Reviews (page 6 of 7)
I can hear the influence from Elvis Costello in a lot of the music that I listen to, that’s come after him. However I think I prefer the music that’s come after him.
I’m usually not too big a hater of Elvis Costello, but really didn’t like this album too much. Second half saved the listen but the first impression was rough. 2.25/5
There's some interesting lyrics here, but musically I don't think it stands out that much. Given Costello is in the list x6 times, this one could've been excluded for something more notable. OK album but nothing more Might've given this 3* but for a fairly middling album it didn't need to be nearly 1hr long, and it sounds quite samey after a while. So it's 2*
Meh. Not my cup of tea
I only know Elvis Costello from his first few hits. Oliver's Army. I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea. Watching The Detectives. Pump It Up. All great punky songs. Then he seemed to go all mush. Some song about Roses and a fucking dreadful cover of the Charles Aznovoice song She. I've never listened to Elvis Costello since. I was surprised that this album still sees him still a bit punky. So what happened to turn him back to his roots? Same sneery voice which seems to have mellowed since the early years (although I can do without the new Mariah Carey vibrato). Just the songs didn't really grab me at all. And it suffered from 1990s CD syndrome. "We've got an hour's playing time so we're going to bloody well use it all". Too long. And not enough pull to want to give it a second listen. Sorry Elvis (you're still better than that other Elvis though).
I can’t get in to costello. Just something that bugs me.
meh bi dem albumname hani mer scho chli öppis punkigers erhofft – dem war wohl nicht so 2 schlaftablette für de costello elvis
When I listened to This Year’s Model (1978), I remembered why I was not a fan. I listened to Imperial Bloom (1981) and I reconsidered. This album brings me back to the beginning. This solo album is definitely different than his work with the Attractions-edgier, more varied-but it’s still not my thing. Pony St. and 13 Steps sounded a lot like the Musical “Rent”. There are a few good songs on here. Kinder Murder was lyrically interesting, and had a good musical flow. The ballads were very ballady, and the latter half of the album sounded like…well… him, or him trying to be Springsteen (Just About Glad). I don’t regret listening but I probably won’t be coming back. More for the Castillo fans…
Much like this experience, every 4th dream I have has an Elvis Costello jump-scare. Jokes aside, I just don't understand this fella. It sounds like the kind of generic rock music you get in cartoons. That's probably a testament to just how influential Elvis 2 is, but I can't get behind it.
No me gusta mucho
2/2
I like a handful of Costello songs, none of which are on this record. I was generally bored with this and was Just about Glad when it was over. I didn’t think it was All the Rage and I certainly would not say time spent was a Favourite Hour of this list. Sad to read we are in for a six pack with this cat.
Brutal indeed. The cutting room floor was entirely too clean here, there’s no way you can convince me this album needed 15 tracks. Pretty dull. This exercise is teaching me different things about different artists. For EC, it’s teaching me that he’s on the ‘overrated’ side of the spectrum based on his notoriety.
I couldn’t get through this. I’ll never claim to have a great ear but I found the mix terrible. Especially the vocals. Sounded way out of balance and jarring. Needed some compression or something. I dunno. 1.5
I like some of this but there is something about his voice that I find grating... I simply don't understand all the love this guy gets. I assumed after his first album in this exercise we'd be getting lots more and appears we're getting six albums total. That’s simply ridiculous. Only a select few artists/bands deserve to be at that level and this Elvis is not one of them... I don't get it. Rounding down. 2.5/5
Kind of a brutal listen. Not all the instrumentation is bad, but his voice really where's on me
Yeah, nah. I agree with the review "I've come to the conclusion that Elvis Costello is annoying." Not sure who the reviewer is but that review was written on Christmas and I just imagine that making sitting through this album that much more annoying haha. Yeah this dude just seems like an Ed Debevics character. A caricature of the baby of Buddy and Bruce that grew into a teenager on a show with no budget written by studio stooges motivated by getting promoted. Brutal Youth. Still better than Metallica. 1.5
Forgettable more then anything
it was so boring and bland, at least musically, and the lyrics also didn't do anything for me.
I know he's a good songwriter and musician but I just don't enjoy listening to Elvis Costello. Rating: 2
Started off ok, then started to sound like a parody. Not for me.
his voice must be put on surely
Ok guys, it's just too much of Elvis Costello in here. I'm not able to listen to his music anymore, my body has a pre-birth lock at around 20 songs, this is it. Goodbye forever Elv.
Talk about Brutal. Elvis Costello is 98% noises to me.
Yawn
yet another costello album? to be fair, it might as well be the first (or the only) one as I have absolutely no recollection of how a single song on the other album I've listened to goes. and I just learned there are 6 of his albums on this list in total. 6!!! the first song: what in the musical for adults that think they're too cool to listen to musicals is going on here? the rest of the songs: WHY is this here? this album doesn't even have a single hit in comparison to his other albums. it's just so unremarkable and boring. ironically, this is hell is about the only song I liked.
I see the appeal but certainly not my favorite
Well, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't interesting. Boring. Dear God. But it was better than his first.
Don't care for it
I like Elvis Costello but this album felt like it was missing something. Maybe the artist's vision is something I can't see, or hear in this case, but whatever it is, the album will be remembered for its emptiness more than it's magnificence.
This is my 6th Elvis Costello album on this list...it's a bit too many, isn't it? This album was okayish at the beginning, but it is around 4-5 songs too long, in my opinion. Some of the songs don't go anywhere. Some albums I liked better and gave them a 3 star, and one 4 star, but since it's too many albums by him on this list, I'll give this a 2.
This one didn’t do a lot for me. It’s hard to pinpoint any specific reason why. I didn’t dislike it, but I just didn’t really like any of it. Maybe Costello is just one of those artists that aren’t for everyone. I kinda felt about it the way I do Bruce Springsteen. I can listen to one or two of his songs and enjoy them, but any more than that and I’m over it. There’s something grating there that I can only stand for so long. Having to hear 15 of his tracks in a row over 57 minutes was too much for me. The length was definitely a negative, as I was ready for it to end with several songs left. Also, a lot of it sounded the same. Maybe that’s on me, but I can only recall a few songs individually from the whole thing. Nothing really stood out as something memorable or good (or particularly bad for that matter). It instead was a big blend of mediocre. Overall: 2.1/5
Didn't like it. All sounded the same. I do like his voice, but after a while you start to notice how bad a singer he is.
Downhill fast after the first few tracks. Saved by the opening
Rewatched E.T. the other day and noticed Elliott has an Elvis Costello poster on his bedroom wall. This must be my third or fourth EC album on here and I'm still not a big fan.
It started off fun, but as it dragged on, and boy did it drag on, it just got repetitive and boring. Like sure its fun, but does this of all things really deserve to be on a list for music you really have to listen to? Like the whole thing just sounds so similar that it feels like at least 7 of the songs are just the same song. Also why are there 6 Elvis Costello albums on here. He's such an okay artist, he deserves a singular album. Not 6.
Definitely a middle-of-the-pack album for Elvis Costello. Not his best.
The 1001 albums list needs to learn that post-This Year’s Model Elvis ain’t worth yer time! Also… what in the hell, was that the N-word in 20% Amnesia? It’s not, but… who in the hell thought that was ok
You know, it’s weird, Kinder Murder could be the best track on the album and it wore out the appeal for me before it was even finished. I kept thinking, man, this is a long song and then I look and it’s under 4 minutes. Too repetitive but still, possibly the best song in the album. Hmmmmm Ya well, I was right. Best song on the album. This album is bland. That’s all Bland Choice cut: Kinder Murder
The man can't sing, the songs doesn't have anything special and somehow his whole discography is on the 1001 albums list. This is probably my sixth Costello album so far and I really dislike his music.
meh, lost the saved comments, here's the dj comparing brutal with a Elvis Costello song, the CD era gave the liberty to artists to lenghten their albums without caring about quality control https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mnibauANPaQ
https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/MystyLakes/elvis-costello/brutal-youth/246425351 He’s not even the main Elvis!
bro needs an editor
3/10 excruciatingly long, stop British people now
It’s mostly okay, it does have good highlights but someone needed to tell Mr Elvis to trim it down a bit
Brutal Youth? More like Brutal me! This is the sixth album I've listened to on this journey and somehow Elvis Costello made it feel like the sixth circle of hell. He sounds like a man angrily reading Yelp reviews over a garage band. I survived, but at what cost?
This isn't really that good. The band feels unsure of what kind of sound they want. The album as a whole is not quite rock, not quite folk. There are a few songs where they commit to one style over the other, and it actually makes sense. And Elvis's voice is slimy. Like slippery, but not really enjoyable. There's really just not much that I end up liking about this album. There are a few moments where things might start coming together, but for the most part it's mediocre and occasionally bad. Favorite Song(s): -
Based on the font used on the album cover I thought this was going to be something a little more hard and brutal. Instead it was a mix of lounge pop that is super critical of everything. This is Hell, Sulky Girl, You Tripped, All the Rage...just weird annoying critical angry sadness and at the same time reminding us he is smarter than us. Then his voice just adds to the mehness, like he can't even really singing or rock. 20% Amnesia had some hope of being better, but them just repeating 20% amnesia over and over was just so obvious. At least the song sort of lived up to the cover font! His lyrics are kind of interesting if you read them, but the rest is just so meh and lack luster, why exactly is Elvis Costello so loved? I notice his album summary is one of the few to mention he was included in this list, just trying to remind us all of his amazingness...if you remind people enough maybe they will believe you. I found myself checking the track list over and over to see how much was left, that is not a good sign.
Not feeling this one at all. Forced singing, nothing that interesting musically. There are simply too many Elvis Costello albums on this list. One, or maybe none, would suffice.
this album is just so irrelevant, the most streamed song only has two million streams and some of these songs get like twenty a day it’s mid too
C'mon now, Elvis, we all know you can do better than this. You were supposed to *border* on the obnoxious, not land smack in the middle of it. Should have left that circus organ in the attic, buddy.
At its very best, Brutal Youth just makes me wish I was listening to This Year’s Model. At its very worst, it is some of the absolute worst music I have ever heard in my entire life. But most of the time, it feels like an artist well past his prime, dragging the lake of creativity for even the faintest semblance of an idea, and then trying his damndest to make sure he isn’t plagiarizing himself from a decade before, which results mostly in self-parody, and sometimes in songs that just feel like they were written by an alien who didn’t really do their homework on what human music actually sounds like. There’s just enough– and I mean literally the barest minimum possible– to keep me from hating this with every fiber of my being. Three (3!) songs keep this from being one of the worst records I’ve ever heard, and one of them, “Just About Glad,” is only good in comparison to the trash surrounding it. The other two songs, “Kinder Murder” and “You Tripped at Every Step,” are what I would call ✨tolerable✨ aka they are not good songs or songs I want to listen to, but either because I like Costello by default or simply by the sheer force of will from the hooks, I can’t reject them outright. Everything else, though, is utter garbage, even when an okay hook or riff somehow slips in via a miracle. Brutal Youth is my absolute limit of tolerability for music. Just because you like an artist early on in their career does not mean that their later output will continue at the same quality, even when [or, especially when] they do little to actually change up their style.
Oof. Brutal indeed Shite songs and a terrible voice 2 ⭐️
The better of the Elvis Costello ones we’ve had. ‘Still too soon to know’ being the highlight. 2.5 rounded down
The idea behind this list is that it’s 1001 albums that might be considered “essential listening”. A 15-years-past-his-prime Elvis Costello is NOT that. There’s nothing on this album that he doesn’t do better on This Year’s Model.
My fourth encounter of an Elvis Costello album on this list, and my patience for him is running pretty darn thin. And honestly, I don't have much new to add. Costello's voice is goofy and distinctive (in a bad way), completely overpowering the other instruments in terms of what captures the listener's attention. It has the unfortunate effect of making all of his music sound very similar. The cons of this album, in my opinion, are shared by all of Elvis's other works. Something about his voice frustrates me, like it's in an uncanny valley between a few other, better vocalists. He sounds *kind of* like Billy Joel, the better Elvis, the Strokes, and a few other rock bands from various eras mashed together. Another problem, related to that one, is that the music doesn't really bring anything new to the party, other than some decent compositions. The style is an odd sort of soft-punk, with clear 50s/60s R&B and rock influences. There's a lot of jangly noise that, with a better singer, could have easily entrenched itself in the realm of 80s/90s music legends. Sulky Girl is a key example of Costello's bad singing. It's delivered in a sneery, nasally manner that's tough to actively listen to, let alone take seriously, for the full 5 minutes of track length. My Science Fiction Twin, along with the tracks that come after it, is also pretty bad in this regard. Actually, Brutal Youth does have a pretty solid run of songs at the beginning, from Pony St. through to This Is Hell. But it's safe to say 57 minutes is too long to put up with Elvis Costello. And any more albums from him pose a real threat of getting a 1-star rating. 2/5 Key tracks: Pony St., Kinder Murder, This Is Hell
ja, hörbar, auch nicht mehr
Mediocre at best.
Pretty lame in my opinion. It's like he wanted to be bruce but is nowhere close. Felt fake and his voice is fairly annoying. I like some of his stuff but not his. I guess it was a little catchy at times so no the worst thing.
I’m just not gonna get into his style I feel. 13 steps lead down is a saving grace but I probably wouldn’t go back to this album.
I just really hate his voice. It sounds like a karaoke bar where some guy is really going for it and no one has the balls to tell him he is making everyone’s ears bleed.
I'm now two Elvis Costello albums in on this list and I don't think I'm a fan overall. The album is fine, a bit long, but nothing overall stood out to me as a banger or song that I really latched onto. Its fine, but whatever. 1994, you know what kind of absolute bangers were going on in this time period?! Jar of Flies, Unplugged in New York, Superunknown, Vitalogy, like this year was STACKED.
Eh
I’m sorry. I just can’t get into Costello’s voice. He projects through strained vocal cords, and the rest of the time he just sounds like a muppet trying his best to sound like Dylan.
Some songs stand out, but it is a boring album.
All the songs sound the same to me.
I'm a fan of Costello, but this album was a chore to get through. Half of the lyrics sound like he woke up from a fever dream and just jotted that shit down, never proofread and immediately committed it to tape. The vocals are too much in pretty much every sense, with off key high harmonies mixed almost in front of the lead vocals. Very few tracks live up to his previous work on just writing alone. Sulky Girl and Kinder Murder pretty good.
More like Brutal Album. Elvis Costello, I've come to find out, can be quite controversial as far as musical tastes go. I'm not really a fan of his; just can't stand that voice of his (sings like a stuffy nose). Yes, he's quite talented and all that, but man I do not get him. 4/10.
I have liked some of the Elvis Costello on this list but this is really not great
Fav song: This Is Hell Some cool ideas on most tracks which are quickly ruined by Elvis Costello’s ability to sound incredibly smarmy in every possible situation. Ironically the other songs I liked on this album all sounded like him trying to sound like David Bowie, so there’s that I suppose.
This is a pretty boring album. Elvis Costello could have a better chance for me to appreciate him if there weren't six albums of his on here. He isn't awful. Kind of interesting at times. But this is way too much.
Wanging on with his weird voice. Seems to have lost some of the enthusiasm of the other Elvis Costello albums we've had too many of
Like his earlier stuff better.
#458. This is about as mediocre as it gets, which talking about this guy, that's about as good of praise as it gets. 2/5: meh
Never been a Costello fan. This was cool, but I just can't really figure him out. I'll give it another listen to see if I can find something I can get into. Right now it's a 2 star for me.
jesus, the editors of this book have a real hard on for Elvis Costello. He's. Not. That. Great. This album was ok. But why did I need to listen to it?
kinda just dreadfully boring, especially when you compare it to the many other fantastic other albums from 94
I'm definitely not an Elvis Costello fan. I haven't heard a lot of his stuff, and after listening to this album I can now say that I'm not a fan. I was bored throughout, and it all sounded so samey to me
Elvis Costello really likes to repeat the same words over and over again in his songs, kinda forcing the ear worm. There's some pretty funky sections in 13 Steps Lead Down. However, falls victim again to saying the same words over and over again. Elvis' voice really doesn't stray away. He has a typical sound that persists in all of his songs. I like the band more than the singer, and I'd like to hear more from them. I think I'd like Elvis' music more if I didn't have to listen to an entire album of it.
Geht so.
Kam ich gar nicht rein in den Gesangs Stil
I can't say I've ever listened to Elvis Costello... He doesn't have a great voice. I hate how much of a theme it is in like punk and alt music to just be a shitty singer. Honestly these songs aren't that bad, but they're just pretty bland, if he was a better singer I think I'd like some of them quite a bit. God this album is so fucking long too. AWESOME. I was just looking on SputnikMusic and this isn't even like top 10 of Elvis Costello albums... why tf is this on here?
# 377 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. I thought it was very ordinary and Quiet forgettable.
Another Costello album? Am I missing something? I thought 'Rocking Horse Road' was the standout track, the rest? I just found quite bland, maybe if I listened to him more I'd probably get him, but I don't in both cases. I would have to file this under; R Whites Lemonade or Easy Listening. Still, it's 100% better than his debut and the score reflects this.
I like Elvis Costello but this one is a little 🥱 😴
Not a lot that standed out in this one
Never heard it before and if I'm lucky won't hear it again. How on earth does Elvis Costello have six albums on this list? What a chore to listen to all 15 tracks (no I didn't bother with the additional tracks added for the remaster/cash grab version). There's nothing relevant here. Just a guy who likes chord changes noodling away in his studio making boring music.
I struggled with this album. Not bad, but nothing really noteworthy.
I’m over Elvis Costello for a while. Too many albums in this for him
Just fine, nothing I need to come back to
Sounded fine but elvis Costello doesn’t really move the needle for me
I knew the name of Elvis Costello but had no idea what to expect. This is kinda punk rock? I thought he did 70s lounge music! What a surprise. I like his voice, but then I grew up on emo music so a sneer doesn't bother me. HOWEVER, some of these lyrics hit wrong. "She should have kept her legs closed" - yikes. Also him referencing "ugly drug music" in 13 Steps Lead Down - sounds a bit like a slam again 90s hip hop? I'd like to think it is mocking outdated ideas, but I afraid its actually upholding them. Also, the more into this album I go the less punk it gets and the more lounge music like I feared.
Absolutely horrendous producing. Annoying voice. Change that and you get a "decent" album. Also, who the hell labeled this as pop punk or punk rock?
Doesn’t strike me as his best. This is Hell has always been a favourite for me though.
Yeah, had decent hopes going into this when I realized I've never actually listened to any of his stuff. Now I'm thankful I made it this far. It's just bland and unengaging.
So preposterously corny
Brutal Youth is Elvis Costello trying too hard to stay relevant and/or muscle in on the 90s' changing sounds. It's standard average easy listening from him, always falls between a 2 and a 3, this one isn't as good as some of the others we've had (entirely too many) and it's too long so it slips into the (high) 2. Six albums btw. Six.
Not for me. This has a generic 90's sound, it did not do anything for me.
Not a fan of his voice.
I just don’t like Elvis Costello
2.5 I don’t like Costello’s voice. There were a few tracks on this record that reminded me a lot of TMBG’s music from the same time. Favorite Track: 20% Amnesia
Another day, another Elvis Costello album. I wake up at least once a week and wonders what it must have cost him to get this many albums included. Brutal Youth is number 4 so far. There are a few decent tracks on here, but most of them are either boring or just horribly written. But that's not the worst part.... No, no, no. *sigh* The worst part is knowing, that there's a few more of his albums waiting for me.
This is the second Elvis Costello album I've gotten. This one was closer to my impression of his music, I didn't enjoy it.
There really isn't anything to pull me in here, nor is there anything that is unlistenable. Not good but not unlistenable.
Some interesting stuff here, harmonically. But I can't stand his sneezy, off-key voice.
The third Elvis Costello album in had in short succession, and the worst one yet, so please, no more.
it's not bad but depressive
If this was my first Elvis Costello album of the project - rather than my second in 24 hours and fifth overall - I might judge it more kindly. After all, he’s a savvy enough operator to ensure none of his albums pass without a smart turn of phrase here or an infectious melody there. But across 15 tracks it’s very hard to find anything that justifies putting this mid-late career effort on a must-hear list. 2.5
Meh
It's not as bad as people claim, but it looks like it was specifically designed to be as blank as possible
2,5
I think Ive preferred other EC albums.
2 stars. not my thing.
I really liked 2 tracks - clown strike and sulky girl. Everything else was a bit of a slog to be honest
Too long and too mid
2.25
I can stand his voice a bit more on the slower songs but it’s still pretty close to nails on a chalkboard territory. It’s such a shame as there’s some really good songwriting hidden in here but I can’t get on with his voice
Oh great another Costello album. I kept one song on here but more for the music than him. Enough of this guy!
Nothing exciting here
Elvis Costello sounds like he was an annoying drama club/show tune kid in high school that always got cast as an understudy but thought he was the best. Then he went on to project his whiney, obnoxious voice over some pretty decent instrumentals and this album is the product. It sounds like someone singing karaoke.
This album was fine, nothing too special and nothing that jumped out at me as classic Elvis Costello-
Elvis Costello has too many albums on this list
What is this list's obsession with Elvis Costello?
If I have to hear one more Elvis god damn Costello record on this list I'm gonna lose my shit. My review is whatever I said about every other Elvis Costello album so far.
Can we get THIS Elvis to leave the building now, please?
Elvis so far is leaving me cold. His voice does nothing for me. The music does little for me. I found it difficult to pay attention to this one
First Elvis Costello album. This was kind of meh. I don't take as much issue with his voice as others do, but none of these tracks were interesting. Chord progressions felt kind of basic? Sounds like a cover band at a karaoke bar, not sure why it's on here.
It's Elvis Costello, and it's 90s rock, both of which I really like. Yet I was underwhelmed. Maybe I just prefer my traditional view of Elvis Costello and need to listen again later.
I am a such a fan of his first string of albums but this was just boring, even with the Attractions backing him. None of the songs grabbed me, and his vibrato was annoying.
Some good songs but mostly just wailing
There’s a few good tracks like 13 steps lead down, this is hell, and Londonshire brilliant parade. Overall tho it’s mostly just ok and I don’t rly get why it’s on the 1001 especially since there’s a few other more acclaimed (and prob better though I haven’t heard them yet) albums by Costello on here.
For me with Elvis Costello it´s almost like that: voice - meh; music - good. But this time even the music doesn´t convince me. Pretty below average! I can't see any reason why this album is on the list, because there are already other and even better Costello albums listed.
Elvis Costello's voice is definitely among the top 10 voices that makes me want to punch someone.
Gear: Meze 109 PRO Artwork: Wes Anderson/Die kleinen Strolche Vibes Mix: Teilnehmermedaille Musik: Also\"All the Rage\" ist das ja beim ersten Reinhören nicht. Ich würde zwar nicht sagen, dass \"This is Hell\", wünschte mir aber ich hätte mindestens \"20% Amnesia\" für das Album und war \"Just About Glad\" als es dann rum war. Wertung: 👓👓/5
Boringgggggg
Wasn’t feeling track 1 but track 2 Kinder Murder is kind of a head bopper. Twelve Steps is ok. Too soon to know is ok. A lot of songs are either ok or not my vibe. I get why it’s on the list but most of this kind of music just ain’t for me.
Very meh, it wasn't particularly remarkable at all and nothing really stood out
I think some would say this could be radio-worthy in the 90's, but it is just not my type of music
not my fave costello album. just kinda meh
I just can't do Elvis Costello, maybe one song but a whole album.....I just don't get it I guess 🤷
I'm so done with Costello albums.
Not a fan
Difficult listen this. I feel Costello should have walked away after the 80s. Some interesting guitar pieces and some catchy hooks but it's not of its time and ultimately disappointing from start to finish.
I’ve reached the point of this project where I don’t need to lie to myself anymore for the sake of feeling like a phony. If the music is drab and pretentious, then call a spade a spade.
Uuugghhh, not another Costello album... Favourite songs: 20% Amnesia, Pony St., Kinder Murder, 13 Steps Lead Down, Just About Glad Least favourite songs: This is Hell, Clown Strike, You Tripped at Every Step, Favourite Hour 2/5
Hot streak of mid at the moment
Elvis Costello is the most unique musician because he has such a whiny and annoying voice. His whole persona seems to be look how goofy I am and his music isn’t anything deep, exciting, fun or unique. It’s bland. He’s bland and his whole schtick is lame. Yet this wasn’t fully terrible. Just not good. 3.8/10
It's fine, but inching towards overrated by the album.
It's just not his best work I'm afraid. It's never bad, but it might be the production that makes it sound a bit emptier to me
Elvis Costello has definitely perfected his unique brand of songwriting. Nobody writes songs like he does, that’s for sure. I enjoyed some songs quite a bit, but more often than not I was kinda bored or even annoyed.
It’s crazy how Elvis Costello can make this specific sound like rock but that isn’t super aggressive but is storytelling and entertaining at the same time. It sounds like a lot of indie rock today. His voice seems timeless as well. I never realized how far his music career goes. It just isn’t for me This album is very endearing so far. This is hell is a standout for sure. His voice is just incredibly unique. It reminds me of Damon Alburn had a baby with Anthony Kiedis. Like tinges of both. This album is alright. favorite hour hurts his voice is tough to listen to. It just starts to wear on you after hearing it for so long. Good thing it was the last song Highlights: This Is Hell
Pretty standard Costello for me, didn't push above
Rock, lidt poppet, Singer/songwriter, ikke huskbart
Elvis Costello proves that he can sing well with some of the songs here, but for others, he sings like he’s singing Stacy’s Mom. His voice can be very annoying this way, yet he sometimes has good songs. This album was pretty long for me, and I tuned out pretty quick. First song was grating. I was brought back in when the instrumentals were good or he sang well. Never heard him before, don’t want to hear more of him. Maybe I just didn’t understand what he was trying to sing about, especially on songs like My Science Fiction Twin or 20% Amnesia. Standouts: You Tripped At Every Step, Sulky Girl, and Favourite Hour.
S'alright
Very middle of the road. Middling 2. I kinda enjoyed this is hell.
Meh
just listened to the album and I'm struggling to remember anything about it. it's inoffensive, but makes you wonder why this is in the list with 5 other Costello albums when there's much better music out there
It was fine then it just wouldn't end. I want to not listen to Elvis Costello any more but now I'm trapped.
Elvis has easily a dozen albums that are more interesting than this one. I bought it when it came out and probably haven't played it in over twenty years. The CD booklet did not contain any lyrics but one random line. My friends and I debated why only this one line and decided it was because he and his handlers were afraid his "anger" sounded like the n-word, a word Elvis has a disappointing history of using.
Not sure why this is considered as one of the 1001 albums
Eh
Just don’t get it
Nothing really caught me on this one.
An incredibly boring and uninteresting album that was way too bloated for its own good. His voice is pretty ok, but can't redeem this sad excuse of an album. 2/5.
Elvis is boring
This album is too long for something that feels like its treading water 2/5
Not a fan
Something about this displeases me.
not for me, bit dull
Why do you need 6 albums by Elvis Costello in this list? This is certainly not one of his best.....
I am not a big fan of this, not my favorite Top tracks: 20% Amnesia
Too many Costello albums and no play makes Jack something something I did like Kinder Murder - nice guitar sound. But otherwise conventional and just 😴 I’m sure some one will rate it 5 but ummm no.
Pensé que Elvis Costello tocaba otros géneros y tmb que lo hacía bien. Entiendo que está página está llena de boomers pero la cantidad de 5/5 es sorprendente. HAY 6 ÁLBUMES SUYOS en los 1001. Sin palabras.
This album is way too mid to be this long.
i usually try and look up extra context for every album bc i want a more rounded way to engage with it and because often something just isn't that interesting to me, but is more interesting when i know what it does and whats special about it. not really the case with elvis costello. ppl say the lyrics r good and like it's good pop lyrics but also like. what the fuck is he talking about extremely not for me unforch
His is really nice. Some beautifully structured songs. Good production as you might expect from an accomplished producer as well as artist. But there’s nothing to raise the eyebrows. No stand out songs. It’s good but I can’t think it’s moving anything anywhere. Nice though. Might listen again.
Really nicely produced, enjoyable ISH music. Found my attention waning quite a bit at times. Another victim of the 90s trend for making really long albums just because the cd had enough space.
Costello's voice took some getting used to, never been much of a fan of easy listening music. Top tracks: You Tripped at Every Step, Still Too Soon to Know
Your music must be so much better in order to wear hats that ugly. 2/5
Not this time Elvis
I've played this three times now, and I can't say I found this particularly engaging. I think I prefer Costello's earlier material. 2/5
Not my cup of tea.
I was wondering when this fucker with 6 albums on the list would show up. This is my first album of his after 775 days. I'm not doing the math, but that feels like some statistical anomaly. I was interested to hear what this guy's deal is. Why somebody like him would be one of the most represented people on this list and what's up with every single music magazine riding his meat. And.. it's just regular pop? Like, completely unremarkable, generic pop music? Unremarkable voice, unremarkable instrumentation, unremarkable lyrics, long as fuck. Truly the perfect brew. Left kid on the album cover looks like baby Hitler. 2/5.
I've had just about enough of this yapping hound, how many times does he have to be on this fucking list. Influential, I guess, but really I was counting down the songs I had left to listen by the fourth track. Next one from him that comes up is getting a 1/5 just out of spite. You've been warned.
"You don't have to listen to me, that's the promise of free will" - you might be on to something there, Elvis.
Cool but not really.
Often thought I was listening to Bowling for Soup
Genre: punk rock Instruments: 2/5 Modern Translation: 2/5 Dance Potential: 1/5 Listening Location: commute from/to work Favourite Song: My Scientific Twin Made me feel: annoyed, 15 songs is too many and they sounded the same.
I feel like I am always hearing the same thing. Although not a pastiche, it is a bit stuck in time.
I enjoyed ‘Armed Forces’ but this album was a real dud in comparison. Just nothing to it really.
This is the fifth Elvis Costello album. It was ok. Wasn't bad but wasn't overly good. Just kind of there. Similar to his other albums.
I was reluctant to listen to this, my brain thought "Elvis Costello = bad" for some reason. It was not bad but got very boring at some point
Man this is not even close to his best. Far from an essential album.
This guy sounds hella old for only being 17 years into his career The singing sometimes sounds pretty okay, but more often than not it`s dreadful, and the instruments and songwriting don`t stand out enough to make up for it. And on top of that it`s too long. 2 stars,
I’m a huge fan of Elvis Costello. And I’ve really enjoyed discovering new albums from him on this list. However, I don’t think this one is worthy of being there.
I recently gave this years model 5 stars. I don’t think this album lives up to that masterpiece or even armed forces which I gave 4 stars. It’s not a bad album but given those two are already on the list, I don’t think this needs to be here. Hence 2 stars.
I know Elvis is really well respected singer songwriter, but I've never really known why. This albumm hasn't really answered that question. It shows some hints, but mostly the whole thing kind of passed me by.
En tiedä - kakkosen ja kolmosen välis
I did not enjoy this. I’m not entirely sure why, but I think it’s mostly the vocals. Something about it just rubbed me the wrong way at the time I listened to it, and I felt actively irritated. When “This is Hell” came on, it felt like a perfect expression of my feelings toward this album. Being charitable, there’s some interesting variety music-wise that saves it from a 1, but that’s the score my heart wanted to give at the time…
Jag tror att vissa låtar är bättre än vad de verkar pga Elvis jobbiga röst. Tex My Science Fiction Twin. Men tyvärr blir man osugen på att verkligen ta reda på det eftersom man stör sig så mkt på honom.
Ogillar Elvis sångröst. Minns nu att det är ett problem. Han skriksjunger. #1 mest skränig #2 lite roligare, men fan. Det är inte jättebra. #3 nej. #4 lite bättre. Texten är rätt "tonårig". Heaven is hell in reverse? Ooooook. #5 meh #6 6 låtar in. 5 och ett halvt album kvar! #7 nej, den lugna låten är inte så bra heller #8 värsta(bästa) exemplet på hans jobbiga sångröst #9 det är rätt trist. Tekniskt sett är det musik, men det är ingen melodi. Rytm och skrik. #10 #11 har laserljud! Pew Pew. #12 #13 #14 #15 Ingen låt sticker ut. Vad är ECs storhet? Musiken är enkel, rösten är fruktansvärd, texterna imponerar inte. Hoppas detta är hans sämsta av SEX album han har på listan. Inte undra på att man inte lyssnat på EC förut, eller att han aldrig förekommer bland" klassiska" låtar man gärna spelar på fest/umgänge.
Gillade den inte alls efter första lyssningen, men den växte lite vid den andra. Soundet, sången och kvaliteten generellt osar dock för mycket fritidsgårdsband.
I find his vocal affectation really annoying. Otherwise the music is fine. Rating 2.4.
This is like the GoBots's version of Bruce Springsteen.
I do not care for this album
Stop giving me Costello albums dangit
The writing is mainly solid but it’s nowhere near as interesting as some of Costello’s earlier albums, and his voice is more annoying on this one as well. It also seems very dated for a 1994 record, especially considering the wealth of albums from that year that are far more influential and of their time but did not make the list: Let Love In, Bee Thousand, Blowout Comb, Chocolate and Cheese, Resurrection, WEEZER
I know Elvis Costello can write songs I like, but there was nothing on this record I connected with. Best Song(s): N/A Listen Again: No
I don’t get it. I find his voice annoying, lyrics pretentious and most songs boring. A few bops tho
There are a few moments that have nice harmonies but man this is really not for me. Not looking forward to 5 more of his albums in this project 🥲. Favorite track: Sulky Girl
I dont get really along with elvis costello. Didnt hold my attention during the whole listen. it was alright but nothing spectacular!
Too wordy
This album has made me curious as to what the rating metric for this project is, because this is a far cry from Costello's debut, and doesn't even rank highly across numerous ratings boards. So why is it on here?
Brutally dull.
more ass than man
I always want to like Elvis Costello's albums more than I actually do.
Meh, eipä oo vähään aikaan vituttanut kuunnella levyä loppuun. Ensimmäinen hyvä kappale oli eka mikä tuli randomilla levyn jälkeen
Didn't like him when I saw him live and still don't
Listened Before? N I just can't get all the way into EC. I have respect for him because so many critics do, but his music just isn't my style so it's going to suffer in my personal rating. I did like "Clown Strike" so that's fun. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Clown Strike
Of all the Elvis Costello albums, this is certainly one of them.
I want to like Elvis Costello.... I just can't. It's not great.
Not super my thing.
Pretty boring
I've always found Elvis Costello to be bland.
Not one of his best IMO
I think this album had some of the weakest starts I've ever experienced, and I was determined to give it 1 star straight away. Everything just sounded bad and I didn't like it at all. Then it recovered a bit and finally landed on a 2. Elvis Costello is a name I've heard before many times, but I was thoroughly disappointed with this record.
Zeikstem
‘Kinder Minder’ and ‘London’s Brilliant Parade’ we’re decent but the rest were a combination of annoying vocals or melodies I’d associate with mid-2000s cartoon themes.
This is what happens when you tell someone at the local karaoke bar they can really sing and should make a career of it but they don't grasp the subtilty of your biting sarcasm.
I've tried, and tried ... I know that some people ... a LOT of people LOVE EC, but I am not one of them. This album, like many of his, do absolutely nothing for me. His voice is nice and songwriting is on par with any adequate singer songwriter, but there is nothing that stands out about this album or EC that moves me.
Too much Tom Waits. Too much Bob Dylan. Too much David Bowie. Too much Elvis Costello.
Was ok for the first 4 songs and then hit a rough patch. The slower songs are particularly brutal.
A fairly weak Elvis Costello album.
Annoying yet dull
Not again. However, I think I've sussed it! Music journalists love Costello because he looks like a music journalist, makes the sort of music that led to the music journalist having to fall back on writing about music, and music journalists feel seen. Representation is important I guess. I'd rather Nick Lowe, Ian Dury, Jona Lewie or any number of superior contemporaries I'm afraid.
There’s something about Costello’s music that lacks depth and real sincerity and substance to it. Something about the vocal delivery makes him sound like a gimmick band and songs like My Science Fiction Twin don’t help. This is the third Costello album I’ve listened to now and it sounds harsh but I’m beginning to dislike him as a person. He may be perfectly fine, I know nothing about him but I can tell you I will let out an audible groan of annoyance the next time he pops up on this generator. He’s not bad I suppose just lame and annoying. 2 stars
Geen idee waarom, maar het voelde alsof ik me door dit album moest worstelen
Well this was wildly boring and bland hour that I’ve wasted on this. Seriously what is this doing on this list? Saved tracks: Clown Strike, My Science Fiction Twin
_20% Amnesia_ was probably my favorite song. Really disliked the opening song as an opening. The production is raw, but not in a good way.
Certainly tolerable, and Costello is certainly a damn fine songwriter, I'm just not a fan.
I don't get it, no cool enough I guess.
good beat, voice/lyrics not for me
As a huge EC fan I find this a strange choice of a strange record. The very definition of treading water, it sounds like someone trying to make a record that sounds like Elvis Costello. Why did he go back to making an album with the Attractions at this time? It sounds like the rejected demos from Blood and Chocolate, there is not one track that sounds any different to anything he'd been doing since Imperial Bedroom. Dimery and his cronies have this massive body of work to choose from with EC and they pick this, unfathomable. The next album was a covers record, then one more with the Attractions before he re found his voice with the brilliant When I Was Cruel in 2002. We should be reviewing Cruel or his 1998 masterpiece with Burt Bacharach Painted From Memory.
Som jag brukar säga, en av världens mest överskattade artister.
Pretty generic and boring really.
Pop punk pero sin alma de adolescente skater de los 2000's? Boring.
What a disappointing, uninspired and unoriginal album Elvis has made. Half the songs were completely boring and lackluster and the other half were, maybe fun, but already been done before. There’s nothing quite new here. I enjoyed the chord progressions and the production is good, but that’s all. Wasn’t even a fan of the instrumentation of vocals. 2/5
Can’t stand this guys voice
I always think Elvis Costello music sounds different than it actually does. It's better in my imagination.
I give the fuck up, Elvis. I've tried. I've gotten at least three of your records so far and they have all done absolutely nothing for me. For some reason, maybe just being tired of this or just not enjoying this record specifically, I found Costello's voice especially tiresome on this record. Constantly yelping out of nowhere... Just. I'm done. Please. No more. Favorite track: "13 Steps Lead Down"
Quite like some of his work, but this one missed the mark. Bass player sounded like he was working on a different album to the rest of the band.
Dirty Springsteen. 2/5.
I know that Costello has always been a hipster's wet dream, but I find him to be tolerable at best. Two stars for not exactly sucking, but, come on, there's nothing to this album.
Very inoffensive (and rather boring honestly). Costello was a has-been at this point in his career. Alternative rock ruled the 90s, and you can hear some of its influences on this record. Just very uninteresting overall (and probably too long)
I confess, I'm just not a big Elvis Costello fan! His lyrics are clever, but musically, his work generally just doesn't have enough interest for me. I have respect for him and his fans, it's just not personally my thing. For this reason, I was a bit overwhelmed to learn that there are six of his albums on this list ... My favorite track on this album is 20% Amnesia. Kinder Murder is another stand-out. Otherwise, it's just all the same to my ears.
not his best
Honestly don't care for it at all
Of all the Elvis Costello projects I have heard on this list, this is easily my least favorite. If you're not in the mood for it then it really just becomes a chore to listen to. This album just drags on for too long and nothing really excites me along the way.
Even if Costello's vocals weren't as grating as squeaky sandpaper, the banal and overlong backing tracks would still sink this album as a boring mess. Also, someone tell Elvis he still doesn't have an n-word pass, man sounds like an edgy high-schooler who just discovered racial slurs.
Boring, samey, annoying vocals and terrible lyrics. Why is this even on the list?
Boring bland background music
Not my fave Costello and did not enjoy the casual dropping of the n word
I like Elvis' earlier stuff. This felt repetitive and uninspired.
I totally respect Elivs Costello, but I can't find and song that I like on this album. They sound alright; they're just not my cup of tea. 2/5
We all agree this is the Elvis Costello album that should be cut from the list, right? It gets bumped up a point because it contains a song he played on classic episode of The Larry Sanders Show. Shout out to Larry Sanders!
Ok
This felt a very odd choice of EC albums for me. It’s… fine, but it’s far from his best but nor does it feel particularly novel or out there that you could mark it as being game changing even if not the “best”.
Went on a bit!
Kinda bland
2+
Please go away Elvis, you're not welcome here
I like the music going on, some proper piano bashing happening. but don't get on with his voice at all so can't really listen to it.
The fifteenth (out of currently 30) studio albums of Elvis Costello, and the sixth and most recent included in the 1001 Albums collection, Brutal Youth is almost Delphic in how incomprehensible it is for someone not already into Elvis Costello. Elvis Costello has never pinged on my radar, even though he came to prominence during an era I adore, late 70s punk, new wave and post-punk. Perhaps unfairly, I'd always just suspected Costello belonged with the new wave bandwagon-jumpers like Sting, stripping the music of its vitality and questing spirit in order to make marketable product. So, I never bothered with any of his albums; indeed, Brutal Youth is my first Costello album. And I don't know who this album is for. Would an Elvis Costello fan find handholds within this album? I was just left staring in rather bored confusion. I can't recall any of the lyrics, other than a chorus about even the clown knowing when to strike, which just seemed too undercooked and asinine an image to be in any way effective. The songs blend into each other, to the extent that I genuinely mixed up the first and second track. And at 15 songs, it begins to get pretty whiffy towards the end. Whiffy, but not putrid. It may be the case that I am too unfamiliar with Elvis Costello's works to appreciate the direction of this album, and with a firm knowledge of Costello's most feted albums, the rewards of this will become dazzling. But, it may also be the case that he's an overrated hack who latched on to others' innovations. A number of other possibilities may be true; maybe this is just a weak album by a capable songwriter. I can only report what I feel now. Elvis Costello produced the Specials' first album. I suppose that's a reason to hold out hope.
2, it was ok
I know something of Elvis Costello but I think it's not my kind of music I heard.
Not an Elvis Costello fan, can’t see what the fuss is. Also not looking forward to wading my way through 4-5 of his other albums on this list.
Not a fan of his vocals. Like some of the storytelling though.
Really didn’t enjoy any of the tracks. The music and singing didn’t capture me at all.
no
Elvis Costello is an artist that I always wondered if I was missing something about. I liked some of his singles, but I never got the big draw. This album didn’t help. I do think the music and instrumentation on this album are often catchy, fun, interesting. I even enjoy much (not all) of his vocals. But lyrically, it all misses me…and trying to focus on the lyrics makes it all worse. Maybe I’ll have a different experience on one of his other albums.
it dragged on a little.. his other album (from YESTERDAY) was much more exciting and good. this one was just slow and it seemed like it was trying to push it along but i didn’t love
more of the same Elvis Costello. Just doesn't do much for me. 2/5
Not particularly bad. Just pretty ordinary.
No single track stuck out to me as better or worse than the others. So I guess that is saying something.
I have tried and tried, but I just can't get into EC.
Not a lot of fun. Other Elvis albums are better
I just can't get on with him.
Not my favorite album of his. Still some decent tracks, but didn't hit as hard as This Year's Model
An album of two halves. About half fairly standard MOR, whilst the other half is more experimental and varied. It makes it more interesting, but interrupts the flow. Might have been better as two separate albums? Overall, its pretty average. I didn't massively enjoy it. 2.5/5
wasn’t a fan :(
is it just me or did this SUCK.
The only thing brutal here was listening to this album all the way through. I generally find EC to be somewhere between "fine" and "good", but something about Brutal Youth was just absolutely unbearable. Why are all the good albums only 30 minutes and all the bad ones over an hour? He just kept GOING and GOING and WHINING and WHINGING. No thank you Elvis. I'll stick to Alison.
Super forgettable considering his previous work
instruments are good, some good songs, but his voice is not enjoyable
Nothing to special. By no means is it a bad album, but just not my thing and kinda generic
I'm not a fan of Elvis' voice. It's too nasally and whiney.
Tråkigt
Pour ceux qui ne seraient pas au courant, eltrapeze et moi sommes à l'origine des nombreuses émeutes anti-elvis costello auxquelles vous avez sûrement pris part.
Don’t like Levi’s Costello. But actually better than I expected