Reviews (page 2 of 7)
One of his best.
Elvis Costello is an outstanding songwriter and the owner of one of the coolest singing voices I can think of--he and Tom Petty exist in a class of their own where their singing voices just sound cool. I'm making my uncle proud with this one. Favorite track: Man Out of Time
Another favorite from the past! Elvis & the boys go into a different gear with this one. Smooth and mature.
Enjoyed, can’t remember any of it already
One of my favorite Elvis albums and easily one of the greatest 100 of all time.
I understand why people complain about the number of Elvis Costello albums on this list. I agree as few could be dropped, but not this one. Nearly every of the 15 songs is a modern pop classic with great and witty lyrics. The Attractions are also performing on top level.
A singularly impressive achievement by a singular artist. Consistiently high-quality songs delivered with and conviction and purpose and supported by intriguing arrangements, ace porduction and very good playing throughout (tense and teasing piano plus pulling bass on "Shabby Doll;" tasteful and undestated strings + horns on "Town Cryer" are among the top grace notes, with the latter being an exquisite way [plus master class in how] to end a great record). So many good cuts – beyond the aforementioned, “Man Out of Time” and “Almost Blue” and "Beyond Belief" and "Little Fool" are among one's faves – and not a dog to be found in the lot AKNF, as was once said. One considers the snark and cynicism to be a feature not a bug. This is peak Elvis and probably the top destination on EC’s long and interesting career journey. One's a resounding yes on this being his masterpiece.
Costello knocks it out of the park, leaving New Wave behind and embracing his love of Bacharach lushness. The production is exquisite and his lyrics retain their bite - his word play is especially brilliant ('Days of Dutch courage Just three French letters and a German sense of humour'). Utterly sublime. Might this be his best work?
World changing…
Two songs in I knew this was a great example of a certified banger©
Good
One of the most creative pop albums I've ever heard. This is a great album to wander through on a Sunday afternoon. It's an album that's full of nuances, one best appreciated when you have time to really sit with it. Sophisticated, richly arranged and stylistically diverse. A bit challenging compared to some of Elvis Costello's other works, but totally worth the effort. Gorgeous arrangements, outstanding musicianship, strikingly clever lyrics, and one of Costello's best vocal performances of his career. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Beyond Belief, Almost Blue, Man Out of Time, Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon, Kid About It, Human Hands, The Loved Ones, Boy With a Problem, Pidgin English, Town Cryer, You Little Fool, Little Savage, ...And in Every Home, Tears Before Bedtime
Elvis Costello album #5 (and still no Bruce Springsteen or Radiohead, arrrgh) -and new favourite! Every time E.C. pops up I let my guard down, but especially so in this one. The lyrics are kitchen sink realism, & the production has everything but the kitchen sink. It's a weirdly good match what a strange transition between "Long Honeymoon" & "Man Out of Time" HL: "You Little Fool", "The Long Honeymoon", "Man Out of Time", "Beyond Belief", "...And In Every Home", "The Loved Ones" May 19, 2023
5/5 i really appreciate the packed soundscape. strings come in then vanish. keyboards drive a song then yield to percussion. some really weird production choices baffle me to this day (eg the chorus on kid about it). the excellent songs demonstrate the depth of ec’s writing talent, shown again and again before and after this album.
Top 10 albums all time for me
Another classic Elvis Costello record, out of all the ones he made this one would definitely be in my top 3.
Enjoyed more than expected, though took a while to get through. Almost Blue is cracking.
This album is so good. I would give a 10 rating to 5 of the first 6 songs.
This album doesn’t have the instantly recognizable hits of his early albums, but I agree with the critics who say it was his masterpiece. He borrows from a lot of different styles: jazz, country, baroque pop and blends everything together beautifully. You don’t know what’s coming up next but it always seems to fit. The songwriting is outstanding –Shabby Doll, Man out of Time, and Kid About It are my favorites but there really isn’t a weak track on the album. The production and instrumentation are very sophisticated, and his voice, which can be grating at times is breathy and at its best, due to the mixing I would think. It’s a “mature” sound, different than what came before, and better than what he did afterward.
Unexpectedly great. I loved how intricate all of the songs were. Lots of different instruments and moving pieces.
I think is this Elvis Costello’s apex in terms of experimentation. The album is dense, highly melodic and dabbles in unusual melodies and chord changes. It seems influenced by the early 20th century American songbook yet it also looks forward to college rock.
"History repeats the old conceits...the quick replies the same repeats", this album is tattooed on my brain..."so teddy bear tender and tragically hip", I love this record. This was his third album after his first early period of signature tunes. Trust was a fine lo fi album, then his country covers the wonderful Almost Blue and then this, and let me say his version of Almost Blue on this album wiped the floor with Chet Baker's sodden sulk. EC had been working up to this record, it is truly about the songs and he'd finally got the Attractions where he wanted them. Kid About It (the chorus vocal lines..."say you wouldn't", Beyond Belief, the epic Man Out of Time, Tears Before Bedtime, the Chris Difford penned and superb Boy With A Problem, this is EC in his lyrical and musical pomp, album that is played with monotonous regularity in our house her indoors also rates it highly. For the post new wave punk EC I'd start here.
Superb album. His best.
10/10 fucking LOVED the diversity it was so fresh and fun the whole time some parts were definitely a little too experimental for some people but I loved every second I’m definitely disappointed by how many people gave this a negative review why you gotta do this banger of an album like that?
"Imperial Bedroom" is the 7th album by Elvis Costello and the 6th album with the Attractions. And what a great album this is! It helps that it has my favorite two Elvis Costello songs ("Beyond Belief" and "Almost Blue"). It was produced by Geoff Emerick not Nick Lowe whom Elvis typically have produce. Elvis said this was his happiest album to date. I don't know; the lyrics are utterly brilliant but I don't know if I'd call them happy. The music is pretty happy though and is definitely a variety of styles. In addition, you can find something musically in almost every song making it worth a listen. The first single released was "You Little Fool" at the insistence of the record company due to its happy music. It is fairly happy music with the piano carrying the chorus and a song about a daughter's cry for attention and romantic misery. Not so happy. The album actually starts with "Beyond Belief" a song which slowly build to a musical climax. Great lyrics and imagery about the cycle of pursuing love....just fantastic. "Man Out of Time" is what Elvis said was the heart of the album and kind of autobiographical about a man disgusted with himself. Great well-balanced music too. "Almost Blue" is a sad piano song about two people growing apart. It needs to be heard in a smokey bar (which don't exist anymore). Pitchfork only ranked this at #155 for albums in the 1980's. There are 154 better albums? Anyway, I have heard a lot of Elvis Costello and this definitely near the top.
I was an ignorant 1 star wanker about Elvis myself once. Since I’ve hit 40 I’ve learned to embrace his snide, sneering, whinging cynicism. Y’all need to grow up.
Amazingly good, Costello doing what he does best
4.5/5. Prob my fav Costello so far. Quite zany
Wow. Can't believe I didn't know this album.
Wow
LOVED!
Great listening to the other Elvis.... quite a popular album when I was in college.....
Good surprise
Loved it!
One of my favorite albums.
Uniquely punky and groovy and funky.
Generally well arranged if not occasionally sporadic
Feels like ABBA without synths. Or Simon and Garfunkel with extra sauce. I dig. The dude abides. Four flat.
Hmmmm. I've stated previously that Costello has 3 more albums than he should on the list. I feel like anything I say at this point is going to be negative and beating a dead horse.
I really like Elvis Costello but I don't consider this his best album. Human Hands, Man Out of Time and Beyond Belief were the standouts for me.
7/10 Enjoyable, with varied pop songs and always interesting. Nothing stellar, but decent
Stylish lyrics. Original Britpop
Fuck you guys I might pick an Elvis Costello album for the user list. 7/10
Probably my favourite of the three Costello albums I've had so far.
Listened to this many years ago and thought it was too busy compared to his earliest stuff which I really liked. Gave it a few listens over the years and never could get it to click with me but I could tell that there was something there so I kept revisiting it, scraping away at it in the hopes that something about it would jump out at me. And I think it finally did.
I prefer this Elvis
I liked this more with each listen.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/elvis-costello-and-the-attractions/imperial-bedroom/ Nice! Very Pulp-coded, before Pulp was a thing. Would be surprised if Jarvis Cocker was not inspired by Costello's way of singing. Would have benefited from cutting a few songs, but generally, I dig!
Some of his best songwriting yet the realisation always underwhelms 3.5
It feels like every song on Imperial Bedroom is a different genre. Throughout this album I hear new wave, jazz, bossa nova, indie, rock, and countless other genres that I can't describe properly. I hear bands old and new too. Bands that pre-date and post-date Elvis Costello. I hear The Beatles’ Penny Lane, and I hear the band OK Go. In fact, I hear them both in the same song, “... And In Every Home”. I didn't cop until today just how similar Damien Kulash's voice is to Costello's. It's not just the vocals though, there's something about the bright choruses of these songs that reminds me so much of OK Go. It took me a couple of listens to get into this properly. Every time I think this to be an average record, it corrects me. Songs take interesting turns. Often I find myself underwhelmed by a song’s verse, only to be completely won over by the chorus. Or they change course completely. “Shabby Doll” is a song I could take or leave, until it starts rocking out at the end, with some of the most amazing bass fills I've ever heard. “Man Out of Time” is enjoyable enough, but it catches me completely off-guard when it takes off at the end, moving into a completely different song. I mean, he gave me a clue at the start of the song, but I still didn't see it coming. Those screams and the whole energy of this section is incredible. “Beyond Belief” is the other standout track, one of many, sounding so far ahead of its time that I'd be sure it was a new release if I heard it playing on 6 Music today. I went to an Elvis Costello gig in my hometown years ago after nabbing some free tickets. I didn't really know his stuff and tried to cram beforehand, which was impossible with the amount of material he has produced over the years. I was struck by two things at the gig: the hardcore fanbase, and the wide range of styles he played. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. And that's what “Imperial Bedroom” is. Some seriously catchy and great tunes in a wide range of styles. And if you make the same mistake that I did and think this to be an average record, it's quick to correct you.
Got through half of it. I like tears before bedtime a lot.
Oh, the fake Elvis again. I like Costello's voice because it perfectly defines what a "young voice" is. His voice sounds rebellious, and his songs always sound fresh, as if they were released yesterday. Can you say that every Elvis has a unique voice? I don't know... 4 stars
You know what? This isn't even that bad! Definitely the best Elvis Costello I've heard so far. I was pleasantly surprised. I like how he expands a bit on his usual new wave-y style and incorporates some other elements as well, and his voice is a lot less annoying than on other albums I've heard from him. I just think the album is a bit too long/too bloated.
What a great surprise! Great album and great cover too
There's too much Costello on this list, but that doesn't mean it's not good. I enjoyed this album. Particularly Man Out of Time, HUman Hands and Beyond Belief. It's a solid four for me.
Can you think of something more literate? The music is fairly literate too (production values off the charts). A lot of these could easily be on best-of. While I can skip the strings, I enjoy the expanding new wave palette. Man Out of Time could be on a best of best-of. Speaking of palettes, that's a Barney Bubbles cover--listen to The Paranoid Style song about him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWutGaLHqzc.
Nice
I never seek out Elvis Costello, but I'm never disappointed when he turns up
Very fun listen. Was surprised by the range, some of the music had a really decent base presence.
By 1982 the decade was starting to take shape musically and Costello was unlikely to be in the mainstream with efforts as arty, experimental and varied as this critically acclaimed effort. Produced by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, it has a range of instruments not heard in the Attractions before and 'Beyond belief' and 'Man out of time' were unlikely to trouble the singles charts. It needs multiple listenings to fully appreciate but it is a true work of art and seems to be channeling Sgt Pepper rather than the new wave.
Once again, I find myself thinking that should really listen to more Elvis Costello. Love his voice. Love his songwriting. High 4. Check back in a few months. Might be a 5.
Æ tror ikke æ har nokka i mot Elvis Costello, det her va hyggelig å høre på.
Not a great Costello fan, but this one's a grower.
I quite liked this album. There was only one song that I didn't particularly care for. I would give it four stars.
4/5
By the 7th album, the bombast of their earliest work was significantly eased and we are presented with a broad palette of styles but at a noticeably controlled pace. Costello convincingly plunders classic songwriting of the preceding 40 years displaying an impressive understanding of the songs inspiring him. If that doesn’t ratchet up the sophistication enough, they densely pack the arrangements with experimentation and as much variety as the material. Further to this, Costello’s relentless word play inhabits every verse, hitting you with a fresh twist on an established phrase quicker than you can absorb the last. Already 70+ songs into their only 5 year career (and the previous album was covers!) they hit us with another 15 tracks here. That added to the richness of Imperial Bedroom, makes its 51 minutes a big ask of the listener, but maybe the biggest feat is how tough they make it to pick anything that could be left off. It’s not my favourite, but it was another highlight on the rapidly growing catalogue and they still had more quality in them before their first blip.
This was the best of the 4 Elvis C. Albums I’ve had so far. It was groovier, more music driven. His vocals/lyrics supported the music instead of taking center stage, which I appreciated.
After reading some of the reviews I'm surprised I liked this album! It may not be my preferred type of music I actually think it's pretty good.
Good album.
Really like this Elvis 🕺
I kinda liked this one
I enjoyed this. It's well crafted early Brit-pop with some nice lyrics and a unique but pleasing sound. "Man Out of Time" and "Pidgin English" were particular standouts for me.
Gotta love Elvis Costello!
Nice but not my favorite
Elvis Costello is tough for me. As I listened to the album, I really liked it. Very enjoyable. But I don’t know how much I would just go and turn it on.
I know there are people who are annoyed by Elvis Costello, but I am the opposite of that.
One of Elvis Costello's most kaleidoscopic albums, here he and The Attractions play with so many different styles and musical instruments that it's a miracle that the album sounds as cohesive and fluid as it does. While this might not be my favorite album by Costello, it was a turning point in his career that helped establish him as a truly serious and mature artist, and it's a joy to listen to.
New wave, 1981. English. A genre id never seek out, but enjoyable to listen to in the morning. What I'd imagine Elton John would sound like crossed with the smiths.
This was a well done album. I liked the instrumentation and melodies. It is a little long, but not overly so. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
this album was pretty good. it was a little long, i feel like if you cut three or four tracks this could be a five star album.
A decent album, but for me it is quite a drop off from his earlier albums. 4 stars or B-.
This was a really interesting album, especially the first half of the track list. Parts of it reminded me of Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend. Love the album artwork. Would definitely add to my collection if I came across.
I like Elvis Costello, this was good. For some reason the whole album is not available on Apple Music though.
The guy can write songs
love the cover art!
I do enjoy Elvis Costello. This is not as memorable as some, but it's still pretty solid.
Efectivo el maestro
4/5
I liked the upbeat songs a bit more than the jazzier ballads but the whole album was great. Fun instrumentation and great overall sound
Good
Really nice, proper songwriter album. Could be a 5 with time.
That's a lot of Elvis Costello albums here... but I like all of them, so I won't complain
Beautiful album. Elvis Costello has a stronghold on the alt-pop category. He is a master of melodies and piano. Big fan of this album.
Love spotting direct influences of artists I already love. TV on the Radio definitely mined this data! So far? An absolute delight to my ears. Every damn instrument in the studio is pulled into the mix and given the chance to lead. Triumphant, playful, solemn, downright silly - every song is a costume change. In my heart of hearts, I believe this one will reward repeated listening, unearthing fun little nuance along the way and really tuning into the emotion of his vocals.
I’m not one to talk about the production, but this is certainly the best-produced Costello album we’ve heard.
Listened in the car and while cleaning the kitchen. Never listened to Costello before. This one really grew on me. Started hearing the through line from Bowie to Costello to They Might Be Giants to Barenaked Ladies and more. Excited to hear more!
I've never known what to do with Elvis Costello. Half of his songs are lush, low-key masterworks, and half of his songs have a tweeness that grates on me. This album was more of the former.
Instrumentally, there’s a lot going on here! It’s an interesting album. Having never really listened to Costello before, it sounds like a bridge between The Beatles, The Dire Straits, 70s Bob Dylan, and the Britpop wave of the 90s, with bands like Pulp and Blur being surely influenced by this album. I liked it and will definitely return for another listen.
Enkele heel mooie liedjes waar ik al lang niet meer op gedacht had
Enjoyable for a Costello album. Some interesting songs.
Elvis C. album #5 here, and by far my favorite of them all. It's not even close. 3.5/5
Heard before: No I thought it was good, serviceable, inoffensive rock music. His voice seemed way out of style for the Spector production techniques he used but he’s a new wave guy so gets a pass. Found all the songs pleasant. 4/5
i mean, it's no this year's model but this is still a solid new wave album. the songs are well-crafted and the lyrics paint a clear picture of life in the narrator's shoes. might come back to a few of these. favorites: beyond belief, the long honeymoon, man out of time, almost blue, ...and in every home
Tough as hell. Tough to rate, tough to hate, tough to enjoy at times. I find Elvis Costello already a bit hard to get into, but this one just felt like easy listening material with the family. Not sure I'll return to it outside of those circumstances.
Not my favorite Costello album but undoubtedly one of his best. Beyond Belief is one of my absolute favorites of his songs. Lush arrangements and tight songwriting. A few songs in the back half lose me which holds it back from five stars. A truly great album!
I don't know Elvis' music beyond the big hits so it was really nice to hear this great album from an era that seemed drenched in New Wave crap and bad pop hits.
It's impossible to quote Costello adequately, so fecund is his lyrical talent, which has rightly been compared to Gershwin and Porter. A few moments from the first three tracks, tho these merely scratch the surfaces: 'I hang around dying to be tortured / You'll never be alone in the bone orchard'; 'I guess time gave up the ghost too late'; 'I have betrayed you and me / And paid for my own bribery.' Really, there're only a handful of artists who have continued the tradition of classic American songwriting: Costello, Waits, Smokey Robinson, Carole King (sorta) - the rest went the Bob Dylan route. For this, Costello always has my heart. Yet, something about this record, I have to admit, is the product of a try-hard sophisticate. I prefer his naivete.
I've been distracted, but this is his best album. I'm going to say, there aren't as many recognizable hits as some of his other albums, but I like this one the best so far. He's like good Billy Joel.
I accidentally listened to this twice, and the second time around was way better. I kinda dig it.
Not my top album of his but still really good.
A good later career album. I liked a lot of the earlier stuff better but this had some good moments
Lowkey baroque.
Solid catchy melodies. I quite liked this!
Rate 4/5
No lo he escuchado entero, ayer no me daba la vida ni para escuchar más música en inglés y menos aún más hombres. Pero me ha gustado mucho.
Elvis gets all sophisticated.
4/5
Day664 - i’m an appreciator of elvis costello and i enjoyed listening to some of the non hits
What a surprise to learn that the Sondre Lerche version of Human Hands isn't the original! I like both. :) This album, on the whole, was good
It’s good. Not the best, but extremely good.
Pretty cool new wave pop songwriting. Not like the hits I’ve heard from Costello.
I'm coming to see why Costello is so heavily featured on the list.
Den här spexaren igen! Men inte mig emot, han är toppen.
Not as great as This Year's Model, but still very engaging and enjoyable
This is the sixth or seventh album for Elvis Costello since My Aim Is True and it feels like a return to who the artist is, as opposed to the lost meanderings of someone trying to find themselves. Welcome back
Really intriguing music
4.4
I’d say I enjoyed this album more than most of Elvis Costello’s catalog. It leans into New Wave, with some baroque arrangements, and is very piano and organ driven. While I still think Costello is way overrated, especially how often his albums show up on top lists, I have to admit this one stood out. It’s an album I’d be open to revisiting again in the future.
I've listened to this album a few times now, and it has grown on me quite a bit. The instrumentation is really interesting, with things like the harpsichord, mellotron and accordion added. One track that stuck with me was "Kid About It," maybe it was the shout and then quiet bits. I probably liked this album more than the previous one with Elvis Costello. It has a number of hummable bits in it, and I may come back to this again. So... 4 it is. Top tracks: "Kid About It," "...And In Every Home," "Pidgin English"
Another Elvis Costello masterpiece. This time facing the emotional burden of Love and heartache head-on. The songs are more arty, more complex lyrically and musically, deeper, challenging and rich. Expanding into more symphonic instrumentation, a mature and sophisticated outing. I think this is the last of the early EC albums that matter, and he fully exposes himself as an artist reaching for something more mainstream.
Jedan od njegovih klasika
Gorgeous album. Poetic lyrics and an ambitious sound scape.
Not sure we need this much Elvis but he’s certainly an excellent artist. Nothing in this really grabbed me but overall solid. Light 4.
Not my favorite Elvis Costello sound but he brings a lot of cool ideas to the table here. This is more intellectual and baroque-pop sounding than the albums I prefer from him but it is an ambitious effort. It's cool to hear how pop standards and pre-rock and roll can influence his sound. I like "Shabby Doll", "Man Out Of Time", and "Almost Blue" best.
Really like the diversity
I really enjoyed this - certainly more than the previous Elvis Costello album. I favorited 3 songs - Long honeymoon, Pidgeon English, and Town Cryer - which is pretty high for me for a previously unheard album. I did listen while en route to Singapore so maybe some generosity owing to conditions. But a solid album I intend to come back to. 4/5
This album has a nice chilled vibe to it. It’s strange as i dont feel like there is a stand out track on this album, which may be why nothing leapt out as something i already knew, but it just works well as a whole. Nothing great enough to raise it over and above but just a bloody good cohesive album.
Another album that doesn't appear on Amazon Music so I ended up listening to it via YouTube. The extra ad breaks are really not the best way to listen to an album (I do not want Hello Fresh YouTube, please stop). I love the track Beyond Belief already but based entirely on former Reel Big Fish trumpeter and backing vocalist Scott Klopfenstein's regular Twitch streams - it's on his list of covers people can request (along with 9/10 by Jeff Rosenstock that I also fell in love with because of that stream). Of the songs I didn't know, I loved Man Out Of Time, ... And In Every Home, Little Savage and Town Cryer. The weird out of tune guitar solo in Pidgin English was not for me though, and really took away from a track I was otherwise enjoying. It was like those old comedy routines where songs were purposely played wrong for laughs. In general though, the 1001 Album Generator has really driven it home that I like Elvis Costello. 4/5
Not my favorite album of theirs, but a sold entry.
Wow! All these years I thought I didn't like Elvis Costello, then comes this assignment and I'm floored. Lyrically weird and playful. Excellent compositions and a fun, mid-tempo record overall. A little overstuffed, but who cares? I'll definitely be revisiting this soon.
This feels like a mix of a lot of music I like. Very familiar but still so new. Billy Joel, Elton John...
a little too clogged imo
J’étais surprise de trouver un énième album de Costello ici, mais je dois dire que c’est celui que j’ai préféré, dans sa beauté tranquille
Man, this was a lot of fun. Definitely enjoyed this more than My Aim Is True, and I think this one really showcases what made Elvis Costello great. It's fun, retro, and a total team effort. Freaking awesome cover art. Fave songs: - Beyond Belief - Tears Before Bedtime - Shabby Doll - Man Out Of Time - Human Hands - Little Savage - Pidgin English - Town Cryer
Jeśli ta lista nauczyła mnie czegokolwiek to tego, że jestem fanką Elvisa Costello (o którym wcześniej miałam mgliste pojęcie i nie znałam żadnego z jego utworów). Jest w jego utworach coś nie tylko popowego, ale i filmowego - łatwo je sobie wybrać na ścieżkę dźwiękową życia. I może nie jest to najbardziej nowatorskie granie na świecie, ale mi i tak wystarcza do dobrej zabawy. A muzyka może czasem być tylko tym - dobrą zabawą. I nie ma w tym nic złego. 7.5/10
This album really started for my at Shabby Doll and it picked up through the rest of the album. This was a really fun listen. Well-composed songs that interesting instruments and elements for every song. His voice reminds me of a cross-over of Bob Dylan and Charley Crockett. Kinda nasal-y and whiny but has a great texture. I don't think I'll be returning to this album too much unless I'm in a particular mood, but definitely enjoyed it.
I instantly became enamored with the arrangements on this album. Everything was so well put together...some songs were bouncy and fun while others were more relaxed. Costello's voice took a second to get used to, I never hated it but I always thought it was kind of...goofy? But I can appreciate Dylan and Bjork so I'm fine with this too. I may have underestimated him as an artist (I only knew a few songs prior), it looks like ill be doing some investigating on his discography!
Great rock album, it feels more modern that the 80s. Great instrumentals and vocals. Mix of good storytelling and feel good songs.
Good tunes
Good new wave? No way! Possibly the cleanest sounding 80s album so far, loving the lack of reverb and clear vocals.
Ok, I know that Costello gets a lot of flak around here. He's overly represented on the list and they quality of his music varies. I genuinely like some of his stuff, despite the complaints. But I've never come across "Imperial Bedroom" before. It seems to be a divisive album from a divisive artist and was marketed as Costello's masterpiece (with a question mark for extra intrigue and plausible deniability). It honestly feels like the kind of album I should like. It's ambitious, experimental, and completely free, all with a definite pop quality. I didn't initially connect with it, but after more than 2 years of doing this challenge, I know a slow burn when I hear one. Sure enough, after a few listens, this one started to click more. You can rightly criticize this list for having too much Costello and I understand why you'd be tempted to gloss over this one for the lack of obvious pop singles. But it's worth a bit of effort and a chance. Even the very ballady ones are more interesting than I originally gave him credit for.
Elvis Costello is always worth a listen.
So glad I got to listen to this. Elvis has many imitators but he does it best.
A very bleak 4 stars, in the regular scoring system a 7/10 but on the low side of 7... My problem with this album is its inconsistency. It's a mixed bag of ideas and not all of these ideas work. I mean, '...And in every home', come on! A misplaced Burt Bacharach kind of song. I like the Costello of 'Beyond belief' much better. And a very exciting moment is the intro - repeated a number of times - of 'Human hands'. The Dsus4-F6 chord progression is incredibly exciting, that is truly a marvel.
i am pretty lightly positive towards elvis costello but i had never listened to this one before. it was pretty decent. it's not as fun to listen to as some of his other albums and nothing really stood out to me as great, but still i felt it was solidly good. is it an album i had to listen to before i died? i dunno, probably not. was it solid? yeah, i think so.
This album was a little better than the last one from him, "This Year's Model" (1978).
Till the bed breaks
Elvis Costello albums are always a treat.
Wasn't paying attention very closely to this album during my workout, but the music sounded pretty fun and upbeat
I guess fourth time's the charm. This is the most I've enjoyed a Costello album so far. I'm not exactly sure what's different; obviously, I know I like more of the songs. The hit rate for me personally is simply higher. There's not really any of that rock'n'roll-throwback sound from his other records. His voice bothers me less. I don't know, it's just better. The studio-rock really works here.
I find myself liking Elvis Costello more and more each time I listen to him. There didn't seem to be any catchy tunes in this album, but overall I enjoyed it.
Fourth of, I think, six Elvis Costello albums on the list. Much like Blood & Chocolate, I like this when reviewing in isolation (but 6 is definitely too many)
Elvis over some lounge music was better than expected. That's #5
I have been pretty consistent with decent marks for elvis costello, and this one will be no different, but at the same time, much like Neil Young, nick cave, radiohead perhaps we don't need to include this many of one artist. I like all of the above, but just feels like overkill. And thats not a reaction to this album, as its quite enjoyable Shabby Doll is great
This is damn good. Less glib and more haunted-sounding than his later work, which is the reverse of how that usually works.
Beyond Belief 3.8 Tears Before Bedtime 3.5 Shabby Doll 3.7 The Long Honeymoon 3.3 Man Out of Time 4.2 Almost Blue 4 …And in Every Home 3.4 The Loved Ones 3.5 Human Hands 3.6 Kid About It 3.4 Little Savage 3.5 Boy With a Problem 3.4 Pidgin English 3.5 You Little Fool 3.5 Town Cryer 3.6 Score: 3.593333333
Wonderful
Rather good
This one is in my top 5 Costello albums, but it just doesn’t rise to meet the level of his debut or Armed Forces or This Year’s Model. But the production on it is great. And the collision of styles even greater. Not to mention his lyricism, which has always been outstanding. I mean, c’mon. Can you ask for a more perfect opening? “History repeats the old conceits The glib replies, the same defeats Keep your finger on important issues With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues”
A little bit of a flaming lips sounding like it tho
Liked this more than I expected. Somewhere between 3 and 4. Will go higher because of the good musicianship by The Attractions.
Haha I like the weird Picasso-style Elvis Costello guy on the album art. Costello another guy with songs I have listened to and enjoyed, but rarely lived with an entire album. Love his voice. Scrolling through the tracklist I see no big singles that I recognize, but I do see the Human Hands song that Gabs submitted to ML2 which I gave no points (Oop). Excited to have no ties to any of these songs by a guy who I know does good stuff, let's goooo.... And In Every Home > Shabby Doll > Man Out of Time > You Little Fool > The Loved Ones > Kid About It > Town Cryer > Pidgin English > Human Hands > Almost Blue > Boy With A Problem > Tears Before Bedtime > Little Savage > Beyond Belief > The Long Honeymoon Wow I really like Shabby Doll. That's got that Elvis Costello Punch that I like. Ooh and And In Every Home is even better haha. Human Hands even hitting in the context of this album. This was a nice listen! Was ready for another snarky Seger 2 or 3, but enough cool memorable shit happening here that I am excited to revisit some day in the future. I think this got that coveted 4 star rating.
I really liked this album. I hadn't heard it before other than the three singles. It had lots of variety - even a bossanova! Liked Songs Added: Beyond Belief Man Out Of Time Almost Blue
4.5
Chad
I’d say I enjoyed this album more than most of Elvis Costello’s catalog. It leans into New Wave, with some baroque arrangements, and is very piano and organ driven. While I still think Costello is way overrated, especially how often his albums show up on top lists, I have to admit this one stood out. It’s an album I’d be open to revisiting again in the future.
Really good album, very close to being top scores. It was just missing that almighty banger of a song to tip it over the edge.
Certainly different from the other albums my group has gotten from Mr. Costello, but still pretty decent enough. 3.5 bumped up to 4.
I’m at a 4, but if it weren't for a handful of mediocre tracks, I'd be at a 5. Sorry to Elvis Costello – third time we’ve gotten him, and he just hasn’t cracked a 5 for me. This one was at a 5 for a while, though, so that’s a good positive, and I did enjoy a lot of this album. Hell, I think it solves a lot of the reasons I gave for not giving “My Aim Is True” a 5 – the album doesn’t really stagnate until about 10 tracks in, the song structures aren’t as concrete & inflexible as they were, & as far as the variety in the soundscape goes, this has a really nice showcase of styles that feels like they have more depth to them. So, if everything feels solved, and the tracks sound good, what gives? Well, the reason I’m at a 4 is because the bad tracks are actually just… kinda bad this time. "My Aim Is True" never had a truly bad track, but the ones that are "bad" here just... ugh, man. When this album hits that stagnant point on Tracks 10, 11 & 12, it really kills the vibe & the momentum the whole thing had going for it. 7 of the first 9 tracks clicked really well for me, but that is a 3-track stretch that is mediocrely drab at best. They did not click at all for me. The album really pulls it back in for “Pidgin English” & “You Little Fool”, but I’ll be damned if “Town Cryer” isn’t a flat ending. I did like 9 of the 15 tracks here, but if 40% of the album isn’t quite clicking like that, then you’ve bloated it a little too much. However, that 60% is really fucking good, and has some of the best tracks I’ve heard from Elvis Costello yet. The Attractions, as a band, seemingly add a lot of nice depth to his soundscape, evolving to a really nice point that feels even more pleasing than what I heard on “My Aim Is True” – if that 60% were all that’s here, I’d be at a 5 without a question. That other 40% is what drags this down to a 4, but it’s still a 4 I’d highly recommend – the tracks that didn’t click well for me could click well for someone else (although, given that this has an average of 3 on the site, they probably didn’t). I feel bad that I haven’t given Elvis a 5 yet, but I feel like it’s gonna click at some point. He’s gotten real close twice, so maybe the 4th time’s the charm. P.S.: If nothing else, “Man Out of Time” fucking rules. That’s a great, great track.
A good album, I liked Tears Before Bedtime and Human Hands the most.
haven't heard of the attractions before, feels like stereotypical new wave
Good stuff. Need my baby by my side and a warm fire.
Good discovery
4/5. I didn't feel like this was a classic but it was definitely high quality Costello. The ballads are hit or miss. The songs are either smooth and jazzy while others are just slow rock songs for no reason. The more chaotic tracks are where Costello and his band shine, as is usual. The production is more full and really enhances the album, which would be the main difference, but overall, a similar vibe to his previous works. Best Song: Beyond Belief, Shabby Doll, Kid About It
Not my favorite Costello, but still excellent. Great melodies abound. “Beyond Belief” is perfect. 4/5
This definitely gets off to a slow start, but ends up being an otherwise really enjoyable album. There's definitely better Elvis Costello songs out there, but as a cohesive record this definitely flows well. I think it maybe was a bit on the long side, but not going to knock that since I genuinely enjoyed a majority of songs on this record, so no harm no foul.
Of all the albums I am coming to review from by backlog, this is probably the one that will benefit from it the most given I have recently had an odd ‘reawakening’ of sorts to Costello (AKA I played too much Call of Duty with a friend while listening to some of his music until it grew from being somewhat grating to genuinely enjoyable). It’s a trait I have mentioned previously with Costello on here that really reinforces my feeling of giving something more than a single listen to give it a fairer assessment.
Not a terribly huge fan of the first few tracks of Side A, I found them to be pretty forgettable until The Long Honeymoon when the side slows down. Until listening to this album, I only knew three Elvis Costello songs and my favourite of the, I Want You, feels the most like the songs I enjoyed most on this side. The combination of Costello's lyricism and the production/instrumentation on this album makes it feel like a English/funhouse mirror of Leonard Cohen. Sarcastic, poetic and talented. Not everything lands, songs like ...And In Every Home feel like I would come to enjoy them after repeat listens and time has warmed me up to them. The lyrics on that song are great but the production felt a bit TOO baroque pop for my taste but whatever it's the last song on the side. My enjoyment of side B was the same as side A, the first few songs flew by me but the peak of this album was Pidgin English, the song opened and clicked with me and everything fell into place with the acoustic guitar instrumental bit. You Little Fool and Town Cryer stick the landing for the rest of this side. So how do you rate an album where you only really like half the songs but you feel the rest could grow on you later? I am in a good mood (mainly because I am happy to discover Elvis Costello is not shit), so I will give this an optimistically high score in anticipation of enjoying the rest of this more in the future. This bloke has a lot of albums in this book so I am hoping it's for the same reason as Bowie (cause he's actually good) and not for the same reason as Nick Cave (no comment). Highlights: The Long Honeymoon, Man Out Of Time, Almost Blue, Pidgin English, You Little Fool, Town Cryer
Solid
I don't like the overt Beatles/60s pastiches e.g. '...And in Every Home' with its use of smugly gleeful horns, straight out of the era of dated Sgt Pepper psychedelia. It reminds me a bit of Macca's string-laden reworking of Beatles classics, in his pompous vanity project, 'Give My Regards to Broad Street'. there's rarely a bad melody to be found here. The meandering 'Man Out of Time' is one of the standouts. 'Pidgin English' is immediately catchy, although almost sunk by more horns and Bee Gees impressions. 'You Little Fool' another decent pop number with the quick chord progressions heard in Pidgin English, Little Savage (and previously used so well in Oliver's Army). I particularly enjoyed the lounge-pop numbers - 'The Long Honeymoon', 'Boy With a Problem', 'Kid About It' and 'Almost Blue', despite the latter's similarity to the superior 'Shipbuilding'. There are others (Human Hands, The Loved Ones) which are ok but feel like a product of the Costello sausage machine. It's a 3/4 borderline case, because it's interesting I'll tip it.
GaRlEbAuTm
Not a great voice but he writes solid compositions with creative chord changes. Like! 3.8
Beyond Belief Man Out of Time
Sommigen vinden het niks, ik kan Elvis Costello altijd wel waarderen. Direct herkenbaar stemgeluid, sympathieke deuntjes. Je kunt je afvragen of het nog wat toevoegt na de drie albums die eerder al langskwamen. Dat niet.
Beyond Belief is great
Costello is still my favorite of all Elvises. The only thing is that every time I listen to an album of his I hadn’t heard before, which is most of them before this project, it makes me a little sad I hadn’t listened to it sooner.
Costello is a challenge, with his non-traditional song formation - probably stemming from his love of jazz. The Attractions seem to keep him more grounded, though. This is definitely worthy of the list.
I guess I like Elvis Costello more than I thought.
After a first, casual listen, I enjoyed this just like all the Elvis C. I've listened to on this project.
I've never been much of an Elvis Costello fan. My only experience of him has been of live performances on shows like SNL and Late Night with David Letterman. He's an acquired taste, to be sure. I'm still not sure he's my cup of tea, but this album surprised me--interesting and creative. I'll give him a second look.
Et af mine yndlingsalbums fra Elvis Costello. Kreativ lyd, virkelig gode tekster, nogle af hans bedste melodier. Lidt for lang
Love Costello. Didn’t know any of these though. Nice surprise.
Another smash from the king
Average. His first two albums is his peak but this album is aight
Interesting overall and worth a listen. I'm not sure I'll be rushing back to it, but it was decent.
Haha sini gsungene Melodie mit de viele grosse Sprünge sind super 😂, bizli wacky aber gfallt mer. Mix isch mer mengmal chli schwer verständlich. Harmonischi überraschige konstant, findi prächtig
far be it from me to question Geoff Emerick's production work—the dude engineered Revolver!—but this is a very strange mix. there's a lot more of a studio-as-an-instrument feel this time around in comparison to my previous Elvis Costello outing, This Year's Model. I get the sense that, with Emerick behind the boards, Costello really wanted to lean into the whole Beatles angle. the thing that jumped out immediately was the vocal production. the main thing that makes this mix so strange is how forward the vocals are pushed, and it's especially noticeable since many of these songs feature a ton of vocal overdubbing. I'm not 100% sure if this vocal treatment really suits Costello as well as it does the Fab Four, but I also kind of enjoy hearing his voice with such clarity. he doesn't snarl as much on this record, so you get to delight in his newfound sense of melody a little more. this album's also got a lot more reverb than I'd have expected, truly one of the hallmarks of the eighties! with the new sound also comes a different approach to songwriting. there's hints of the new wave sound here and there, but in a lot of ways, this is a Baroque pop album in disguise. again, the Beatles are a major reference point. the way "Shabby Doll" speeds up and slows down; the expansive, Abbey Road-esque sound of "Man Out of Time"; the kooky, massive orchestral arrangement on "...And in Every Home", as well as other hints of brass and winds on songs like "The Long Honeymoon" and "Pidgin English"; Phil Spector's vision of a Wagnerian approach to pop is alive and well in 1982! what really makes this worth listening to for me is that, even with the clear influences at play and all the bells and whistles, Costello's sonic and compositional identity remains very much intact from one song to the next. he's much more introspective here than he was on This Year's Model; even just from the sound of the music here, you can tell he's in a more melancholy place. I'm not sure if this needs to be 15 songs long, but there's enough excellent tracks here, especially on the A-side, that this is definitely worth at least a few listens. decent 8/10.
Good stuff. Plenty entertaining.
I'm not by nature a Costello fan. He's got a great back catalogue of singles but I've never really managed his albums. This is good though - consistent, enjoyable, really nice production on it.
Very interesting and enjoyable. There was a really strong stretch in the first half of the album; the second half wasn't as good but still solid. Favorite songs were Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon, and Almost Blue.
7.5/10 Liked this one, only know a little EC but this worked for me Poppy British 80s rock with a diverse range of influences and instruments. Definitely seemed to be inspired by the sound of the Beatles and even Springsteen Best: Pidgin English
Well, after a whole year of waiting for the first Elvis Costello album, it's only fitting that I would get my second one less than two weeks after the first one. Of course. But this one's slightly different though! My Aim is True is just Elvis Costello, but Imperial Bedroom is Elvis Costello and the Attractions! They're completely different, I swear. They really aren't though. Making that difference a big deal is liking making a big deal over the difference between Neil Young albums and Neil Young and Crazy Horse albums. It doesn't matter. I don't want to say bad things about the Attractions though. They do a pretty good job with the instrumentals on this album. Of course, Mr. Costello himself also is still here singing in his unique style and writing lyrics pretty well. There's a strong variety in songs on this album. I have respect for this album for switching things up with each song. I can definitely sense a slight Beatles influence on this thing. Perhaps that comes from the fact that this album was produced by Geoff Emerick, who worked with the Beatles on albums like Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, and Abbey Road. Overall, would I call Imperial Bedroom a masterpiece like the promotional material of this album said it would be? No. Honestly, I think I liked My Aim is True more. However, I still like this album. It's not the most essential album for a list like this, but I still like it for what it is. I'm not going to be one of those people who just gives this album a low score because of how many albums Elvis Costello has. I'm going to be fair, damn it! I think this album's a light 4/5.
Favorite Track: Man Out Of Time
(vocals-fronted mixing aside) this is a gorgeous sounding, fantastically arranged delight front to back! 8/10
Finally. Elvis. I read that I'll get my fill of Elvis, but not much so far. This is a standout album for me. Always a great lyricist in my estimation, it seems musical depth was added. This album veers away from the punk Elvis early vibe and into him as a musician. Ok, not just him, the Nieves (sp?) guy adds to the texture through composition and playing. Long Honeymoon is such a great example. Slower than the music I usually like, this song moves.
Cool 80s stuff, Elvis’ vocals might need some getting used to. There’s still good stuff to be found here though, pretty solid.
Liked the music a lot Maximalist
I actually thought this was good, didn’t recognise any “hits” from it but I thought there was some good track on here and I would listen again definitely.
Cool arrangements and good writing.
Best!
This is my third Costello album on this list. Somehow, this sounds much more genuine than the other two. More versatile, complex, and sophisticated than the others before. The production is much better, and so are the instrumentation and lyrics.
I'll admit while I have heard of Elvis Costello as a singer/songwriter/producer, I've only heard one song each from his solo career ("Veronica") and with his backing band the Attractions ("Pump it Up"). This would be my first full album listen to his work. Imperial Bedroom is his sixth album with the Attractions, expanding on their new wave sound to incorporate more orchestral instrumentation and ornate production. It becomes apparent out of the gate with tracks like "Shabby Doll" and "Man Out of Time" that Elvis was striving for perfection with this album. That makes for an experience that can come off as overwhelming at times, particularly with the number of studio overdubs Elvis added such as the vocals layered on the chorus of songs like "Shabby Doll" and "The Loved Ones", the unusual piano passages spread throughout the album, and the odd instrument choices like the harpsichord and mellotron that Steve Nieve contributes. I think I only started getting into the album's groove by the end of side one with the horn-accompanied "...And in Every Home" and realized how rich of a baroque pop style Elvis went for. Imperial Bedroom is certainly an album that rewards the listener with revisiting to pick up on other added details in the mix. I'd say go into this one with an open mind.
An excellent singer-songwriter album with a wide array of musical styles and influences. The songs are particularly wordy, even for Elvis Costello. They’re packed with clever phrases and character descriptions. The music is strong too. The rich arrangements feature lots of interesting details. It’s a dense album with a lot of dense songs and for this reason it’s not a Costello album I listen to often. But it’s hard to deny the craftsmanship of the album. 4.5
I wasn’t terribly familiar with a lot of Elvis Costello’s music before I started this project, but this will be my fourth album of his to review (I’ve already reviewed the three albums that came before this one chronologically). I enjoyed Armed Forces and My Aim is True, but I really didn’t care for This Year’s Model. Based on what I’ve read about this album though, I’m hoping that it will be my first five-star album from Elvis Costello. While this didn’t make the five-star grade, I still enjoyed this album, and I thought it was really well made. I found the first half of the album to be pretty underwhelming, but when I got to the second half, I started to enjoy it a lot more. The songwriting was pretty brilliant across the whole album, and I liked the themes of love and relationships (very fitting for an album called Imperial Bedroom). It was a nice change from Elvis Costello’s previous albums, and I thought the lyrics here were incredibly clever. Elvis Costello is one of the artists on this list who gets a lot of hate for his voice, but I really like his singing. Neil Young and Rod Stewart tend to get a lot of hate as well, but I love their singing too. Costello’s singing is probably never going to come up in conversations about the best vocalists, but I love a distinct voice, and he fits that bill perfectly. Musically, I loved the piano and organ arrangements on this album. Imperial Bedroom had much more of a pop feel to it than previous Elvis Costello works, and I have to imagine that this album had quite the impact on the sophistipop sound that was to emerge later in the decade. There were some great string and horn arrangements on this album too, and I enjoyed the varied styles and interesting song structures. “Beyond Belief,” “Man Out of Time,” “The Loved Ones,” “Human Hands,” “Pidgin English,” “You Little Fool,” and “Town Cryer” were my favorite songs on the album. I didn’t fall in love with this album, but I think it’s objectively really good, and I would be quick to revisit it.
Ive probably said this before, but I’m surprised that so much Elvis Costello is considered to be essential listens. Before this project, I thought I’d only heard Oliver’s Army. Today’s album is possibly one of my favourite from The Other Elvis. It remains rock music, but feels much poppier and more jangly than some of the other stuff’s I’ve heard. My only critique is global to all of his albums - his voice is a bit weird and I still am not sure whether I think he sounds good or not. Regardless, the final product is definitely enjoyable.
Costello is a mine full of inventions
That good old Elvis Costello sound. I'm not his biggest fan, but I have to acknowledge, he's pretty good. And very distinctive.
I really enjoyed the album . The first half up to kid about it was my best listen and even though the back half was a lot less accessible to me , it was still good . The vocals are my only concern and it's mainly that I dislike his voice sometimes , but I think that didn't deter me from enjoying the album . Favorite tracks were Tears before bedtime , The long honeymoon, Almost blue and ...And in every Home .
Elvis Costello is an incredibly prolific singer/songwriter, who creates music in a range of styles. Imperial Bedroom is his seventh album, and many say this is his best work. This is great collection of pop songs, that have orchestrations that prompts comparisons to the later work of the Beatles. Imperial Bedroom does not include any of Costello's bigger hits, and did not find remarkable commercial success. The critical reception was near-universally strong, and has grown over time.
I do not care for Elvis Costello, but this is cool enough. Still way too long for the limited amount of distinct ideas that Elvis seems to have.
I keep telling myself that Elvis Costello just isn’t for me. That said he does a pretty good job of convincing me otherwise. I start to get why he is such a big deal for some people. The quieter and more jazzy songs I could have done without to make the record more tight - but it’s really quite good Costello, gotta give you that.
There are some really good tunes on this
Suprisingly easy listening
I like Elvis Costello. I like this album. At the same time, I am not sure how to rate it. The lyrics are clever but still kind of opaque and challenging to put into context. At 50 minutrd the album feels about two songs too long. Still a very listenable recording. Town Crier and Beyond Belief are pretty good songs.
Last time, I had given my second Costello album 3 stars, same as the first one. I said then, “Maybe he’s got a 4 in him yet.” Reversing course on that one. Enough, Elvis, enough.
almost doing things we used to do...
Pretty good classic
Very nice.
From first glance down to the end of the final song, Imperial Bedroom earns its chaotic structural feel and Elvis Costello becomes bestowed with the sort of cape adorning adulation he was seeking since his debut. Whatever raw angst and unbridled anger he oozed with was smoothed out and given not only sheen but genuine ambition. While Elvis singing fifteen songs in the rather nasally vocal styling he possesses, in a little over fifty minutes, may seen grating to the listener, what must be respected and appreciated is the overall scope and craft the songs obtain; one comes away from it having expected one thing but remembers the other, more lingering thing. Whatever plaudits Imperial Bedroom has recieved in the forty plus years since its release is more than well deserved and all Elvis had to do is keep building on it. It appears that he had finally found his niche. Favorites: Beyond Belief, Tears Before Bedtime, Shabby Doll, Man Out of Time, ... And in Every Home, Kid About It, Little Savage, Pidgin English, Town Cryer.
I have always been an Elvis Costello Greatest Hits person, mostly because he has so many albums I have never taken the time to dive into all of them. Part of what I am looking forward to in this project is going through each of Elvis Costello's albums to see if I like them. Somehow, through 311 albums I have not gotten any of the 49 Costello albums in the book. I don't know if this is considered one of his best albums, but I did like it a lot and am starting to see why he is so highly regarded. His music has never totally hit for me but repeated listenings of this album (and it's not even considered among his best) gets me excited for more Costello in the future.
Pretty good. Very modern sounding for 1982.
Just as good as ever
I’ve been a fan of Elvis Costello since seeing him open for none other than Bob Dylan when I was in college. He did a solo acoustic set that was fantastic. I’ve since listened to most of his catalog, but surprisingly I'm certain I haven’t listened to this one. It starts out great and with a unique sound for Costello with Beyond Belief. Man Out of Time is also great. The Loved Ones is another favorite on the back half, as is You Little Fool. I gave this three listens front to back and liked it a lot more with each subsequent play. It’s a bit of an odyssey in terms of the sound and arrangement of the songs, all featuring Costello’s voice characteristically prominent in the mix, as well as the stellar bass work. It’s an album that could very easily turn into 5 stars with more listening.
There is a LOT happening here. Not every track is a banger but none of it is bad. Much better than I was expecting based on my limited experience with Elvis Costello
I still don't know why there's so much Elvis Costello on this list but this is good. I liked it just fine.
not his best but still a great Costello record. the first six songs in particular are stand outs for me, and Almost Blue is one of my favorite songs of his.
Coming off as good a run of albums as anyone .. this is a good album with lots of good songs that shows the changing evolution of Elvis. Great songwriter and performer that is completely versatile. Worth a few listens
Solid album. I liked the guitar tones and effects. Groovy bass lines. Tight drums.
I wasn't all that familiar with this album but it didn't disappoint, perhaps I need to listen to more than just his late 70's stuff.
Elvis Costello is a great song writer and composer. Consistent and prolific. I’m not sure this is the record I would pick for this list but it’s a good one nonetheless.
Not the same energy as his first 3 albums. Maybe a more mature Elvis. Still enjoyed it. Would listen again.
I didn’t like this as much as other Costello Albums. But it was still good, and I’d listen to it again.
One of his best! The songwriting is at it’s a-game, and the arrangements are more varied and unique. It’s unfortunate that the 2 best songs are the ones not available on Spotify, but such is life.
(Mai ascoltato prima) Non l'ho ascoltato con troppa attenzione ma mi è piaciuto, mi è sembrato abbastanza variegato ed interessante.
I really enjoyed this. It seems to full to the brim with heart and soul. I like his voice, the music was great and I'll be digging into the back catalogue.
Going by the reviews it looks like I have a lot of Elvis Costello albums to go, so I'm going to try to hang on to this one as a benchmark. I guess I haven't heard much of him outside of his hits, so I wasn't sure what the expect. I dug the good mix of ballad, jazzy, dense, lush, womp womp, all spaced so there weren't any points I felt it sagging. Happily I bought into his voice early on so didn't have the awful grating experience a lot of others seem to have had. If Wheatus ever pops up on this list there's going to be trouble.
Great vocals and lyrics.
Very good, quite enjoyable. Think Grill and I both liked it.
I like how Elvis Costello crafts melodies, and I think every song is so unique not just from each other but in comparison to other artists too. That being said, I think it made this album both overwhelming and underwhelming. Overwhelming because there was just too much to focus on, and the album didn’t feel like it had a focal point, but underwhelming for almost the same reason: there wasn’t anything it was really building up to. Taken individually I enjoyed these songs and Costello’s songwriting, but I just found the album kinda lagged on when they were following each other. All that being said, it’s not a chore to listen to Elvis Costello, but I didn’t think these songs blew me out of the park like some of his other work.
Fantastic album! Elvis does exactly what I expect him to do, and that’s also exactly what I want him to do. I don’t think this album has his best or catchiest songs on it, but the whole set of tracks is so sonically pleasing and cohesive that you get wrapped up in it. End to end it’s a delightfully quirky journey I’ll always be glad to go on.
Me recuerda a Psycho Killer fafafafa. Me gustó la voz y los arreglos de piano, sí se siente medio 70s y 80s.
Nice
Little too long for me, if you cut two last songs it would be perfect. Nevertheless it was nice listen.
I like!!
Pretty great selection of early hits
Пойдет
rich, almost too rich
Costellosta tulee mulle aina mieleen joku sellanen älykköversio Kari Peitsamosta! Tämä levy on musta tyylikäs kokonaisuus jota on ilo kuunnella. 4/5
Alright
Mér þykir eitthvað svo vænt um þetta.
Ég verð að fara hlusta meira á Elvis Costello. Jú, röddin er ekki mitt uppáhald, en hún hentar þessum lögum ansi vel og þetta eru mjög áheyrileg og ágæt lög. Ég stóð sjálfan mig að því að renna þessari nokkrum sinnum.
All new to me. Like most of his albums, I might obsess on it for a few hundred listens.
I get it now, it’s surprisingly cool. At points it drags, but when Costello is on point he’s on point. That being said his more rock/punk tracks are cooler, but I think I understand why this album is here
Elvis is the original velvet crooner.
"Imperial Bedroom" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions is a lyrical and musical tour de force. Released in 1982, it showcases Costello's songwriting maturity and the band's musical versatility. Tracks like "Beyond Belief" and "Man Out of Time" feature intricate arrangements and poetic lyrics. The album's production, helmed by Geoff Emerick, is lush and layered, creating a sophisticated sonic backdrop. While some listeners might find the album's complexity and departure from Costello's earlier sound a bit challenging, it's a testament to his artistic evolution. "Imperial Bedroom" is a richly crafted album that rewards attentive listening and solidifies Costello's place in the pantheon of great songwriters.
Sounds like a more modern album than it is, not sure exactly why, but it does. Overall another easy listening.
I enjoyed this album. The Attractions, particularly piano and bass, are excellent with the varied styles of pop and light rock. Costello sings strongly and with more word play and feel than spite. Although This Years Model is my favourite, Imperial Bedroom has good pop songs and rolls along well.
I wasn't keen on the first song or two but then this really started to do things for me. This is the most Beatle-esque I've heard Elvis go, I think, and comparisons to the fab Four finally kind of make sense. Some great tracks towards the end of the album.
A nice album. Although I'm not such a big fan of his "big band" departures.
A really strong set of carefully crafted singer/songwriter tracks that have an impressive production and variety. The songs do particularly well in that his rhymes and melody are pretty engaging and catchy. Man Out of Time, And In Every Home, The Loved Ones are my favorites.
El sexto álbum de Elvis Costello & The Attractions nos presenta una grandiosa recolección de canciones, las cuales se sienten llenas de creatividad e innovación. Costello y su banda emplearon todos los recursos que habían amasado anteriormente para crear un tierno disco de pop británico que no deja de tener momentos disruptivos y sorprendentes. Uno de los indispensables de la carrera de Costello.
Interessante
I like this album but I think the first song is so good, and different in tone, from the rest of the record, that it sets a false precedent which the album ultimately doesn't deliver on. There are other great songs: Man Out of Time, Almost Blue, and Human Hands stick out to me, but this album doesn't feel entirely consistent. Also, it's much more piano based and I prefer Elvis when he's more centered around the guitar. An interesting experiment but EC is best with Nick Lowe behind the board.
Love all Elvis Costello. This is one of his better ones. Beyond Belief, Man Out of Time. Good stuff. If he was handsome he'd have been an all timer.
Alright.
I've never really gotten into Elvis Costello but there were some pretty good songs on this. Basically a 3.5
Costello and his group indulge in studio experimentation, and the results are largely impressive. One of their best.
An okay Elvis Costello album is better than a lot of other albums. And this is a pretty good Elvis Costello album. He's probably one of a very few artists I won't get sick of seeing on this list.
I enjoyed! No songs I knew well but a classic sound and a new favourite (…And in Every Home).
Bluesy rock, always enjoy a bit of Elvis Costello
My first Costello and real delight. Faves: Tears Before Bedtime, The Long Honeymoon, Man Out of Time, ...And in Every Home, Pidgin English, Town Cryer
Great production.
Nice
More subtle than some of his earlier work. I needed some time to appreciate it, and then it really fell into place.
I thought that this album was really great. I had only known Elvis Costello from Alison before this album, and I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the production seemed strange, but it seemed to work in a lot of the songs with the melodies.
This album is spectacular but it is long. I’m sure I’ve listened to the full thing but I can’t even remember at this point. It’s the first batch of songs that really stand tallest in my mind. The opening song is a heater and one of Mr. Costello’s best while introducing a whole new, psychedelic and experimental direction to the artist’s oeuvre. I feel like there’s so much more to this album. I think it’s even greater than I’m aware of at this moment. I just need more time. Right now it’s a 3, but I’m going to give it room to grow with a solid 4.
Very dense, intricate and clever. When you can get into it, you'll be rewarded with catchy pop and new wave at its best, but unmemorable OK-ness at other points. Love the album art too. It's kind of like a dinner party at a very fancy house, with very intelligent people who are intimidating, but then someone makes a great joke and stuff starts to click, and then the fun starts. 09/02/23
love elvis
This album provides an interesting contrast with the previous Costello album that I got on this list, This Year's Model. This album was made only 3 years later, but sounds a lot different as it is much less of a rock album and more of an album to feature Costello's lyrics and voice. The music is still really good on this album, just much less of a punk/new wave album. The production on the album is great and every song on the album is solid 4/5
Not my favorite of his, but high marks. Near-peak early career EC.