel zuur deze maand qua albums. Hij zingt het zelf al op track 4: this is hell. Houdoe!

My review for the 17th Elvis Costello project on this list: it was fine, just like the others

Interesting themes. Elvis is too nasally for my taste. And the music isn't powerful enough, as if it were Bruce Springsteen turned on low. Still, I'd like to give it another chance. 3/5

Cinquième album de EC => 1/5 Je n'ai pas pu aller au bout. Aussi ennuyeux que 'Imperial Boredom' qui méritait bien son nom modifié ! Plus qu'un album à subir ...

Hopefully this is the last Elvis Costello record.

He has moments of greatness, but the rest is less.

impressive! range!

Look I've found myself being an Elvis Costello defender but even I'll admit this one dragged a bit. I already know all the top reviews will make a "This Is Hell" joke. 4/10

The album is fine, but none of the songs really jumped out at me. I just don't see myself listening to the album again.

ehhh. some interesting lyrics.

This was the first Elvis Costello I ever heard, back in 1994. I still really like it. It's not a 5 star because this isn't the best Costello album, but it's great.

I'm not sure why there needs to be SIX Elvis Costello albums on this list. SIX! There is definitely artistic merit here, but not enough for me to forgive SIX albums. SIX! I really liked You Tripped at Every Step Still Too Soon to Know physically made my teeth hurt somehow. I guess that's a new feeling music has evoked in me. Obviously, not a very desirable one. 20% Amnesia sounds like a collaboration with Danny Elfman for a Tim Burton stop motion movie about a skateboarder who hates his father. Also 3/4 of these tracks have different names but are the same song. That's such a boring quality for an album ⭐⭐.49

Rhyming 'perimeter fence' w/ 'senseless' & 'regiment,' 'bruise' w/ 'leather shoes' & 'bad mood music,' 'trophies' w/ 'hope is' or 'sofa' w/ 'oaf' proves that Costello is still at the peak of his powers in '94 & that it's essentially a given that you'll get at least some lyrical mastery from the bloke. Mastery doesn't make a great record tho. Great songs do. Brutal Youth has several tracks that are almost great, including 'This is Hell,' 'Still Too Soon to Know,' 'Rocking Horse Road,' & 'All the Rage,' but nothing as instantly great as something off This Year's Model. It's a record of virtuosity w/ pockets of poignancy, not an album that makes you feel all that much in the end, tho I wouldn't call it cold exactly. There's just nothing blazingly immediate here.

Is he being serious or ironic with this shit, I can never tell. Kinda liked the clown strike song I guess. 1.8

1.0 despite the big names involved, I thought this was pretty much unlistenable. Im sure there is some solid lyrics and songwriting in there but im not sticking around to find out. Sounded like what a Elvis Costello parody album would sound like

Same old from Elvis Costello. Nothing even close to original here. Meh.

Easily the best of the 3 Elvis Costello albums I've gotten so far. This does not sound like it came out in the 90s. Big surprise there. What why does he use the N word on this album too? Yikes. Might be the best song on the album if not for that. This album is definitely too long, especially for an album with its bones in punk rock.

Elvis Costello composes the most complex “simple” songs in existence. I don’t love to listen to all of them, but some of them are infectious.

++: 13 Steps Lead Down, London's Brilliant Parade +: Pony St., Clown Strike, Still Too Soon to Know, Rocking Horse Road, Just About Glad, All the Rage +-: This Is Hell, You Tripped at Every Step, My Science Fiction Twin, Favorite Hour -: Kinder Murder, 20% Amnesia, Sulky Girl 3,3/10

SIX Elvis Costello albums (so far)?!?! You gotta be fucking kidding me. At this time, I bring to this committee a motion to censure Mr. Robert Dimery and any other contributors to this list. Their reckless inclusion of an inordinate amount of Elvis Costello albums undermines the the purpose of this project and calls into question the very legitimacy of The List itself. To ignore this pointless Elvis Costello worship would be an affront to all who wish to experience a variety of music. Does the motion have a second? Mr. Hill? [I'm not going to listen to this album. I've heard all the Elvis Costello I can handle for one lifetime. Two stars as a protest vote.]

Thanks to this project, I think I hate Elvis Costello now

5/10 Perfectly inoffensive pop songs. Largely forgettable, with a definite missing element of drive and energy.

something about this reminds me of the Ghost of Tom Joad album.

I haven't listened to much of Elvis Costello yet but I have heard a little of his early stuff, and I liked it, however this is trash; his voice constantly crosses over into a Donnie Thornberry-esque raspy style of singing which I hate. Only good thing about this album for me is that it made me laugh out loud.

What did I do to deserve two Elvis Costello albums in a row?

I stg if Elvis Costello is my top Spotify artist this year I'm going to cyberbully someone

Really liked the punk elements even if it wasnt super heavy, great vocals, great songs. Loved this one!

¿Elvis Costello volviendo a tocar con The Attractions en los '90s? ¿Qué podría salir mal? Literalmente nada. Montando la ola revival de Power Pop liderada por bandas como Teenage Fanclub, Wilco y Matthew Sweet, Elvis Costello se adapta encrudeciendo su sonido para modernizarlo, tomando su clásica pluma y llevándola a otra era; una en donda hábita pares que celebraron desde un principio su contribución al panorama del pop alternativo. Un impresionante LP que volvería a escuchar más de una vez; de hecho, entrará en mi rotación regular. Entiendo si alguien no le gusta este trabajo ya que es sumamente Costello - y su voz puede ser difícil de digerir. Yo, la disfruto como el plato más fino de un fino restaurante. Pistas destacadas Pony St. Kinder Murder 13 Steps Lead Down This is Hell Clown Strike You Tripped at Every Step Still too soon to know Sulky Girl London's Brilliant Parade My Science Fiction Twin Rocking Horse Road All the Rage

Enjoyed it, easy enough listen

I'm most familiar with Costello's work from the 70's to mid-80's so I hadn't heard this one before. I enjoyed it from front to back and would definitely listen to this again.

Couldn’t get into it

At least, I know what I don't like

4.5

Pretty darn good album.

Very Theatrical of an album, it felt like listening to a Musical.

Pidän kyllä Elvis Costellon varhaisesta tuotannosta mutta en ole tutustunut miehen "uudempaan" materiaaliin. Ainakaan tämä kyseinen levy, Brutal Youth, ei mielestäni ole mikään merkkiteos. Levy kuulostaa ikävän "keski-ikäiseltä" , vaikka välillä onkin havaittavissa Costellon piikikästä ivaa. Kyllä tälle voin kuitenkin antaa juuri ja juuri kolme tähteä, koska ei tämä ole oikeasti huono, vaan pikemminkin vaan vähän tylsä ja innoton myöhäisuran julkaisu artistilta, joka oli parhaina päivinään todella nokkela ja energinen biisintekijä. Ei todellakaan kuuluisi tälle listalle.

Released during the heady days of Britpop, the now elder statesman of the new wave reunited with his original band the Attractions (it lasted a couple of albums until bassist Bruce Thomas annoyed Elvis again) for his best and most consistent album since the early 80s with some absolute gems (sulky girl, London's brilliant parade, favourite hour) in and amongst some consistent fare that got people talking about him commercially again. He kept distinctive drummer Pete Thomas and keyboardist Steve Nieve in his next band The Imposters in the following decade. I recall being quite interested in this album when not listening to Blur and Oasis!

Another Elvis Costello album that sounds like the rest. I have never met a “fan” of him but only people that will listen in bits and pieces

Creo que tiene muy buenas canciones, aunque se me hizo un poco largo

Too much EC on this list. He’s good but not that great.

Niet voor mij

Not often I make an unfavorable comparison to Smash Mouth but here we are

i'm not fuckin w/ this one and i feel like i can't even properly explain why, but i guess im gonna try anyway. given the name u would think this album would have a harder sound than it does but instead its costello seemingly attempting pop punk vocals? except he's doing it over a collection of comparatively tame rock/soft rock instrumentals. at best it feels goofy, at worst it feels hollow, and consistently it feels... mid. there's plenty of variety at least, but it mostly comes off as unfocused, especially when the album is nearly an hour long. i can't think of a single track i'd go back to this album for, so it's hard for me to believe that he really thought not a single track could've been cut. it also kinda sounds like it's mixed wrong....? like, his vocals stand so proud in the mix on some tracks that i thought my speakers might've been broken or somethin. it almost feels unfinished, which adds to the half-baked feeling of the album as a whole. i really don't understand what happened here. putting it all together.... it's kinda lame. i'm not really sure why this is on the list other than one of the list's contributors apparently being very into elvis costello. i don't think bro needed 6 albums on here, and i definitely don't feel like i needed to listen to this one in particular before i die.

its like they sucked all the fun out of the barenaked ladies

NO ME GUSTO

not as much impressed by it but it was still a nice listen, anyway. favorite track is "Just About Glad" simply because of how I coincidentally relate to it at the time of listening.

This album had some really wonderful moments but did drag at times. I dunno man, he's pretty good.

This did not work for me at all. The music was fine, but I can’t say much else. 2/5

Solid album, but not blown away.

Kinda super sick, great vocals

ok, but not more

This was fine, but didn’t do much to actually interest me…torn between a “high” 2 and “low” 3.

Brutal Youth markiert die erste Rückkehr des englischen Songwriters Elvis Costello zu seiner Stammband The Attractions seit Blood and Chocolate (1986) – und sie gelingt mit bemerkenswerter Selbstverständlichkeit. Der Hauptteil des Albums entstand in den Olympic Studios in London, zwei Stücke in den eher intimen Räumlichkeiten des Pathway Studio in Islington sowie den Church Studios in Crouch End; abgemischt wurde in den Sunset Sound Factory Studios in Hollywood. Produziert von Mitchell Froom und aufgenommen von Tchad Blake, erschien das Werk im März 1994 auf Warner Bros. Records – zu einer Zeit, da Gitarrenmusik ohnehin wieder an Boden gewann, Costello sich davon aber ostentativ unbeeindruckt zeigte. Das Album versammelt 15 Songs, die mit der spröden Energie seiner frühen New-Wave-Jahre spielen, ohne sie zu imitieren. Steve Nieve und Pete Thomas bilden das gewohnte rhythmische und harmonische Rückgrat; auf den Basslinien teilen sich Attractions-Mitglied Bruce Thomas, der Produzent Nick Lowe und Costello selbst die Aufgaben – eine Konstellation, die auf Albumebene kaum hörbar, in der Entstehungsgeschichte aber nicht ohne persönliche Spannungen war. Herausragende Stücke sind das eingängige, leicht zynische „Sulky Girl" (erster ausgekoppelter Single, UK-Platz 22), das treibende „13 Steps Lead Down" sowie das melodisch reifste Stück der Platte, „London's Brilliant Parade". Brutal Youth polarisierte zeitgenössische Kritiker vor allem wegen seiner Länge und einiger schwächerer Albumfüller, die den Fokus von den stärkeren Momenten ablenken. Gleichwohl zeigt das Album einen Künstler, dem es nicht darum geht, sich bei seinem Publikum einzuschmeicheln – Costellos Texte bleiben scharfzüngig, bisweilen schneidend, und das Arrangements verweigern jede Art von Weichzeichnung. Wer die frühen Attractions-Alben liebt, findet hier keine Enttäuschung – nur die Erkenntnis, dass diese Band funktioniert, sobald Costello ihr wieder traut.

some songs were good others pissed me off

This might have been All the Rage awhile ago, but idk now. It’s Still Too Soon to Know.

I don't like this. I get why people do, but this isn't my jam. At all. Boring/whiny. Hard to put my finger on it, just... no.

Just not very good. Don't particularly like this voice here.