Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Brutal listen.
I think you need to be a solid late Boomer or early Gen X'er to be into Elvis Costello. Not being in that group I've always just found him annoying and snobbish.
It sounds like an Elvis Costello album. There are several in this list and nothing about this one is distinct enough from the others to justify its inclusion. It’s not his best, it’s not his first and it’s not a drastic departure. Another artist could have been included to be discovered. This album is interesting- Elvis is talented and never boring- but feels superfluous.
Appropriately named album. I could feel the angst the whole time. None of the songs really called to me, but I can see why people enjoy Elvis Costello so much.
Not his finest, even as an EC fan I am surprised this is on here. Some great tracks but plenty of dodgy ones also. In fact I'll help you out given the sequencing. A whole run of completely skippable songs 2-8, but all the rest classic Costello. Don't mention it, the pleasure is entirely mine.
Errr, this one wasn't for me, bit of a slog in the middle. I get it he's very talented but I don't think EVERY Elvis Costello album needs to be on the list does it....?
Maybe the generator has spaced out the endless Elvis Costello albums sufficiently, because I didn't mind this. In fact, some of it was quite delightful. 3.5!
Not working for me. 2 stars
Liked more than I expected. Some weird ones though.
bitte nie wieder so ne albums vorschlagen bitte
Haven’t I heard all these before on earlier records?
This is the fifth album Costello album I’ve gotten on this project. The best thing I can say about tablet it is that I only have one more to slog through before I’m done with this fraud forever.
I love Elvis Costello. I completely understand why he is represented in 1001, particularly with My Aim is True, This Year's Model, and Blood and Chocolate. I'm not sure I get it with Brutal Youth. I enjoy most of it, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure this record does anything different than any of the aforementioned records, and it kind of does what they do but just not quite as well. This is essentially my problem with 1001: some artists get waaaay over-represented with albums that really don't matter all that much. For instance, David Bowie has like 13 records on here when all we really need is one. Neil Young has like half his dumb catalogue on this site, and what he really needs is one greatest hits record. Meanwhile, Archers of Loaf aren’t represented at all, despite the fact that they were one of the quintessential 90’s indie rock bands. Where’s Weezer, whose first two records kind of kickstarted a whole genre? There are piles of other examples of meaningful work that just don’t show up on here cause someone decided that the world just needs to hear the “brilliance” of that one Neil Young record that sounds like he’s farting across his guitar strings for an hour. Is this Elvis Costello record any good? Sure, it’s alright. But it doesn’t need to be his like 6th album featured on this site. 6.5/10
Couldn't finish listening. Dreadful
Good fare from Declan. Hope The Juliet Letters is to come.
Diff Elvis than the Costello I expected. Not mind-blowingly my great, but I actually enjoyed it.
:20 in. what the heck? yep i did hear those lyrics right... I'm sure this would make a good tv series intro song?
It's not a bad album, but at this point I'm just over hearing Elvis Costello albums. He's way over represented on this list, and it isn't doing him any favors.
Elvis Costello’s songs always sound like he put five too many musical ideas into each chorus and verse. It’s complex without any real reason and sounds computed instead of expressive. And this album, released in 1994, sounds exactly like his earlier work with the Attractions.
All his albums are the same for me. Enjoyable, easy to listen to, but nothing overly special.
If I have learned anything from doing this exercise it’s that Elvis Costello sucks
Thoughts before listening: There sure are a lot of Elvis Costello albums on this project. I really enjoy his late 70s, early 80s hit filled albums, but I am less interested in these later releases which seem to be pretty hit or miss. I am pretty sure this falls in the latter category, so chances are this will just be okay. Review: Oh wow, so this is a mid-90s release. Definitely way outside of Elvis' classic album run. This first song "Pony St" has a bit of the early sound, but certainly a little rougher around the edges. That is probably a pretty good description of the whole album. I can tell its Elvis Costello and the Attractions, but its just kind of scuzzy sounding. Maybe thats an attempt to stay relevant with the 90s grunge and punk bands or something, but its kind of not working for me. Doesn't seem essential. 2-stars
Rätt bra, som vanligt
I grunden ett trevligt sound, men låtarna här kändes väldigt repetitiva och billiga på något sätt.
Bra, men man har hört det nu.
i almost formed a thought about this album
Costello can write fun, weird, infectious, punk tinged ditties. How do you spell ditty? Is it Diddy? Or with Ts? I don't really care for slower numbers & there's quite a few here. 3
Pretty good.
tell this to your gods... when they punish you... when they stretch you on the neutron rack... i'm still here.
I've never done the full deep dive thru this guy's work despite having it on my To Do list for years. Just the occasional brief dip thru an album (or less) with no understanding of context or season. I understand him to be "a musician's musician" and liking him shows you have sophisticated taste. Sometimes when I listen to him I understand why he has that reputation & find him brilliant. Other times it kinda falls flat or at least hits my ear funny and I'm tempted to force myself to like it because it's him and so it's supposed to be good. This album fell into the latter category. There are flashes that make my ears perk up & my toe commence to tappin'. But for the most part I was just waiting for it to be over so I could move on to the next one. 3 stars
truly brutal
The meaning of my life is she
This album both improved my respect for Elvis Costello, and left me a little bit confused as to how I feel about him. He reminds me of Jeff Rosenstock, who is one of my favorite artists, and I see him as being in a tour somewhere in the vein of Bruce Springsteen, but with a little bit more of a punk edge. However, I didn’t find his lyrics, is ripping, nor the songs as groovy and refine, as, say, born in the USA, which I was. I think I need a little bit more time with this album.
I don't know -- I enjoy Elvis Costello and his pop vibes.
Middle of the road for Costello.
Lekker wegdromen, mooi album
Another Costello banger
3rd Elvis Costello album, and the weakest so far. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Was getting a bit worried, hadn't had ANOTHER Costello album in a while. Well the gap might let me appreciate him a bit more? Find whatever it is that gives him a billion entries on the list. FMe. What a trial. 4 songs in needed to take a break, there is nothing, nothing. This just causes me an irrationally dislike reaction. Whatever melodies present are D.O.A. strangled by a vocal that after 50 minutes makes me want to put sharp things in my ears. Music arrangements are beyond meh. Those vocals are a constant amalgamation of a snear and whine with no aural or emotional variation. Lots of words does not immediately equal good lyrics, particularly when inaudible and when chorus seems to be an afterthought of repeat the one line. Dull, bland excruciatingly beige nothingness. I just disliked the experience of listening to this, as said at a completely irrationally level. Coming into this list I though while not a fan I liked him, got one of his earlier albums somewhere but was I wrong. And why so many albums by him, just why? Give someone else a go. So though this isn’t shit as such, it really is. I just don’t understand how anyone hearing this would then think "oh everyone must hear this", like really? I don’t like metal personally but I can understand a metalhead saying with devotion listen to such and such album it's a monster in the genre, but this, others do this kind of thing so much better, even adequately better. I'm quite shocked at how much I have responded to this innocuous pap. Would like to give it a 1 but it’s not that bad, it’s just I think it is, 2 Stars. And he allegedly has more to come, can't wait.
Definitely not as good as the "this years model" album. Honestly couldn't say why, just didn't click for me. 5/10
Pony St. - 2/5 Kinder Murder - 4/5 13 Steps Lead Down - 2/5 This Is Hell - 3/5 Clown Strike - 1/5 You Tripped at Every Step - 3/5 Still Too Soon to Know - 2/5 20% Amnesia - 3/5 Sulky Girl - 4/5 London's Brilliant Parade - 3/5 My Science Fiction Twin - 4/5 Rocking Horse Road - 3/5 Just About Glad - 1/5 All the Rage - 3/5 Favourite Hour - 1/5 Average score: 2.6/5 ⭐️⭐️ this sounds like a They Might Be Giants album but worse. i've only listened to this and Blood And Chocolate so far, but i'm starting to think i'm not much of an Elvis Costello fan
Costello is a blind spot for me and I always enjoy his stuff when I listen to it but none of it ever really sticks.
Not terrible but nothing special and his voice is a bit annoying imo
This was released the same year as The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977-86. I had that album and listened to it a few times. I don't remember much of it, but I remember thinking it was good. Couldn't name you a song from it, though. Anyway, I didn't have Brutal Youth and that is a shame because this is awesome! For a guy who released his first album in 1977, you'd think that 1994 would be a late stage output, but this isn't even the halfway mark for him! Wild stuff. Some really fun, catchy jams on here. It doesn't really feel like a 90s album and that is just fine with me; most of it sounds like it's from another time. Very cool. But then there's also these shades of punk rock throughout it. Also very cool. What more is there to say? A very solid 4 stars on this one. I don't think I can justify a 5, because it's a little on the long side and you could probably cut 2-3 of the songs on the back half, but you I could go to a 4.5 if we had the option. Post review reading addendum: The peanut gallery out in full force on this site once again. Get a life, folks. The album rules.
Z3.5
For whatever reason I'm just not big on Elvis Costello. And it's not that I really hate his music I just find it there and to me this is probably for the most part the most their album of the six but it does have some moments I really liked, mainly "13 Steps Lead Down" that one I really enjoyed.. (6.85) ★★★
Quite nice pop/rock album. 3.5 stars
I always want to like this album more than I do. The highs are very good and it's got some of his best songs since Blood & Chocolate. However, it's too long and there's some real clunkers that could be cut. When it's on, it's really good though. Highlights for me are "Kinder Murder", "Sulky Girl", and "All the Rage". It's nice to hear Elvis' more rocking side come out for sure. Light 4 stars.
3.5
If the fountain of youth was a 5, Youth from Killing Joke a 4, Sonic Youth a generous 2 and Hitler Youth a 1 then this Elvis Costello album would be a square 3. It is mostly fine but nowhere near his best work or being anywhere close to essential. What was Robert Dimery thinking?! It does live up to its brutal title in terms of the harsh mixing of the drums and vocals and also the sheer brutal length of the tracklist. London’s Brilliant Parade is probably my pick of the meagre pops on display here. Elvis really did need Burt Bacharach to mellow him out as proved by their smooth ten tonne masterpiece soon afterwards with Painted From Memory. A crucial work for him as it scooped him up from the critical and commercial wilderness and led to his appearances on Austin Powers 2 and the Notting Hill soundtrack.
Another snooze-fest from Elvis Costello.
Le yaourt nature du rock
Brutally dull 4/10
When it comes to my favorite artists, I often end up thinking of their career in three phases. The first, the golden period, is when I first discover the artist, buy all their albums as soon as they come out, listen to them closely, and then await the next gem. Everything that came before is their early period; I’ll invariably work my way through their back catalog until I hit upon some earlier albums I really don’t care for and rarely listen to. But, being a favorite artist, I’ll probably end up owning all their albums. Then there’s the late period. This usually starts when one of the new albums is a big disappointment — like Billy Joel’s AN INNOCENT MAN or R.E.M.’s MONSTER — and then I’m like “Well, I don’t have to buy their albums when they come out anymore” and it goes from there. In this period I will often wait for reviews, stop paying close attention to new release dates, and wait to pick them up months or years later. In my mind, the artist has peaked, will never top the stuff I love, but, y’know, I’m still interested. My golden period for Elvis Costello is TRUST (1981) to SPIKE (1989) and the later period is MIGHTY LIKE A ROSE (1991) to now. BRUTAL YOUTH is one of those top-notch late period Elvis Costello albums I often overlook. I’d forgotten about all the photos of 4- and 9-year-old Declan on the cover and in the CD booklet. And all my favorite personnel are here, too: the Attractions and Nick Lowe are back. Produced by Mitchell Froom and Elvis Costello. Recorded and mixed by Tchad Blake. Mastered by Bob Ludwig. No wonder this album sound so good!
It hits that sweet spot where Costello’s fire, humor, and bruised honesty all show up at once.
This is Hell, indeed.
East coast hipster poop
Just kinda bland. And way too long for how bland it is.
Not bad. Definitely like his earlier stuff better.
Brutal Youth arrives with genuine reunion energy — the first Attractions record in nearly a decade — and when that energy locks in, the results are exactly what you’d hope for. “Just Like Science Fiction” and “Thirteen Steps Lead Down” are the clearest examples: punchy organ, staccato bass, and a band that sounds like it has something to prove. Those moments deliver the same propulsive, groove-aware quality that made This Year’s Model work. The problem is consistency. Those peaks are surrounded by material that doesn’t quite sustain the same voltage, and the album requires more patience to unlock than a four-star record should need. It grew on a second listen — returning specifically to the two standout tracks proved worthwhile — but needing a guided tour to find the highlights is a different experience from a record that grabs you front to back. The Attractions are clearly still capable of the thing that makes them special. Nieve’s organ sits inside the arrangements rather than floating above them, and the rhythm section drives everything forward with real intention. But a reunion record that contains three or four four-star moments isn’t the same as a four-star album.
Not as bad as I feared.
This was a really solid listen despite the bad reviews. Right away in This Is Hell, I caught the Beatles nods to John’s “it can’t get no worse” line in “It’s Getting Better,” and even the piano ending felt like it was pulled straight out of “A Day in the Life.” Stuff like that always gets bonus points from me. “Just About Glad” was a standout and easily one of the best tracks on the album. “Favorite Hour” was a nice change of pace too, stripped down and acoustic in a way that really worked. Favorite track: Just About Glad
Finally, powerless pop.
Why would I listen to Elvis Costello when I could just listen to whatever artist he's attempting to emulate? I hope this is the last of his albums on the list. I've already had at least 3 and I've hated all of them. This album started with a Springsteen rip off, and went straight to a Tom Petty rip off.
I’m good with no more Elvis Costello
Yee gods, this one was worse than the last one. It was “brutal” alright 😒 Bailed after a few tracks this time. Then spun my copy of Amon Amarth’s Once Sent From The Golden Hall for the good kind of brutal 🤘🏻🤘🏻
Spent the 57 minute runtime imagining a list of 1,001 albums that didn't have multiple middling selections from multiple English artists. It's a 1.5 for me....rounding down because we just had a 'meh' Elvis Costello album two days ago. This one is even more 'meh'. Recency bias be damned.
The depths of Elvis Costello continue to amaze me. This however is not an essential album in his catalog.
Good
55/100. This is a decent record for me but there is honestly nothing really outstanding about it. It is a perfectly fine listen if you just want some solid craft but it does not really have those big hooks or that bite that would make you want to keep coming back to it.
Clown Strike
1.pony - 1 2. murder - 2 3. douun - 1 4. Hell - 1 5. Clown - 0 6. Step - 1 7. Know - 2 8. Amnesia - 1 9. Girl - 1 10. Parade - 1 11. Twin - 1 12. Road - 1 13. Glad-1 14. Rage - 1 15. Hour - 2
I don't like it. it sounds like show tune. find his voice very angsty
His voice is kinda annoying sometimes ngl but also some of the songs were fire
Its OK. I am not the biggest EC fan. The hits are OK.
Das ist jetzt das 5te Album von Elvis Costello auf dieser Liste. Das sind 4 zuviel. Aber ich bin sicher, dass noch eins kommt.
Bro sounds angelic for 2.5 seconds just before beat changing to literal garbage. 4/10 rage bait
Ik vind Elvis Costello niet leuk. Tenenkrommend. Veel andere muziek kan ik zeggen dat het genre mijn smaak niet is, maar dit is gewoon echt niet leuk. Moeilijke stem, domme teksten.
Phoe, had niet gedacht dat we nog een album van Elvis Costello zouden moeten beoordelen. Net als de top 2000 kan je wel eens ergeren aan de keuzes van de mensen en in dit geval de curator. Over smaak valt zeker te twisten en dat maakt lijsten zoals dit en de top 2000 ook wel leuk maar soms gaat het te ver, helemaal als het twee keer gebeurt. Het is vrij eenvoudig om 500 albums te selecteren (los van smaak) die het meer verdienen om in deze lijst te staan dan deze. Mijn ergernis zit niet eens zozeer in de muziek want die is niet boeiend waardoor je het ook niet extreem kan haten maar vooral in het gegeven dat dit geselecteerd is. Net als vorige keer, te oninteressant om te beoordelen. Het triggered zelfs niet genoeg om het een 1 te geven. Geef me dan iets wat ik kan haten. Het is wel een mooie cover
Het tweede album uit de lijst. Terwijl ik luister vraag ik me vooral af: voor wie is dit eigenlijk bedoeld? In mijn hoofd zie ik een soort jaren 70 setting voor me, huisvrouwen die half wegzwijmelen bij de stem van Elvis Costello terwijl ze een overhemd staan te strijken. Misschien slaat dat nergens op, maar zo voelt het een beetje. Het album blijft voor mij hangen in een soort niksigheid. Het is niet echt rock ’n roll, maar ook niet echt pop. Het zit er een beetje tussenin zonder dat het ergens echt landt. Wat me ook opvalt is dat Costello erg gelooft in herhaling. Refreinen bestaan soms uit één zin die hij gewoon blijft herhalen. En bijna altijd is het een slappe zin die ik de eerste keer al gaar vind. Ik vind dat Elvis Costello verbannen moet worden uit deze lijst. 2 albums is echt veel te veel.
Fine, but forgettable
Im shocked i didn’t get that much from this im afraid, i feel like i should like it more than i do, but Costello’s vocals weren’t doing it for me today, maybe i’m off my game today idk. Standouts were Clown Strike and London’s Brilliant Parade.
nice enough
It's Elvis Costello again. It's fine, again, I guess. Good on Mr. Costello to being able to keep up with the changing of the decades. Key tracks: Pony St. London's Brilliant Parade
Souvlaki, by Slowdive, was truly a triumph in what made rock music exciting in the early 1990s. Swirling guitars, psychedelic song structures, adding to the traditions of great English rock with an entirely new twist. Truly a timeless classic. No? How about adding a generic-sounding bar rock album from an English rock star of yesteryear to the list, in that case? Yes, what a great idea! Where's my paycheck?? I hate this album. I hate how it sounds, hate the vocal hooks, hate the melodies. I tried listening to it twice. Couldn't finish it either time. I had no idea that Costello could go so low in terms of quality and content, but here we are. So many deserving '90s bands should be here, not another Costello record.
I quite like Elvis Costello, but this is a bit stale for me.
Not stellar
Pretty solid honestly. Enjoyed my listen. But it does insist upon itself a little bit
Clown Strike almost unlistenable. Glad when it was finished .
It's insane that he's managed to stretch one song not just across an hour long album but a whole career.
This guy STINKS!!
I am a Costello fan but I find this album to be far from his best effort.
Not for me. 1/5
nao é meu estilo musical
Good production/singing/instrumentals, but the lyrics and melodies just don't stick out to me. Faves: You Tripped at Every Step, Sulky Girl
OK Elvis. Do not recall anything about this album when it came out in '94, and see why now
Elvis Costello’s voice grates on me. I’ve never really cared for it. The songs on this are not very good and the lyrics are pretty terrible. Not the worst album I’ve heard so far but I had to keep checking how many more songs until it was done.
I had heard a few Elvis Costello songs, thought they were alright. This was awful, like painful to experience.
Musically pleasant, but I hate hate hate the vocal across the entire album. Is it double tracked Elvis and he’s not synced up with himself? Is the backup singer someone else and a true novice? Let’s take it down 4dB so we can hear the rest of the mix, shall we?
A songwriter that has relatively few peers when it comes to sheer solid output, and his genius for an intricate melody is hard to match, but a lot of this feels a little boring and out of touch.
Costello just isn't my jam, man. I can't stand his voice
Really not necessary. It’s perfectly ok - it sounds like his older stuff but just not as lively, interesting, or good. He just seems older. Across 56 min there’s a few solid songs, some good bass playing and quirky vocal melodies, but pretty much forgettable.
My trajectory with Elvis Costello over this list has been of one of diminishing interest: “Blood and Chocolate” grabbed me with rawness; none of the others have been bad, just too familiar, never going anywhere startling, never delivering unexpected delight. This longstanding predictability curiously reminds me of the Fall, but without the transcendent madness.
Sounds like a 70s or 80s Elvis Costello album, not as weird or precious as I feared. It's OK. [EDIT: downgraded due to overwhelming Costello exhaustion 1000+ albums later. "Kinder Murder" and "You Tripped At Every Step" rose above the grey background noise. Took the opportunity to check out "Spike", which was quirkier but similar; the McCartney homolog "Flowers In The Dirt" was nothing special either]
Not sure how to describe it. Singer focused. Not the best but not horrible.
Painful listen.
#54/1001 🇬🇧 I generally like Elvis Costello and Armed Forces holds a special place in my heart - right place and right time. This album never hit my radar at the time, maybe thats why i feel a bit indifferent about it. Its's another one of those records that is well made but doesn't bring anything really fresh to the table. Maybe it needs another listen. Best tracks: All The Rage, London's Brilliant Parade, Kinder Murder.
Nowhere near his best, but not horrible.
Did not enjoy this at all.
I have never listened to Elvis Costello, besides maybe Radio Radio. There is a lot that I liked. I liked the music of Kinder Murder, but the lyrics made me uncomfortable, even if it's a comment on toxic masculinity, I just couldn't get through it. This is Hell is great. By this point in the album I was getting used to his vocals. I like the variance between songs. You Tripped at Every Step is just a great pop song, with excellent piano. 20% Amnesia is interesting, leaning a bit more pop punk. I like London's Brilliant Parade. Overall, I think the songwriting is very evocative and paints a picture.
A ver, me flipa poder compartir música con mi amor pero troncos… os repetís más que el ajo. El disco un 10 (Costello siempre es bienvenido)
I like his slower songs a lot. Don’t need him to be rocky and edgy. Reminds me of Keith harring - tried, true, overdone. The!
Nope
Wel leuk
only because I wasn't aware of his genius 'album' with the string quartet. This one was good just didn't click for me personally [his voice]
Pues me resulta muy plasta, me dan ganas de cambiar de Artista (no de canción) en todo momento... me resulta como molesto... quizá tengo mal día jajaja
Good songs, great bass lines. But hardly a fan of Costello's singing style.
Didn’t think much of this.
if johnny bravo got a wish granted to be a real boy
i'm sure every other comment except a handful asks the same frustrated question: why/how on earth did this make the list? this is a bland and uninspiring hour-long album from a guy who did his best work almost two decades earlier. it's not terrible, but it's not good. i just don't understand. favorites: the only track that accurately summed up my time listening to the album: this is hell
First Elvis Costello! Gonna be a big fat NOPE from me dog. Brutal indeed. If this is a sign of things to come I am in for some pain.
I really enjoyed this album but it started to feel a little repetitive near the end.
I like early Elvis Costello a lot and look forward to hearing those albums. Conversely, I do not look forward to hearing his more recent work. It's fine.
I accidentally deleted the review I wrote for this, so I'll just say that this list has far too much Elvis Costello. And, I still can't discern any particular arc for Costello's career, so the fact that this feels so similar to everything else doesn't have me optimistic here. But, honestly this is my favorite from him so far. A lot of these songs are pretty enjoyable, many rock pretty hard too. And I still like his lyrics. But the aesthetic still isn't for me, and the whole album is like a 3. But, that's higher than I expected. Maybe I'm learning to love Elvis Costello. But maybe this is just exceptional. Maybe we'll learn in time.
The 6th (SIXTH) time I've sat and listened to an Elvis Costello LP on Robert Dimery's say-so. I understand that he's an important singer-songwriter and worthy of knowing about but this is ridiculous. And Brutal Youth is the least enjoyable listen of the six. Vocally it's really hard work; it seems his voice had gone by the mid-90s, sadly. The production and instrumentation is sparse and raw, but not in an especially nuanced or interesting way; it just sounds flat and ragged. Time and time again, Costello takes a melody in an unexpected direction but it seldom works, and just makes for a jarring experience more often than not. I didn't mind most of his albums and I really quite liked Armed Forces but I've had enough of the lesser Elvis now. That's at least two and probably four too many entries from his catalogue now.
Nogle ok sange, men ikke noget fantastisk
I just can’t get into him and I don’t know why
this is my first of six(?) elvis costello albums that are on this list. i've seen that he's considered one of the best songwriters of his time, grouped with bob dylan and such... why is it that i keep finding these so called 'lyrical geniuses' to be the most insufferable musicians to listen to? i hate the structures/arrangements of the songs in this album, the general sound is also quite flat, vocal layering is grating, the instruments also sound like they're lacking depth. and just overall, it seems to me like this style/genre of music just doesn't really suit costello; his vocals don't really stick together with the rest of the band but that might just be the result of poor mixing of the album. another thing that annoyed me personally is the way he sings the high notes in his songs... it sounds annoying, he's trying so hard, it does not work for him at all yet he does it so many times, ugh. anyway, the album as a whole was boring, forgettable and a little too long. hated it, though can't wait to hear his other stuff!
6 / 10
Kinder Murder is the best track on this album. Otherwise I wasn't really sure about it.
I'm not a Costello fan. His voice grinds my gears. Musically, this is great through.
Interesting how many people dislike this. I thought it was quite good!
This album was ok. I could listen to it but wouldn’t choose it 2.5 stars
Just bad, couldn't finish it
No more Elvis Costello please. Thanks.
Hated the first song but it got better from there and didn’t end up minding it surprisingly
I really liked this. Catchy.
help, what is this. it got better but i feel like i witnessed something i shouldn't have
5.5/10
Well, here’s another Elvis Costello album being praised as something better than what it really is. This came out in 94, but it’s basically no different than the music he was making in the late 70s, except maybe not even as good. I want to say it falls short, but honestly, even his late 70s and early 80s work was pretty middle of the road, with maybe a handful of tracks rising slightly above average. By 1994, grunge itself was already starting to wear thin culturally, and here comes Costello still doing the same thing he did 15 to 20 years earlier. I’ve never understood the craze critics and music publications have for this guy, but clearly, he did a great job convincing all the right people in the industry that his music is the best thing since sliced bread. Anyway, the album isn’t horrible, it’s listenable, but it absolutely doesn’t belong on any kind of “top albums” list.
Just something about him that doesn’t work for me
one of the albums ever
2/5. My second Elvis Costello album within 3 days and outside of a few highlights I just didn’t jive with this one very much. I especially disliked the vocals on this record which is odd because I didn’t mind the vocals on the previous Costello album I got. I’ll also give it credit that there’s a decent amount of variety across the track-list. But it just doesn’t amount to an album I’d ever revisit.
This is my ... fourth (however that could've happened!?) Elvis Costello on this list, and this makes even less sense than the previous one. There's literally so many other albums that could have been part of this list apart from this mid collection of nicely composed, yet utterly irritating rock'n'roll songs. I'm not sure ... this music seems so anachronistic that it's ridiculous -- but then again, Costello seems to take himself and his music very serious. That's a contrast I don't really enjoy a lot ...
Kinda all sounds the same.
This is just a big standard churned out Costello record - why is it in the 1001 list, surely put in This Year’s Model and My Aim is True and be done with it. Does the list need this album? But it has 2 bangers on it so 2/5
no.
Interesting stories with a strange cadence.
Not the best but not the worst idk
LOL
I really wish I liked this more. It sounds good but its like something is slightly missing. Like its not hitting as I know it should be. It might grow on me more after a few more listens.
Thought this was a solid album. Pleasantly surprised. Saved (6/15): - Clown Strike - You Tripped at Every Step - 20% Amnesia - London's Brilliant Parade - Rocking Horse Road - All the Rage
Good album but need to listen again to get the full experience, and be in the right head space
Costello album #4 for me. I still do absolutely not get people's fascination with him, nor why on earth he has four albums on this list. They all sound more or less the same anyway. Except on this one, his voice has a grindingly annoying quality I hadn't perceived so far.
8/10 10.03.2026
Eh
Why is there like 30 Elvis Costello albums on this list?
Way too little musicality, the vocals were made front and center of the record and they sound terrible. Every time I thought there was a decent riff it is quickly drowned out by Costello and his wailing. Elvis Costello feels like a practical joke, but knowing he is taken quite seriously by the Gen X and New York rock aficionados is truly perplexing. This barely qualifies as music.
Very good album. Not quite Blood and Chocolate, but not far off.
3.5- really enjoyed jamming to this one.
Nice
Not a fan of this one whatsoever. Costello's My Aim Is True was a LOT more tolerable than this. I believe my main issue with My Aim Is True is the same with Brutal Youth, it's the voice! I can't stand it, it's way worse than My Aim is True. The lyrics seem completely meaningless to me, I just don't understand what points he's trying to get across. Definitely felt way too long and I'm definitely not happy with this one. Highlight Song/s: "Kinder Murder" and "You Tripped at Every Step"
This is now the fifth album by this musician, who I think is totally overrated. If I'm not mistaken, I still have two more to go. Actually, it didn't annoy me as much as I thought it would. However, I lost patience with him, so I didn't listen to the whole thing. 2/5
not for me.
I love Elvis Costello, but this is not his best album and probably didn't need to be on this list.
Elvis Costello in this album really dislikes women, especially if they wear high heels. Also dislikes men who like women. I don't have room in my life for this.
Better than I thought
I decided to listen to every album of the day that comes through. I haven't been excited about all of them, but I can usually understand why it was still an important part of music. Some made me say "that was interesting, but I'll probably never listen again", but Elvis Costello is just.... horrible
Costello is hit or miss with me. The songs that hit, "Veronica," "Shipbuilding" and "Alison" are favorites. Then his voice, which has limited range starts to bother me. This album was one long bother.
Again some songs good but I think I would’ve liked it more if I gave more time to listen instead of 5 album in one day
Elvis Costello is the king of the 3.5 to me. I always kinda like his music, but I never fully connect.
Once again: Why is this album on the list?! This guy has 6 albums on it altogether! And this one is not a classic I had never heard of any of the songs earlier, and I won"t go back to it anytime soon.
Alright, not great, but not terrible either. Pretty mediocre post punk. Some songs were fun, and some were boring
Brutally boring, and the vocals are just not for me. This is the third Elvis Costello album I've had so far, and absolutely nothing about any of them appeals to me in the slightest. I might just default to giving the other 74 albums he has in the 1001 two stars each, as I really cannot be arsed to put myself through any more of his music.
Mid level costello.
There are a lot of decent songs on this album, but none of them take the extra step up to real good. Also, it’s too long, and the songs start to blend into each other. I’m one of the few that like Costello’s voice, but after an hour, I’ve had my share. 5/10
I'm mad I enjoyed an Elvis Costello album, and I'm not glad he is here with me, here at the end of all things, at album #1044. I suppose Costello finally won me over. His voice sometimes does this weird, unappealing thing, like in "Sulky Girl." If I ignore that sort of thing, many songs on Brutal Youth are catchy. I don't think it's a coincidence this is his first album reuniting with his backing band the Attractions. "My Science Fiction Twin" is a fun song, akin to "Pump It Up," but more punk with that funky bass line. Because this is my gazillionth Costello album, I can hear the return to his original new wave sound. And I guess I enjoyed it. 3.5 with the stubborn refusal to round up.
My final Elvis Costello album...another artist who had way too many albums on this project, if you ask me. Funny enough, this seems to be the lowest rated Costello album on the project (as of now), but I liked it more than I have the last several. Maybe I'm just feeling elated that this is finally the end of having to listen to him. But seriously, this album's genre is something akin to what I would label as some kind of "post new-wave post-doo wop post-punk" mashup. The vocals on this album really reminded me of Tom Petty, too. Anyway, this was close enough to a 3 for me that I'll just make it one.
Apparently the theme of the week is Ponies. Two days ago I got that quintessential one-trick pony The White Stripes. Then today I get Brutal Youth with the new-to-me opener Pony St. It is amazing that my generation of Brits have grown up as mentally stable as they have, with a steady diet of Elvis Costello, Morrissey and David Bowie during their formative years. What was that?
My previous criticism of Elvis Costello is mainly my distaste for his voice and vocal style. Unfortunately that criticism has only been exacerbated by this godawful production of the record at hand. The vocals are so intensely strong in the mix that I can barely hear any instruments. I thought at first it might be the fact that I was listening on my phone speaker, but after listening on both my home hifi system and the stereo in my truck, my findings have remained consistent. I have no idea who mixed and mastered this, but I hope they stub their baby toe on the coffee table this evening. The rest of the record is.. fine..? But it’s so hard to judge when all I can hear is that goofy clown voice. 1*
It sounds like an Elvis Costello record. Does what it says on the tin. That sounds like I am being derisive but there is something I find undeniably charming about Costello’s music. On this album I especially like the songs that are … less … erm … spirited? frantic? ska-ish? and feel more cool, calm and collected. Again, I probably won’t listen to the entire album again so it tops out at a 3 ⭐️ but there were some songs I did quite like.
I was up and down with this one, but am feeling generous, so here's three stars.
I'm generally pro-Costello, but this was an hour of harsh vocal performances mixed super and high and dry for maximum unpleasantness
Ah oui, parlant d’Elvis Costello, le revoilà le smat, avec un énièmes compilations de balbutiements nasillards. On avait VRAIMENT BESOIN de 88 albums en plus pour pouvoir rentrer l’intégralité de sa discographie dans cette liste qui déborde déjà d’albums les plus oubliables de tout les temps. Désolé la liste, je me suis emporté, je ne le pensais pas pour vrai! Attend REVIENS! ET QUI VA S’OCCUPER DES ENFANTS??!
This is Hell. Fav song. Definitely partial to My Aim Is True. and to Elvis and the Attractions. But this has to be the origins of me enjoying when dudes do weird things with their voice.
It’s an enjoyable record. It’s varied well enough that it keeps it interesting and the musicianship and writing is good.
I just can't deal with that voice. Costello's strained and whiny vocals are like nails on a chalkboard to me. The songs on here aren't much to write home about either. You might a nice guitar tone or melody here or there, but the song will outstay their welcome, either because of the length, meandering lyrics, Costello's delivery or a combination of the three. From what I know about Costello, this isn't the best starting point so I will try to keep my mind open when his other albums pop up next.
The ramblings of a mad man. It's a shame, the music and the production on this album are very good. The vocals ruin it.
Within the context of having 6?! Elvis Costello albums in this list (insert the long rant of Patrick Bateman about Huey Lewis & the News having a better humor than Costello), this is their least popular record on the site and deservedly so. 6/10 [DROP]
I’ve been meaning to listen to this since it came out. Some of his most energetic work in a while.
My favorite Elvis Costello song is Allison. It’s not on this album, but these songs were fine.
eh, just not very interesting
Very good
Say what you want about the amount of Costello albums on this list, but at least they're mostly actually good. This one however, I am not really sure why they picked it. The book says it would have been a classic had it been released in Costello's heyday. Okay. The drums have a great sound, love the rimshots. Some gnarly instrumental parts at times, and Costello's got some good material here. But I can't believe this things runtime. 56 minutes feels double that on this album. It just goes on and on. I just can't believe it's on the list, just such a weird pick. Whatever though, this album ain't bad it's just long and at parts very samey
fine enough, nothing crazy just some decent stuff i guess
Not for me.
Fav tracks: this is hell, you tripped at every step, london’s brilliant people This album was more emotional than I expected. I wish I was able to give an even more in-depth listen but I really liked it. Elvis Costello sounds like what Patrick stump wants to embody me thinks
Holy shit this was a slog! I kinda liked two of the songs out of 15. The rest were either forgettable or just plain garbage. 1.5/5
I can tell it has that 90s radio style, but I enjoyed the slightly nihilistic lyrics, especially on “this is hell “and “you tripped at every step.”
Great rhythm section, ear catching lyrics but it’s too long, and if you’re not a big fan of Elvis Costello’s voice, it does start to drag after 30 mins
Have never listened to Elvia Costello before. Glad I’ve never wasted my time.
So much sameness
Pretty boring IMO
I feel like I may change my mind on this after listening to more of his stuff but as my first time listening to Elvis Costello, I really enjoyed it
Lekker album hoor
mejor de lo que me esperaba, ahora entiendo que es la inspiración de simple plan
This was a very good album. I loved the lyrical and melodical nature of the sound. Definitely a banger.
For the love of all that is holy... please not another Elvis Costello album. Immediately, I want to shoot myself in the face because of his vocals. If there were a way for me to mute the vocals, I could get through this with just the music. I wish this list would've stopped the Costello on the last album, because that was the best one, in my opinion. Now, we ride it back to the bottom. 2
I found this album to be okay, but not really one of the best for me. Some of the songs sound like they could be from old sitcom theme songs. I noticed the contrast between the happy-sounding music and the darker stories in the lyrics. However, overall, the album didn’t really click with me. The vocals didn’t feel like the right fit for the style, and many of the songs felt hit-or-miss. I enjoyed a few tracks, but most didn’t stand out. I listened to the whole album and appreciated it, but it wasn’t the best listening experience for me.
Challenged myself and ended up not minding it
Yeah, I'm starting to get tired of these. Elvis Costello is a talented guy and all, but there is no good reason for him to have 6 albums on this list. Now, I'm well aware that I am far from the first person to say that, but I really want to highlight it on this album in particular because, as it turns out, this is the weakest one I've heard thus far. I'm at the point now where any Elvis Costello albums I get are completely redundant. I already got the ones that people actually care about, myself included, so albums like Brutal Youth are just unnecessary. Why was this specific album even included? Is this just the only album they could think to include for the "mandatory late-period album from a legacy artist" thing that these guys tend to do for their more cherished artists? I guess so. This is the 90s after all, and most of Costello's albums on this list are from the late 70s and early 80s. However, I don't think this era of his career is one that really feels like it has to be appreciated in comparison to his earlier days. For one, I don't think his voice aged all too well. It's pretty similar to the vocals on earlier albums, but there's something going on with it that I don't really like. It sounds more... spitty than usual. The writing is still solid, but there isn't really anything on here that's as striking as a song like "Oliver's Army" or "Alison." This brings me to my biggest complaint with Brutal Youth. You see, one of the things that I appreciate most with Elvis Costello's first three albums is just how tight and focused they are. They get in, they do what they want to, and then they get out. Those albums are lean and they contain neither padding nor filler. Everything they could ever want to do is done in just 33 minutes for My Aim is True, 35 minutes for This Year's Model, and 40 minutes for Armed Forces since that one's a little more ambitious than its predecessors. Brutal Youth? This thing goes on for 55 minutes! That's not absurdly long, but it's noticeably slower-paced than earlier albums, which doesn't really work for Elvis Costello in my opinion. I think part of his appeal is the snappiness of everything, in more ways than one. So, to weaken the pacing in this regard is to weaken the appeal of Elvis Costello as an artist. That's not good. Of course, I wouldn't say that the album is "not good." It's still got things to appreciate, but I can't see myself going back to this nearly as much as any of the albums I've heard of his prior to now. It's a bit of a let-down, I'll be honest. 3/5.
Costello is . . . fine. His voice is on the Tom Petty scale which I can tolerate but it's not my first choice. I'm sure I'd enjoy more if I had gen X nostalgia but I'm not quite that old. :-)
Eh. Not for me, wouldn’t play it again but I can appreciate it. Can definitely see how his work would allow a collab with Paul McCartney
Wow, I did not expect to see such polarizing reviews for this. I listen to a lot of heavy music and love Rush so maybe my bad-voice-o-meter is kind of broken, but I have no issue with Elvis's voice. Overall I'd say this is a pretty rockin little record, very pop but has some fun punk signatures with the clever lyrics, lots of gang vocals for background, chord structure, etc. The mixing is superb and honestly I thought this was pretty decent. 3 is my "meh/okay", 2 is "did not enjoy" and 1 is "terrible" in my system, but I can't quite give this a 4/5... I did find it to be pretty pleasant to listen to and enjoyed the lyrics but I don't see myself remembering to come back to this album. "20% Amnesia" would be great house music between bands at a small club.
Like many other people doing the 1001 albums to hear before you die challenge are quite perplexed as to why the author has such a deep fascination for Elvis Costello to the point they are one of the most featured artists/bands on the entire list. Thankfully Brutal Youth is the last project I need to hear from Mr. Costello and I am happy to report it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Yes this album is extremely same-y in sound and style, but it doesn't feel as strung out as Imperial Bedroom or Blood & Chocolate but it also doesn't have the highs of some of his other career moments I have previously covered. Brutal Youth gives Elvis a lane to stick in for when he wants to continue making music late into his career, it is simple and to the point and definitely for some diehard fans and not casual listeners and MOST CERTAINLY NOT people looking for albums to hear before you die. Brutal Youth is definitely an album of all time and by no means an essential piece of music. Yeah man I don't know what else to say here....
i'm a fan of elvis costello but not a huge one. i know a lot of people on here love to complain about him and i don't really get it, but with this one it's hard to argue. i don't even think this album is that bad! i would consider it good! but let's be real here. i HAD to hear this before i died? mid-90s elvis costello? crazy.
There were two songs I found okay; Kinder Murder and London’s Brilliant Parade. Other than that I just can’t stand the guy
Saaie kutmuziek
Hate at first listen. The songs are super annoying fusion of musical theatre type rock pop that really try to be punk and really annoying vocals and stupid knee-deep lyrics that are so pretensions I want to throw up. Some hasn’t aged well. Guitars sound good on occasion and it’s well mixed but that can’t save this.
Meh, it’s fine, not best of all time or anything for me personally. I think this album is mostly for major fans of Costello, not me. 2 stars
Dans l'absolu, drôle de choix d'album de Costello pour faire partie de cette liste.
J'aime beaucoup sa voix. On dirait que c'est un peu comme Bob Dylan, on doit aimer ou pas, et ça écorche au vif. Il a l'air d'avoir une assez grande érudition musicale aussi, ça effleure toute sorte de style, et je trouve ça cool de le voir toucher à la ballade aussi, j'ai beaucoup aimé Favourite hour. Ça sonne pas 90s du tout en tout cas,il est resté pogné dans les 60-70s. Ça doit être pour ça que Dimery l'a mis là!
Je vois que j’aime bien l’oeuvre d’Elvis. Je vois aussi que sa meilleure periode était fin 70s plus que 90s!
Man, I really hate his voice. Songs were fine I guess, but his voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
A good album, I liked London's Brilliant Parade and My Science Fiction Twin the most.
Some half decent tunes on this album, but I didn't like it as much as "This Years Model" that I heard earlier. Adding "This is Hell" to the playlist. Thought that one was interesting.
Not good. I'm just about pissed I had to listen to this.
When I'm in the mood for music like this, I never think of Elvis Costello.
Tight song writing and good grooves but doesn't do anything to set itself apart or stand out
I'm an Elvis Costello fan, but I think this was one of his weaker albums. None of the songs had the toned back brilliance of Allison and none of the lyrics seemed especially great.
I think Elvis Costello is an impeccable songwriter and can especially write vocal melodies like few others. They are poppy but musically interesting. Really like the two opening tracks, it sort of ebbs and flows throughout the rest of the album. This is Hell is such a pretty melody with a dark undertone. I don't think this album is the best thing he ever did, but still quite good.
Not a Costello hyper
This album reminds me of the point approximately 3.5m in from the fog line…Middle of the road
This album is very middle of the road. Aside from one or two songs I don't think it is all that interesting or memorable. A bit of an odd duck here where I don't get the reason for it's inclusion.
nope
Some good stuff on here, but nothing that really got me excited. That seems to be my median take on Elvis Costello; ranging from ok to good, but rarely great. 3/5
Pretty good album. I think I like this just behind the first few albums. It have more of that flavor and I liked it. 3.5/5
Elvis Costello, like Prince, is an artist I SHOULD like, but just don’t. I think part of it is his vocal performance: I find it grating, repetitive, and predictable. By the end of the album, I felt like I’d just listened to an hour of one song, which is crazy because there are some actually great musical ideas across the album. It’s just too long and too marred by Elvis Costello to be enjoyable. If this album was performed by someone else, it probably would have a higher rating.
6/10 this is hell 12/27/28
Errr. Don't care?
Is this guy the poster child for this website? He is a musicians musician imo where he has some good hits and is undeniably a good songwriter but I just don’t get the obsession.
unfortunately i do not care for his voice
Nochmal Costello? Ganz ok!
OK, but not their best. Though a fan I don't think this belongs on the 1001 list.
I mostly hated this but I have to admit it is original and unpredictable. I just want EC to be the nerdy punk guy, I fear this later years EC will never be for me.
Sulky Girl is a top song. Attractions are a killer band. That said, not sure why this album is on this list.
It's fine but I don't see why it's here because it's not anything new for him. I'm questioning why it would be considered influential.
Well, yeah, if you don't like Elvis Costello you're not going to like this. By the mid-90s I had completely written him off and was shocked at what a solid batch of clever tunes this was, almost like the old days. (But I would gently suggest that the haters listen to Get Happy!!)
Really enjoyed
Not bad but I’ve had enough of this guy!! This is the king of rock and roll??
would have happily died without listening to this fuckass album
Always wanted to check him out. I really could not have temporally placed him and was surprised this was from ‘94. Expected earlier. I have to assume there will be other of his albums on the list…wonder how this will be for intro? Highlights: * 13 steps * This is hell (catchy chorus) * Rocking Horse Road * Just About Glad Enjoyed this. Wikipedia entry said this is his fourteenth album, so my shock at 1994 makes more sense. It also said 6 of his albums were on the 1001 list, so curious to hear his earlier material on the future.
bored of Elvis Costello albums on this list
It was fine but nothing really stood out in a 15 track album and that's tough.
Wow I didn't like that
Ah, the ever-present Mr. Costello who must be rubbing his hands in glee at the streaming revenue that comes from the 1001 Albums… listeners. Considering every other album on the list seems to be one of his, it’s got to be a bonus for him. This is actually one of the best ones of his that I have heard though
Favorite Songs: You Tripped at Every Step, London’s Brilliant Parade Least Favorite Song: Favourite Hour Brutal Youth more like Brutal Listen.
There’s just things a white guy shouldn’t be saying… I think I can leave it at that. Also just painful to get through.
6.75/10- There were a handful of interesting songs that I really liked, but also a handful of very flat songs. The album ended with more of a lull that probably could have been cut. I think this is a 4/5 if we trimmed it down to 40 minutes or so.
I'm a big fan of Elvis Costello's earlier albums and I think that this is one of his better albums towards the back half of his career. There are some misses here and it's not boundary pushing. That being said, there are about 7 or 8 songs that I really like. Light 7/10
Sounds like music my dad would listen to while I was growing up, so I like the nostalgic feel, but other than that this album didn't really stand out to me at all. I didn't like any songs enough to add to my playlist, so this gets a low rating for me.
I wanted to like this album more than I did. Unfortunately, I found it very over stimulating and I had to turn it off multiple times throughout the day so I could think.
Easy listen.
This one seemed tougher to get through than his usual droning.
I didn't know this Elvis Costello album existed. I'm not sure why this made the 1001 list. I'm a big fan of EC and his importance in rock history, but is this come back album that important? It's good. Surprisingly good. But nothing here slams brilliant. It's a rehash of his classic sound. Well executed and fun, but what's new here? What's important? Why is this something we all need to hear before we die?
It doesn’t grip me enough to listen through :(
The fourth Costello album I've gotten for this project, and probably the best one I've gotten other than This Years Model. Hookier than Armed Forces and Imperial bedroom, but still with a bit of an issue with writing good choruses (Sometimes even when there is a chorus, it doesn't feel like it, which is weird for pop/rock music to me). I mention this in every review, but Costello still manages to be the coolest artist on this list 20 years into his career. But yeah, while This Years Model is still superior, this is the best I've gotten from him since then. Think I'll still give it the three though, but just barely. There are a couple songs here or there that are just not doing it for me, particularly the more ballady or hookless songs.
meh
Super impressive but kind of exhausting too many times.
Gave up after track 5, I don't like his voice
Not really my thing. Sounds all quite the same
Definitely some solid moments musically and lyrically, but not sure if I’d come back to this album. Its inclusion makes me wonder just how many Elvis Costello albums will be on here? because for me I could think of 4 of his albums that feel stronger.
This was such a roller coaster for me, and not in a good way. I was stuck in Lexington traffic when I listened to the majority of this, and some of the songs were so frustrating that I considered aiming for the trees. Here and there one would get my feet tapping, but I found a few songs here to be shockingly bad. Best I can do is a 1.5.
Costello's voice was too grating for me. His inflections, pronunciations, and nasally voice was an unpleasant combination to my ears. The instrumentation was bland to me as well. I am going to temper my newly found prejudices whenever we get to early Costello, but this album was not a good introduction to him for me.
I love this! With this album club I’ve had a lot of “oh, that’s where that song comes from!” Rocking Horse Road was that moment for me. Excited for the next album to be different in terms of genre and style though.
another day, another dull british record
normally i don't review albums i don't make it all the way through and mark them as just "did not listen" to seem fair. but recently my mindset on this has changed and i don't think i'm going to act like that anymore. so for this one i'll just say i tried listening to this album 3-4 times yesterday and nothing about it grabbed me enough to even finish it. it just reminded me of other music that i'd rather be listening to. i didn't hate it though!
This was such a roller coaster for me, and not in a good way. I was stuck in Lexington traffic when I listened to the majority of this, and some of the songs were so frustrating that I considered aiming for the trees. Here and there a song would get my feet tapping, but I found some of the others to be shockingly bad. Best I can do is a 1.5.
Another artist I listened to a lot as a child, my dad always had Elvis Costello on in the car and in the basement. Can't wait to get around to 'This Year's Model' and 'My Aim Is True.' I have always really loved Elvis Costello's voice, especially on his 70s material, and it has a really mature sound to it on 'Brutal Youth.' I don't think this is as good as anything before it in his discography, but "13 Steps Lead Down" demonstrates that he understands his sound, what makes it good and fun, and is able to keep it interesting, which a lot of other artists can't say two decades into their careers. Maybe two songs too many on this one.
Put more artfully than I ever could, please consider this short piece by Liz Phair, published in Rolling Stone: https://www.lizphair.net/press/2005/elvis-costello/ Getting into Elvis Costello was a long-time item on my to-do list that I worked toward in 2025. I think he's a hell of a lyricist with a pretty unique voice and a sound where he can slide in neatly to playlists with a pretty wide variety of artists. Like, he exists in this intersection of new wave and folk and there's not a lot of people occupying that lane. I don't have a super whole lot to say about this album other than "I like it a lot" and "it sounds like an Elvis Costello album." I need to sit with it longer and revisit.
This one built up to some definitive rock n’ roll moments, where the songwriting shined and guitars/organs powered it along. I’m still acquiring the taste for Elvis Costello’s voice, but I was able to appreciate this as an example of refined rock. That’s not to say smoothed out and devoid of character — it still has the nice, rough edges — but it feels like an artist whose mastered their craft and produced something that represents them well.
Someday I will have my own version of the 1001 Albums book & I will include all 33 Elvis Costello studio albums on it. As God is my witness! Reserve your copy NOW!
My least favourite EC album so far. He almost has as many in this bloody list as Bowie does.
Im a fan of Elvis Costello and even Id say 7 albums of his on this list is overrepresentation. This album is fine. There’s some good music here, some clunkers, and it’s too long. Too unremarkable to be on this list.
Honestly don’t understand why most of the reviews on this album complain about his voice, I kinda liked it. Standout Songs: Kinder Murder 13 Steps Lead Down You Tripped at Every Step Sulky Girl My Science Fiction Twin Just About Glad
cool... not my vibe
Occasionally getting They Might Be Giants vibes.
My favorite Costello album so far - better than My Aim Is True or Armed Forces. I like some of the songwriting and it has some strong They Might Be Giants vibes (I know the inspiration really runs the opposite direction but I've got 30+ years of TMBG under me and only a handful of Costello listens; digging around, it looks like Costello nearly produced their 1992 album Apollo 18 and they opened for Elvis for a month in August 1995).
Super-literate and clever. Not as snarky as some of his other material, but that delivery wears on me.
031225 2:11 3
Elvis is at his best with the attractions. I prefer angry young man guitar Elvis to Bacharach Elvis…And we get some of both on this album. Kinder murder, 13 steps lead down, My science fiction twin, and just about glad are the high points. 15 songs was too much: had he cut four or five of them this would probably be a four star album.
This project has made me a huge Elvis Costello fan.
It's another Elvis Costello album. I can't believe there are 6 on this list. I guess if you like him, you'll like this. I just find it all a bit self-indulgently dark for my taste.
I always find Costello a little too clever with the lyrics. What a bounder! Writing intelligent lyrics... I think I'm just a passive listener. The music is always great, as is the case on Brutal Youth. The band sounds tight here. He always benefits when backed by the Attractions. Maybe the last great Costello album before he hit the comfortable years?
Day695 - the more elvis costello i listen to the more i like him
A bit whiney for me
Punky 80’s vibe
It's not that Brutal Youth is bad (although it is a bit too long), it's just that if you’ve already got five other Elvis Costello albums on the list, you probably don’t need this one.
Not for me 1/5
Costello me once, shame on me. Costello me two days in a row? Must be the 1001 albums list. Man this was rough, especially hearing what Costello was capable of on yesterdays album. The material on Brutal Youth was performed worse in almost every way. From the clanky guitar on "Kinder Murder" to the pitchy belting on "Still To Soon To Know" . Most every trope I don't like about 90's pop/rock/alt is here. Acoustic rhythm guitars feel like melodic placeholders that were just never changed or improved upon from the demos of these songs. I agree with the namesake of the most popular track on here, this is hell. What in the world is "Clown Strike"? It's half-baked. Most of these songs are. I see that Elvis Costello and Neil Young are playing a show in Manchester this coming year. What a dream come true for the curator of this list, and what a total nightmare for me. Just two of my least favorite singers that happen to be all over this list. Always unhappy to hand out a 1/5, but that's what this was. Could barely get through it. I will happily remember not a thing from this blob of mush