Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Simpatico, molto caldo. Non male, in generale è sempre piacevole Elvis.
There were a couple of times while listening to this album yesterday that I thought : that sounds a lot like The Beatles or like a Beatles song. Now I just read the Elvis got Geoff Emerick, the man who engineered Sgt Pepper, to work on this album. And of course Elvis, like the Fab4, was a Liverpudlian. I’m a huge Costello fan & this album is worth it just to hear him sing Almost Blue ( the Chet Baker cover of that song is also worth a listen). The 3 singles released from the album are also highlights - Man Out Of Time, Town Cryer & You Little Fool. And I always loved Shabby Doll, which he was still playing in concert many years later. He did do some ordinary stuff in the mid-80’s but this isn’t that. Well worth a listen.
8/10 not the strongest Elvis Costello album, but it’s pretty good and for some reason I really like the way his voice sounds on this one.
7/10. I listened to this one a bit early, because after getting 6 Elvis Costello albums in the first hundred or so albums, I got really annoyed when there was a crossword hint for an Elvis Costello album, and none of the names I knew fit. On a relisten, I think much the same as I did the first time: good album, but not his best work and the only real standouts are Beyond Belief and You Little Fool, and the former is starting to be ruined by Spotify playing it for me every time a playlist/album ends.
Not the best Costello but pretty dece. 7/10
Elvis in fine form
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Shabby doll, And in every home
very well-crafted album. lots going on here sonically, musically, lyrically...
He's got some pretty out their ideas
"He`s got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge"
Great sound!
Never heard this one before and ended up liking every song on it. I can't really put my finger on exactly why, so I'll chalk it up to 'good songwriting' and leave it at that. It's possible that I'm an Elvis Costello fan.
I didn't get the option to input a review for Heaven17, but I really dug that album. Never heard of that group before in my life and I'm so confused by so much of what they do, from the album cover to the idea of a fascist groove thang to taking the M out of M-A-D and on and on. But it all added up to a really wonderfully strange experience. "Geisha Boys" and "Let's Make a Bomb" are a great one-two punch on the back half of the album. I do wonder though... if these guys thought Reagan was a fascist, did they even survive the last six years on this planet or did their heads explode? Hope they're okay. Four stars. If nothing else, this list has turned me into an Elvis Costello fan. I wouldn't complain if they press the chill button on having every single one of his records on this list, but I've enjoyed them all. I'd argue this one is maybe five songs too long, but there's some great stuff here. Lots of range, variety and his voice/lyrics are stellar. Loved "Almost Blue."
While it sounded a bit too close to a billy Joel album, I enjoyed listening to this. Nothing ultra standout but just a nice 50 minutes
I enjoyed but didn't love anything about it. Just all around a very easy and good listen.
forte
Beyond Belief comes out of the gate strong, Shabby Doll and Man Out Of Time are also highlights. Maybe I need to spend a bit more time on this so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Elvis Costello is one of the best. And this is one of the best of Elvis Costello. This album doesn't have any hits, or numbers that really stick out, but it's quality throughout the album, with superb lyrics and musical arrangements. I personally prefer the more new wavy and straightforward Costello, but this is a class album
I found this to be an altogether charming album experience, with a few boring moments.
I saw the entry for this on a different list that included it just for Beyond Belief, which is a pretty ridiculous reason to include an album on an essentials list - if you're including an album for a single, song, you're doing it wrong. Now Beyond Belief IS a damn near perfect pop song, and the standout of the album, but there is more here. I'm not a fan of the song Shabby Doll, but this album is a high point in Costello's career, and the Beatlesque pop polish Geoff Emerick brought is on point throughout. This might be Costello's third best after Blood & Chocolate and When I Was Cruel.
This was good.
For some reason, it feels like I keep getting Elvis Costello albums. And while I'm not a fan and still don't get his legacy in the music world, this is the best one generated for me so far and as a whole is pretty enjoyable. Beyond Belief was probably my favourite on here.
Entertaining album, reminds me a lot of Elton John with an Edge due to the piano focus. Definitely a good album though without any big standouts
Great album. Great arrangements; instrumentation is varied and brings a lot of different colours to the music. One of a few artists who reinvents himself over time which makes Costello an important figure , arguably the most important, coming out of the eighties. I put a 4 because couldn’t give a 4.5.
i suspect i will always love elvis in a particular 80's kinda way. i don't have a lot to say about this one, unfortunately, except to point out the purity of his voice, especially at a time when pitch correction just wasn't a thing. last track is a standout in my book.
first Costello album I've enjoyed
Quite a good album. Elvis Costello always surprises me with his lyrics. 4
I liked it. Quirky, but a nice sound.
ну пропустим пожалуй, хотя вроде и не плохо
tears before bedtime - i feel you bruurs
Enjoyed it, no individual track stands out as amazing but the overall whole was great
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Beyond Belief, Tears Before Bedtime, The Long Honeymoon, Man Out Of Time, ...And In Every Home, The Loved Ones, Human Hands, Kid About It, Little Savage, You Little Fool Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: This list has prevailed against all my previous prejudices and turned me into an Elvis Costello fan. Madman puts the hook as the outro of Beyond Belief and it somehow works. Cut a few off the back end of this and it gets to 5 territory. On his other album I rounded the 4.5 up, this time I'm going to round down. Still a big fan.
7.5/10
Unmistakably Costello, lovely album (I do like his voice though!) - some great tracks on without any massive hits. Surprised that Shabby Doll is the least listened to track on the album (according to Spotify).
i like elvis i think. 4 stars. easy listening even if he is a tool of the patriarchy.
i like the album, composed well and decent overall. Its lacking something that stands out however.
Solid album with a mellow sound from start to finish.
This is clearly a great album… so it’s getting a 4, but something just ain’t clicking with me and Elvs!
Et udemærket album. Lidt langt måske. Flere gode sange og den første halvdel er bedst. Den ligger Et sted mellem 3 og 4 stjerner men jeg giver den 4 på grund af at lytte venligheden
On the first song you shoooowed so much potential Now I'm here hearing ooooonly shabeedah Do I have to tell you whaaaat I need you singing Not an AM station loooonely shabeedah Elvis you wrote this soooooo perfect and loungy I enjoyed every tuuuuuuune in shabeedah A-
Why do I want to not like Elvis Costello? Is it because he’s like a Hipster Bruce Springsteen? He’s a good songwriter, he’s got good hooks and good lyrics, interesting delivery, this album is multi-genre. I hear Spoon and King Khan. I’m not sure, I don’t think he’ll ever get a 5 from me, really solid stuff, but something, some pazazz is missing. Maybe it’s intentionally understated? B.
I've always shied away from Elvis Costello, just wasn't my thing, but this had me squeezing my butt cheeks to the beat.
I never liked too much of Elvis Costello, but this is another surprise brought to me by this project. I never like it because I never listened to the phase with "The Attractions". This album is the second one of "Elvis Costello & The Attractions" and it's another classical with a lot of references and good songs. It's not so linear and has one or two downsides, but it's definitively a great album!
Fantastic album. Costello's voice never sounded more rich.
Meilleure que les autres que j’ai entendue. 4
Enjoyable
I'd forgotten how good this album is from front to back. Two songs from the cooking playlist, too. Such a great record.
Weird good.
Mooi, dit album kende ik nog niet!
Toffe plaat en mooie liedjes! Had me nooit echt in hem verdiept, maar het is zeer de moeite waard.
Onbekend Costello album voor mij, maar erg goed!
Energiek en tijdloos.
4
Double Elvis day/back to back Elvis’s! They couldn’t be more polar opposite. Costello has a beautiful voice and a wide array of song types. Long honeymoon made me feel like I was walking the cobblestone streets of France. The album cover too, reminded me of French beatniks. Still trying to figure out what the Album cover is representing. If you find time listen to my favorite Costello song “Every Day I Write the Book” He is a breath of fresh air. I feel like Costello was the 80’s John Mayer only hipper .
Solid, inventive, and timeless
Not really my cup of tea, but sounds good!
Tolles Ding: Sound, Stimme, Erzählweise. Aber fürs »Slapping in the face« eines Mädchens gibts Abzüge.
Love on first sight Spent the night in the Imperial Bedroom with this dorky melancholic who I thought I knew already for ages. Strange chemistry. I hope he calls.
Genau genommen 3,8 Punkte für eine sehr angenehme und erste echte Entdeckung in diesem Reigen. Besserer Schmelz als Morissey, prächtige Arrangements, überhaupt keine Angst vor Seele auch über die Schmalzgrenze hinaus, zeitlose Produktion, schickes Cover, smarter Titel. Überhaupt: sehr smart das alles. Vorstellbar, dass sogar Bowie in schlechten Momenten neidisch, in guten aber sicher mit viel Wohlwollen auf einen offensichtlichen Schüler geschaut hat. Warum nicht direkt 4? Gute Frage, warum eigentlich nicht? Fragen Sie mich doch in einem halben Jahr nochmal, das geht mir jetzt zu schnell wir kennen uns doch noch gar nicht. Waas, ins Hotel?! Hmmm...oknagut
Like a bit of Declan
great album “Shabby Doll” suck, though.
Wonderful stuff - love both the lyrics and the melodies. I could definitely sink more listens into this album and hear new discoveries every time... Fave track - "Beyond Belief" - I think I've loved this track for ages and didn't know what it was called or which album it was on, so good to find it!
Very nice. Hadn't heard most of this before.
This didn't jump out at me as much as I had hoped, but I do like Elvis and will listen again
I haven't listened to a ton of Elvis Costello. I enjoyed this album, very one note... it might just be the dynamics of a-side vs b-side, but i enjoyed the first 6 songs way more than the rest.
I liked this a lot!
Pretty dope album. 'Man Out of Time' is the standout track for me. 4 stars.
Good cooking album!!
Not bad.
I love Elvis Costello, but I can get the criticism of having too much of him on the list. I could have done without this one.
This is a very strong and ambitious album. While listening I felt like Costello was showing off everything he could do as a songwriter and arranger. It’s much more ornate and baroque than his earlier records — rich production, layered instrumentation, and clever, almost literary lyrics. The album moves between different moods and styles really well: there’s bitterness, longing, sarcasm, and tenderness all wrapped together. Elvis sounds confident and in complete control, and The Attractions play with real fire and precision behind him. Some tracks feel like mini rock operas, others are more intimate and vulnerable. Imperial Bedroom is often called one of his masterpieces, and I can understand why. It’s dense, sophisticated, and rewarding if you give it multiple listens. Not the easiest or catchiest record he’s made, but definitely one of the most impressive from a songwriting and arranging point of view.
Felt like some lounge music for a Monday afternoon.
I didn't know this album, I've found it challenging to assess. I looked at reviews here, and saw strongly divided reactions. Some carefully written reviews, celebrating complexity, encouraged me to give the album serious attention rather than make any early judgement. When I started listening, the extravagance of production was off-putting, right from track 1, Beyond Belief - I couldn't pick a reason for the variety of presentations of the vocals, shifting from phrase to phrase - this put me off what was otherwise a very engaging track. In the next two tracks, I found the rococo richness of composition, arrangement and production quite over-stimulating - too much to attend to! The tumbling changes and flourishes in the music distracted from the poetry in the words. Happily this settled down with The Long Honeymoon, Man Out Of Time, Almost Blue, a run of songs I liked (after a listen or two). But the feeling of excess complexity was a problem through the following tracks. (I was particularly irked by instances where I'd read a rhyming couplet but then the music would hugely draw out the second line - making the melody inaccessible to memory.) After lots of lyric readings and multiple listens, I'm left with 5 songs I like, but 10 I didn't like that much: I can tell heaps of work went into producing them, but I have no desire to hear them again now, can't think when I'd want to hear them again. (This is quite different from my engagement with Costello's first two albums - where I find the music very entertaining and never "too much".) I don't think any of the songs I don't like are actually bad, so taking the album as a whole I'll say it's Okay, 6/10. (I'm mildly surprised not to rate it more highly - it's possible I'll become more positive about it with further listening - if and when I prioritise such further listening.)
I always feel I should like Elvis Costello more than I do, but the music is a bit too AOR for me, and the lyrics a bit too intellectual. It doesn't engage me emotionally.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it, didn't like it enough to come back and find the tracks I enjoyed
Eh this was just ok. Just like again. A lot
It’s not bad but I maybe expected more from an Elvis Costello album
Jazz like. Background noise. Good vocals at times. Leah - 6/7 Leprechauns - Favourite - The Long Honeymoon Austin - 5/7 Leprechauns- Favourite - The Long Honeymoon
I think Elvis Costello's first 3 records are all basic genius. His wits, sarcasm and propensity for great hooks make for very enjoyable. Listens, this record. I think represents the beginning of his turn into general mediocrity. I like this record. Because the instrumentation is interesting, the songs do vary, and there's a little bit more life on this album, possibly than on some previous work that being said his vocal delivery, it turns me off on this record much more than anything he'd done previously.I feel like he changes his voice, which I don't care for as much.
6 Alben von Elvis Costello. Ich verstehe es nicht. Auch wenn dieses das Erste ist, welches mir gefällt.
I'm realizing the British version of Elvis(and his Attractions) are the epitome of mediocrity. It's never truly bad music, but it is consistently the most mid that music can be. Favorite Track: "Human Hands".
Never really listened to Elvis Costello before, not particularly sure why, but I enjoyed this. I think I’d learn to love it on further listenings and I think this warrants a deeper dive into EC’s catalogue too.
No doubt that Elvis is a legend, but this album is for his ardent fans; not the casual listener… like me.
Wouldn’t mind a Jelvis Costello era
I've been enjoying the Costello albums on here
solidan album koji mi je ipak malo kvalitetom prevrludav. dvije su mi se stvari u biti dosta dopale: »the long honeymoon« i »almost blue«. ostatak je isto načelno dobar, ali ne toliko, neke su stvari sasvim zaboravljive i zanemarive, što ne čudi s obzirom na kostelovu hiperprodukciju, a i činjenicu da album ima čak 15 pjesama koje se rastežu (uf, lazo) na 50 minuta. nisam hejter ko većina na ovoj stranici, pa ne hetjam kostela, premda stvarno ima previše albuma na popisu (imaju šugavi bitlsi više, ali to je zbog nekog razloga u redu...) no ja sam evo s ovim albumom završio svoje službeno druženje s kostelom! i dalje ću, vjerujem, kao i dosad, tu-i-tamo pustit »oliver's army« i »tokyo storm warning«. te su mi stvarno dobre, no nisu na ovom albumu
I like Elvis Costello, but only really know the first few albums and ‘Painted from Memory’. So, I enjoyed this, hearing some EC songs that I didn’t know. Great songwriter, but I have to admit, I do get tired of his singing after a while.
While a very listenable album, it doesn't have the raw emotion and energy of his earlier albums.
I like Elvis Costello, he was the first dance at our wedding but this wasn’t his best.
My God he's clever is Elvis. Those unusual chord changes. That unexpected direction the music takes just as you were getting comfortable. Thing is, as much as I wish this wasn't the case, it's just a bit too clever for me. A regrettable 3*
Yet another Elvis Costello record. This one has a more 80's New Wave sound. Not surprising because it is from the 80's, after all. Doesn't really do anything better than all the other Costello album on the list. And like those albums, it's not bad but nothing groundbreaking either. Key tracks: Beyond Belief The Long Honeymoon Pidgin English
part two of the Costellothon: it was alright. nothing really stood out to me as uniquely worthy of praise. i liked "My Aim Is True" better because it had a little bit more bite to it, but this one was just kinda normal.
Like it definitely wasn't that bad but at some point i was like wtf am I listening to
Great voice. Went on a bit.
Liked this one better than the first one
The only person I’ve ever known with an Imperial Bedroom was Len Houmous. 3.0 14/15 You Little Fool
There's probably a lot more Elvis Costello to come in this. Didn't love Imperial Bedroom but it was fine for me. I'm thinking there will be bigger/better albums of his to come.
Definitely not the best Elvis Costello album I've ever heard. This one felt especially British
I always feel 50/50 on Elvis Costello. Sometimes it’s fun and then it isn’t. His voice is one of a kind, which I enjoy, sometimes. This album took some chances.
my last Elvis Costello album on this list, finally. feel like I finished a lingering side-quest. I think the author left Diana Krall albums off the list out of jealousy.
There isn't a lot to enjoy on "Imperial Bedroom". It's not my cup of tea, and there are better albums out there. I did like "Man Out of Time", the nice single that happens to be the best on "Imperial Bedroom". None of the other tracks comes close, tragically. On the bright side, there wasn't a single real stinker on the album. 3 stars for "Imperial Bedroom".
Not my favorite Elvis album. I thought I would like it more.
Favorite songs: Beyond Belief, Tears Before Bedtime, Man Out of Time, Almost Blue, You Little Fool, Town Cryer
Did Costello pay someone to be on this list 6 times? This album is fine with some memorable songs like "Beyond Belief," "Man Out of Time," and "The Loved Ones." It's well produces with some nice orchestral flourishes here and there. The Attractions always add something good. But, man, it wears thin after a while and Costello begins to come off as twee and annoying. I much prefer his earlier, puncher stuff up through "Armed Forces."
I must confess I have bad Costello fatigue, and this is only 4th out of the 6 total on the list. This is fine - it doesn't have the snappiness or hooks that I really enjoy with Costello's 70s stuff. Apparently he went to Geoff Emerick over Nick Lowe for production because he thought it would be 'too much' for Lowe, as if Lowe couldn't handle a few horns, a harpsichord and an accordion - talk about pretentious. Anyway, I like Man Out of Time and The Loved Ones.
Bastante Meh, no hubo nada que odiara pero tampoco nada que me encantara.
so far i have found Elvis Costello's music hit or miss, but he takes up quite a bit of this album list so i guess i'd better get used to it and hope i eventually like something he's released Beyond Belief - 4/5 Tears Before Bedtime - 2/5 Shabby Doll - 3/5 The Long Honeymoon - 3/5 Man Out of Time - 4/5 Almost Blue - 3/5 .....And in Every Home - 3/5 The Loved Ones - 4/5 Human Hands - 3/5 Kid About It - 4/5 Little Savage - 3/5 Boy With a Problem - 2/5 Pidgin English - 4/5 You Little Fool - 4/5 Town Cryer - 3/5 Average score: 3.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Definitely Elvis Costello, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Three stars...
A more mature Elvis Costello? Yes, for sure, but a more entertaining EC? That's entirely up to the individual. Personally, I didn't hate it, but it wasn't as entertaining to me as EC's earlier records.
Listening to this, I realized that I basically have the same reaction to every Elvis Costello album/song: Starts like this: "Oh I like Elvis Costello, why don't I listen to him more" to "Oh, that was fine but I probably wouldn't choose to put it on myself". I always enjoy listening but I never choose it.
Not awful, quite enjoyed Elvis' voice
Iconic voice, you can tell what he looks like without seeing him
Never really listened to Elvis Costello. Decent backing music and story telling. A bit monotone in singing, but enjoyed parts of it.
This one started strong by gaining my interest, and just kind of pentered out from there.
I really like this album but I don’t think it’s his best . Elvis is amazing and this is probably 4-5th best for me so 3 stars
Det är Elvis Costello igen, det är samma som vanligt, det är en trea, det är lika obegripligt att han har så många plattor på den här listan.
There are better Elvis C albums - this is clever and musically interesting but I could do without it.
I'm a fan of Elvis Costello, though I guess I tend to enjoy his sharp pop to what I might call his Great English Songbook style. He's an inventive songwriter, but that doesn't always translate to me loving the work. So it is here. Started out with promise, then got stuck in neutral. Enjoyed it, but never captivated.
It's a fine record, if not as great as his first four, but there is simply too much EC on this list. This seems like an easy one to remove. Side note: A Man Out of Time is my favorite EC song.
He has this ethereal sense of familiarity
just ok
My least favorite of the three albums I've had from him so far, but still pretty good. 3.5 rounded down
Ei parasta Costelloa mielestäni, mutta aika hyvä levy kuitenkin. Ehkä useammalla kuuntelulla pisteet voisivat nousta.
Beyond Belief - 3.5/5 Tears Before Bedtime - 4/5 Shabby Doll - 3/5 The Long Honeymoon - 3/5 Man Out of Time - 4/5 Almost Blue - 3.5/5 …And in Every Home - 3.5/5 The Loved Ones - 3.5/5 Human Hands - 3/5 Kid About It - 3/5 Little Savage - 3/5 Boy With a Problem - 3/5 Pidgin English - 3/5 You Little Fool - 3.5/5 Town Cryer - 3/5 This album is supposed to be Elvis Costello "growing out" of his spunky punk days and become more of a mature artist. What we get instead is some fairly bland art rock that doesn't really have any character to it. It's like you took punk and put suits on it and told it to not do anything out of line. And somehow it complied. It's not bad, it's just lacking any sort of character. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Tears Before Bedtime, Man Out of Time
5/10
160 albums in and my fourth Elvis Costello album. He was an artist i meant to explore for years, and this has confirmed that its not really for me.
Don't know a ton about Elvis Costello, but he has some delightfully weird tracks that don't neatly fit into a genre. Pretty pleasant album overall.
The first of many Elvis Costello albums to come. Fine, nothing much to write (home) about. 3 stars
I really like Elvis Costello's voice throughout, but he definitely has better albums than this. I was never truly wowed by a song, but I also didn't hate any of them. 6/10
Not bad. A couple of songs caught my attention, the rest is just nice enough to listen.
I was just listening to it the other day. Cool artwork, but the song material doesn't speak to me.
Really good album maybe a little repetitive at the end. Always great albums this dude pretty solid
I listened to the whole thing! And I ever liked a few songs. But then he suddenly started channeling Steely Dan and I couldn't regain my mogo. Pretty standard disappointing album from EC.
It was fine but I'm not going back.
3/5 - The author of this list clearly celebrates the whole catalog of Elvis Costello. I liked the arrangements here, and Beyond Belief and Man Out of Time are pretty good. This isn't gonna change anyone's world, but it was alright.
Not usually a fan of him, but this album was pleasant and catchy.
Been a long time… So I am implementing a new rating system in addition to the 5 stars. The Boolean system. Did I need to hear this album before I died? Yes or No. Um, so it’s weird how this reminded me of Zappa’s Hot Rats. Not in sound, exactly, but in the feeling it gave me. Costello’s talent is evident. His piano playing is quite good. Man I wanted him to stop. It wasn’t as bad as Zappa, but… I mean I have to give him 3 stars for talent. But the Boolean rating for this album? No! I could have died never having heard this. It would have been just fine.
Meh, de la musique d'ambiance quoi
J'ai toujours apprécié cet album en fond quand je fais autre chose, et quelques chansons sont vraiment appréciables - mais c'est quand même un poil répétitif, et trop long d'une quinzaine de minutes... On notera la pochette qui est géniale, une de mes préférées
Weirder and more ambitious than his past albums. I don’t know if his voice or vibe suits this sound all that well. Some good stuff here for sure, but it’s all a little off and none of the songs wow me.
Yeah okay. Still surprised I don't hate this guy or his band. Wish he picked a different name, I DO hate Elvis. Anyway, decent album with some standouts in Man Out of Time and Almost Blue. Solid grooves for the most part otherwise, and thoughtful enough writing. More consistent than the last album I got on this list from this group.
Another Elvis Costello album. It’s all very listenable & Costello writes interesting songs. But i don’t see anything exceptional here. It sounds a lot like his other albums. A 3.
Interesting album. Didnt like as much as some of his other albums Standouts songs: Tears before bedtime Man out of time
Heard Before? No. For whatever reasons (too popular? too prolific? too consistent?) I've never boarded the Costello hype train. Notes: - careful, smart songwriting with lots of structural variation. arrangements shift slightly and in interesting ways from song to song. - decent production, although a bit muddy in spots. - performances work well, although in general the guitar is perfunctory while the keyboards are exciting. - vocals sound smarmy even when I think they aren't supposed to. Verdict: Easy to admire, hard to truly enjoy, if for reasons I find difficult to enumerate. Listen Again? Not likely. I'm not against Costello, I'd just rather hear R Stevie Moore - same sorts of ideas, but rawer, riskier, more hooky and just bigger thrills.
another forgettable Elvis Costello album
First Costello album I kind of liked.
A perfectly cromulent album (really 3.5 stars), but my goodness does this book ever seem to have a disproportionate amount of Elvis Costello in it - this is 5 albums less than halfway through.
This dude starts off promising and then goes to shit
Cripes. I love Elvis Costello, but this about the fifth record of his I’ve come across on this list, and the second one in 3 days. I feel like I can’t even rate this one fairly cause I’ve got Elvis Costello coming out of my ears right now. It’s a fine record, but not his best. 6.5/10
3.5
A lot of really interesting stuff happening and I generally like it. Struggling to find something that really clicks or that I couldn't live without. I'm interested in hearing more Elvis Costello; this kind of sounds like a bunch of really interesting b-sides as opposed to an album.
Medicore 80s pop/rock. 3/5
*1982. 7th studio album. *Same with the last Elvis Costello album - great songs, but I really don't like his style/vibe/voice. *Would like someone else to re-record this album. RATING - 6.5/10
Demasiado Elvis Costello entre los 1001, pero es un buen disco.
I like Elvis Costello fine, and there are a couple tracks I really enjoyed, but damn, there's way too much of him on the list.
Costello never really hits for me. Imperial Bedroom’s tracks have some incredible composition, but every time I listen to anything by EC I’m always left thinking “I wish this was sung by someone else.”
A nice listen
it's fine, just not really my cup of tea– having so many Costello in the book doesn't make much sense; they're fairly interchangeable for the most part 3.5/5
I wasn't a fan of the last Elvis Costello album this gave me. I can't say I'm a massive fan of this one but I do prefer it. It's got more life and feels brighter than the last one I listened to. Still not a massive fan of Costello's vocals or lyrics but the instrumentation is doing more for me on this record. I'm thinking 3 but that's only after a couple songs. The album feels pretty slow and doesn't have great pace.
Hadn’t heard this album from Costello before. Lots of good stuff but I need to give it a re-listen.
Another album I saw and had made up my mind about before listening. I'm not a big fan of his sneery voice and haven't found the other albums of his I've listened to so far to be that inspiring. However, this kept me reasonably entertained as I stripped a bike. The voice can still be grating after a while but here the sneer index seemed to go up and down with different songs. Overall it was passable.
Nice
6/10
It's an Elvis Costello album so it gets a 3. No more. No less. I almost got annoyed at the last song "Town Cryer" so much that I gave it at 2, then it did enough to make it a 3 again by the end. There's no way this list needed this many Elvis Costello albums.
I thought this one started quite interestingly Elvis was kind of mumble singing almost and had some weird vocal lines that were intriguing. The instrumentation was quite cool too, then after really fun bass part in one of the early track it was like they pressed the "Elvis Costello button" and everything else sounded exactly how you would expect from him. Which was enormously disappointing. Erm, I dunno, I was intrigued, then I was saddened, then I don't remember a lot of the 2nd half cos it was just generic Costello. 3.
not too shabby def an easy listening kind of album
Outside of his work with sir Paul McCartney, this is the best sounding Elvis album I’ve heard. Great album cover, too. Imagine how much better this album would be if anybody else was the vocalist.
Sympa, mais encore Elvis Costello il s'agirait de lâcher ce random
5/10 I’d only listened to bits and pieces of Elvis Costello prior to embarking on this 1001 album journey, and I’d never been quite sure how to categorise what he does, or how much I like his work. It turns out that, after now having listened closely to three of his albums, I’m still not sure. I want to like this record more than I actually do, but there’s just something about it that makes it not quite gel with me. There are a lot of things to like about it; the band are good, the production is largely (with one exception that I’ll come back to) excellent, with everything sounding clear and well balanced, the blend of styles that he uses are satisfying, and he touches on some really nice melodic moments. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it sometimes feels like a musical stream of consciousness, rather than a really focused, intentional composition. That in itself isn’t a problem, but this music FEELS like it should have more focus than it does. I’m not against music that drifts around its themes, but this feels like it’s trying to have more focus than it actually ends up having. For example, Costello has a tendency to go two or three (or four or five) steps further with a sequence of chord changes than he really needs to so musical sequences lose their sense of place and drift. And it’s a pretty consistent approach to his songwriting across the record. He nearly always seems to drag each section or idea on just a bit longer than works for me and his phrasing ends up being too long, so it turns into a ramble. Maybe he just has too many ideas that he wants to get down, or maybe it’s just not my cup of tea, but every time I’m willing a song to stick with me and all to often it just drifted too far. The other thing that turned me off about this was how loud the lead vocal is. Costello sings in a kind of whispered tone throughout the record, but it feels like Geoff Emerick tried to overcompensate for that by cranking the volume enough that it actually distracts from the instrumental work going on behind him. This was also a long record that, by my third run through was starting to be a bit of a slog. And I’m still not really sure what Elvis Costello does or whether I think he’s any good or not. Confusing. Beyond Belief - This is a new-wavey start. It very much feels like an intro track that builds and builds in the instrumentation and intensity as it goes. His vocal is too loud in the mix and the semi-whispered delivery takes something away from the drive and intensity of the rest of the band, which is a bit weird. He does pick it up a bit towards the end, but it’s a bit weird to fade out a track that feels like it has so much unfulfilled build-up in its structure. Tears Before Bedtime - And then this one doesn’t deliver on the intensity build from the last track either. It’s a decent little pop rock track though, with some interesting rhythmic choices and a light and airy tone. Again, the vocal is really prominent in the mix at points and gets a bit too whispery. It feels a little bit like he’s trying to be a bit wacky and it comes across as a little try-hard and meandering. Shabby Doll - This is much better. It takes the edge of wackiness from the last track and then gives it a way more coherent and groovy backing. There are some tasty melodic moments in here and some of the transitions and chord changes are a little unexpected in a really nice way. The piano is solid and the band holds down a really tight and compelling groove. It does drift a little in places, but as a whole it’s a pretty tight and musically engaging track. The Long Honeymoon - A change of pace now. It’s smooth, with a little jazzy edge to it. His voice is still too loud in the mix for my tastes. I quite like some of the rhythmic choices he makes within his lyrical delivery. This track is another one that has quite a bit of promise, but it does meander a little bit in places, so I find it a little underwhelming despite enjoying the general vibe and feel. Man Out Of Time - This has a really strong chorus. It’s not the most hooky melody, but the build and development of it are really nice. The production on this track is really full and there’s a lot going on, but it does feel a tiny bit plodding within the rhythm. I quite like it, but it’s just a little bit too on the nose from a rhythmical point of view, so it feels a tiny bit stilted. It also suffers a little from being a tiny bit meandering as has been one of the downsides of the album so far. Good ideas that are stretched out a little too far. Weird ending too. Almost Blue - This is nice, but again it does wander about a tiny bit aimlessly in places and doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere with much intention. And then it completely drifts apart towards the end. ...And In Every Home - And now we’ve moved on to something that sounds like it’s been plucked out of a musical, although Elvis’ voice doesn’t necessarily lend itself to that style of music. Again, this feels a little bit rambling. There are some good ideas in here and I think the general tone and vibe is pretty cool, but there seems to be a slight lack of direction and focus, which is echoed further by the way it kind of just drifts away at the end. The Loved Ones - This immediately feels more focused. It’s got a good groove and there are some beautiful musical movements in there where it takes a slightly unexpected turn, in a really pleasing way. It does ramble a tiny bit, but because it’s a short track and it circles back round out of the rambling fairly quickly, it works better than some of the other tracks. The recording is sharp and clear too with everyone playing bang on point. Human Hands - The groove here is pretty good again and it takes a little bit of that musical tone again. This is another one where I like the core concepts and vibe of it, but he wanders a little too far from the motifs that hook me in and I start too feel a bit lost by the end of an overly long phrase that loses momentum part of the way through because it doesn’t refer back home frequently enough to feel completely satisfying. But I do like the vibe and I want to like it more than I actually do. Kid About It - There are some really nice rhythmic choices in places here, and the instrumentation sounds great. I’m not keen on the call and response he does when the “kid about it” line is almost whispered, but is offensively loud in the mix, especially against the call part of the section. This one was pretty though, but again, a little on the rambly, stream of consciousness side. Little Savage - I can’t quite grasp the thread of this album, it feels like it’s jumping around quite a bit stylistically. He feels like he touches on some really great bits in places, but abandons them too quickly, because he’s determined to keep things moving all the time, and this track is no different. Great moments, some interesting musical choices, but just ultimately a little unfulfilling. Boy With A Problem - It’s a long album, isn’t it? Again, this has a strong enough musical core, but it rambles along, sort of circles its way back around to where it began an then just… ends. Pidgin English - Another stylistic change, another slightly rambly, stream of consciousness composition that touches on some nice moments, but feels quite halting in the way that it settles into a groove and then abandons it too quickly before shifting on to something else. I just can’t find anything consistently present enough to hang on to. You Little Fool - This is a pretty strong one, it does feel a little stilted, but it feels more purposeful and coherent than some of the other tracks. It’s got a decent pace and groove to it, and does find that “you little fool” hook that works really well. When they get it right, the combination of quality playing, interesting and coherent production can really come together into something good, and this one manages that by being that little bit more focused. Town Cryer - And we close out with a song that, surprise, surprise, has some really good ideas, some quality playing, but has moments where it wanders off piste a little too much. Oh, and his vocal is way too loud again. It does a reasonable job of gathering things up into the choruses here, actually, but the moments where it comes back to that are pretty far apart. I’m not that keen on the slightly shrill string sound here either.
Just a bit meh
Baroque, sophisticated, overly stylish. I had a nice experience listening, but I won't come back to it soon. The interesting sounds it creates is payed by being forgettable. There are way better Elvis Costello albums.
I enjoy this one but slot it into his post-peak period. It’s more self conscious and less pure pop than his first three absolute classics. Perhaps the end of the beginning of his remarkable career….he was never as good again.
Fun
2.5
3.0
I wasn't looking forward to this based on my previous experience with Elvis Costello, but it's really not too bad. Nothing sticks out, but it was pleasant enough and didn't drag. Pretty decent. Probably a solid 3.5 if we had half stars, but I'll probably have to go with 3.
Nett.
It's rather like Damon Albarn's solo career. This album is very british, but also surfer rock like for the states. Mixed identity thats for sure. BUT its brilliant, so unique and fun to listen to, I was not bored of one song they stay their welcome for the right amount of time. It sound a little more modern than when it was released in the early 80s, sounds like its from the mid to late 90s. I can see where Will Wood got insperation from potentially. Really enjoyed it 50 minutes flew by. 7/10
Just ok. Too may Elvis Costello albums on here.
If someone had asked me before I started this project whether I liked Elvis C I would have answered cheerily of course, love that guy, but that was on the basis of his greatest hits and listening to his entire albums confuses me as when he is good, as he is with Beyond Belief, he is amazing but the rest of the tracks as well crafted as they are feel a bit fillery.
An older more reflective album than This Years Model. The snarl in Costellos voice becoming more questioning, more lovelorn. Musically it’s softer, jazzier. The songs are bitter, questing and reflective. However like his earlier songs there’s a real sense of narrative. A fun time ? No, but definitely a good time
Think I need to give this a second listen, a lot going on with some of these songs, really good production
(4/7) I never really listened to this dude before but I suppose he's ok
Enjoyed this more than I expected to. A bit quirky, but grounded in some of the classic pop rock influences of the Beatles and Bowie. Perhaps a little too safe though and could have leant onto that quirkiness and wore it more on the sleeve as there wasn’t enough to stand out here.
For me, this is where Elvis got a little TOO self-indulgent and boring. Gone is the energy and urgency of the early albums. There are still some brilliant moments, but not like before.
It was fine.
Yeah its clever, a) but has anyone doubted Elvis is a smart a tasteful gent, or b) said this is their favourite of his albums? No? Quite.
No real hits but Maintains comfortable listening throughout with enough pleasurable notes to make it easy enough to drop remote and listen without skipping next.
I’m a huge job Costello fan and I consider his first two albums masterpieces and the next two as essential. After that the albums were good but included some lesser material. It’s considered by some critics as his best album but I disagree. To me Town Cryer and Long Honeymoon are the best songs on the album with the rest hit and miss. To hear more aggressive and punkish music listen to This Year’s Model.
It’s just fine. Having only heard Elvis Costello’s most famous songs I was expecting something with a bit more ‘pep’. Certainly not a bad listen, but didn’t grab me either.
A very difficult album to rate. On paper I should like it a lot; the songwriting is really strong and I mostly enjoy the elaborate instrumentation too. However, for some reason it leaves me a bit cold. In summary, it’s incredibly well-constructed but somewhat lacks emotional impact. Many tracks are excellent (‘Man Out of Time’ probably my favourite), but sometimes I find the arrangements are so lush/dense they almost smother the underlying song. This strikes me as one of those albums that might win me over in time, but right now I can (reluctantly) only give it 3 stars.
The songs are alright but this doesn’t really the same bite as This Years Model or Armed Forces. The songwriting is still really good. Favorite songs were Man Out Of Time and Human Hands.
Wasn’t great, wasn’t horrible. But seriously, are we just adding the whole Elvis Costello catalog on here? I think this is his 3rd album on the list that I’ve enxo
I am enjoying “man out of time”.
Second Elvis Costello album. Sounds more refined. Overall, I like the vibe of the ehole album, I feel like Im walking in a quiet city. Man Out Of Time is my favorite. 6/10
Midvis Cumtelllo
It’s was okay. Not sure why this album is so influential to be on here.
A more varied outing than Costello's first few records; this album is still rooted in new wave but uses elements of chamber music and jazz in different ways throughout. It makes for an album that is always moving somewhere new, but which is a bit difficult to latch onto because of it. The songwriting is strong, though it lacks hooks. The flourishes like keys and strings are used sparingly on each song, meaning they don't overwhelm but also that they don't contribute quite enough to really elevate the songs. I don't typically care for Costello's lyrics, but they're very good here. I can't say the same for the vocals, which sound weak on tracks like the opener. If this cut some of the songs like "Almost Blue" that don't go anywhere and had a few knockout songs, this would be one of Costello's best. As it is, it's stuffed with ideas that don't quite pan out.
I enjoyed it. Costello is another blindspot for me. Several songs here. Good sound.
"Imperial Bedroom" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions was a bit of a surprise for me. I only really knew Elvis Costello from "She" (Notting Hill fans know), so I did not expect this more rock-flavoured sound. There were definitely some good moments though, and I liked "Shabby Doll" a lot. Overall, the album is not bad at all, but it also did not feel like anything really special to me. Nothing here made a big impression. Still, it is definitely worth a re-listen at some point, even if it is not an album I will think about a lot afterwards.
so fun!
Siento que esta cantando off beat y me molesta mucho. Beyond Belief y The Long Honeymoon estan buenas si quitas la voz del artista.
This is my first Elvis Costello album in the project, and I'm sure there will be more. Imperial Bedroom is not one of his I'd listened to before, but was aware it was critically acclaimed. I like him and his music, but generally have listened to singles and not full albums. I've probably only owned his first few, along with Spike and King of America of his slightly later records. What stood out most to me was the variety of musical styles. I really enjoyed that, as I had no idea what to expect with each song. Unfortunately, none of the songs truly stood out aside from that aspect. There weren’t any I actively didn't like, but only a couple that I will consider adding to my own personal playlist. My two favorites were Shabby Doll and Man Out Of Time. I didn't love them, but I liked them well enough. This will be a hard one to give a star rating.
Ok, more Elvis Costello. This is fine. Not amazing but not annoying. I really like some of his hits but the rest is fairly uninspiring but unthreatening.
Another really-hard-to-justify choice for this list. There are at least 8 of Elvis' albums that I enjoy more than this one. And no more than 3 (TOPS) belong on this list. My Aim is True is brilliant and belongs on any list of 20th Century music. Choose one or maybe two more from among Punch the Clock, Armed Forces, Trust, and This Year's Model. This time listening, it struck me that Elvis is similar to Ray Davies. They both are capable of such incredible songwriting. But they get distracted by their respective desires to prove how clever they are. This album is Exhibit A. It sounds like he came in with a stack of paper filled with lyrics and then stuffed them into melodies. But not just any melodies, he was also really intent on proving how well he understands complex diverse musical styles. The result is definitely impressive, intellectually, but to these ears it sounds fussy and it never manages to move my soul-o-meter.
A middling Costello album, and he's usually pretty great
Ok background music, some songs sounds jokey
alright
first listen: his voice gets on my nerves. i like the piano riffs here and there, fun and joyful. nothing super compelling imo.
Less pop and more ambience.
This one’s cute
Much more enjoyable Elvis Costello than the last album by him. Lively.
Ok. Never really got into it at any stage but it wasn't terrible to listen to.
This was pretty good. I was into and wanted to know the songs better because I think it would really work for me then.
I am quite surprised I never got around to listening to Elvis Costello. This is quite alright actually, for sure 3 stars and something I will probably want to REVISIT in the future?
I think its probably better musically than the other ones, but it falls off flat towards the end. I like how its less rocky and a bit more abstract, but I still don't really like his voice and think vocals and lyrics are quite average. Some nice strings and keyboards and stuff on some songs, but generally just quite boring, probably too long. Favourite songs: beyond belief, tears before bedtime, man out of time, the loved ones, town cryer, maybe some more I missed. Overall around 6/10
I was a little bit bored by this album, but there were some songs that I liked- And in Every Home, Pidgin English. Just some easy listening.
Not another Elvis Costello... Well, I like the opening song. Actually, his voice is less annoying to me on this album. Musically, this is more eccentric and varied than the previous albums from Costello on this list. I'll get through this. His voice did start getting on my nerves about midway through the album. This was still better than some of the other ones. 3.
This is the fifth album from Costello I've gotten. As with the others, I get the feeling Costello really doesn't belong on the list. At all. His sound is distinctive, sure, but the streaming numbers on Spotify don't justify any more than 1-2 inclusions on the 1000 most important albums of all time. Though this stuff is definitely Bowie-inspired (like many, many artists), which I guess could justify its conclusion? Tears Before Bedtime reminds me of Station to Station and possibly Scary Monsters/Let's Dance eras. It's a cool sound, what with the echoey guitars and octave-harmonising vocals. One of my favourite tracks on here. Human Hands also stands out as Bowiesque, particularly the backing "woo" vocals and the meandering melody delivered with a slightly croaky vocal timbre. I'm not really convinced about having Imperial Bedroom in the top 1000 albums for those reason alone, though. Costello avoids using his goofy nasally vocal until Man Out Of Time, where he launches it at full force. It's the first of several legitimately bad tracks on here. The dynamics ups and downs of that song don't save it. The explosive section towards the end, with the ultra-distorted acoustic guitar, almost saves it. But then there's a positively grating electric-guitar outro with a banshee scream, and again I'm questioning why people list this guy as their favourite artist. At least he follows it with the gorgeous, jazzy Almost Blue. His voice sounds great here, and I wish he'd commit more to the full, deep, soulful persona rather than the deranged noseless pop star one. ...And In Every Home is an extremely strange track – a pizzicato string section is unusual from a pop/rock artist – but it kind of works. The remaining tracks are hit-or-miss, but all in all, I enjoyed the record more often than not. 3/5 Key tracks: Beyond Belief, Tears Before Bedtime, Almost Blue
acho que já tá bom de elvis costello né gente.... é legal de você deixar rolando enquanto trabalha ou faz algo, mas nada além disso. sem necessidade de ter mais de 2 álbuns (ou sepa 1)....
Not a bad album, don’t think I’d go out of my way for it though
Some lush sounds and a number of great tunes - was nudging towards a four but unquestionably drags on a little too long.
feels vintage pleasant, not my fave but might listen to it again 3,5/5
Album No. 0107 on my list. My second Elvis Costello album on this list. The one I’ve heard before was “This Year’s Model” which I liked pretty well. In comparison, “Imperial Bedroom” is somewhat inferior. On a positive note, I did enjoy the sound of the album in general. However, compared to the previous album, it lacks some variability and dynamism. The songs are just not that memorable and interesting, so I’m giving it a lower rating. Still not a bad album definitely, I really like Costello both as a songwriter and as a musician. “Beyond Belief”, “Shabby Doll”, and “Man Out Of Time” will be added to my playlist. 3/5 stars.
Why is there so much Elvis Costello? I like the dude. This album is cool, sounds a lot like the others though.
Alright music. Elvis costello lyrics never catch my attention or stand out though.
Flawless perfection
Not as enjoyable as the prior Costello, Classic 3 star album.
Not as appealing as my first forays into EC. Not enough highlights to lift it above the “pretty decent” category. Pidgin English was the highlight for me.
Meh
Spencer said I would rate it one less star than him and he was right on the money. Mid ass new wave
Elvis Costello is not bad... he's just so remarkably ok. I would not be mad if someone put this album on. I may even come back to this on my own, but why do we need so many of this guys albums on this list? Anyway, the album itself. It's solid. I like this more than Blood And Chocolate. This didn't get very boring. The worst it did was repeat the same words over and over sometimes.
A lot better than the other one I have listened to. Starts very good and trails off.
i actually really liked the first song, but it was all downhill from there... bizarre vocal delivery and some weirdly discordant instrumentation. it was ultimately ok though.
Now that I have heard my first Elvis Costello album through this project, all of the Elvis Costello discourse in this space is way funnier. Costello has like 6 projects on the list, and people seem to love him or hate him. But what really gets me with this whole situation is how inoffensive the music on Imperial Bedroom is. It's basically sophisticated pop, flirting with new wave, soft rock, and a little bit of post punk. It's not bad, but it's not especially interesting. And very importantly, it's not the kind of thing that people usually have strong opinions on. Like it feels like everyone's fighting over the most "perfectly fine" music here. Maybe these songs unravel over the course of several listens? Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe there are better Elvis Costello albums. There are things I like here though: little flashes of something cool. I think his singing voice has something cool to it sometimes. The arrangements have some neat surprises like the accordion on The Long Honeymoon. And the guitar has some really interesting, brief flourishes. I do like Beyond Belief, Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon, Almost Blue and Town Cryer. Although, stepping outside of these songs, I do think a lot of material here is a little boring. But regardless of how I feel, this is competently written and produced. And there isn't anything really offensive to my sensibilities. The better cuts do some heavy lifting and I ultimately have this sitting at a pretty low three. I am kind of interested in seeing how my relationship with Elvis Costello evolves throughout this project too. But, adieu for now.
At this stage I’m a bit Elvis Costelloed out. He’s ok but not worth this much exposure on this list.
Not bad
Man Out of Time was the first song that I connected with. But Shabby Doll was catchy. But also... Parquet Courts's vocalist sounds quite like Elvis Costello.
Not bad, not amazing "The Loved Ones" was good.
7 / 10
I’ve gotten quite tired of Costello but this album was actually fine
i like Elvis Costello, but this album doesn't move the needle for me.
This is ok - it’s not the best Elvis Costello I’ve had so far, but it’s still a pleasant enough listen.
Fine!
I’m a Costello defender on this list, but even I am like - This one? It’s fine, I like it, but it feels like if you gotta cut one, it’s likely this one. 3.5
Bel album que j'avais oublié il fait plaisir à ré entendre 👍🤗
Ok, od Elvis Costella poznam en komad iz najstniških let & kle ga ne vidim. Ful mi je fajna naslovnica. Par komadov v album - všečno! Zmer je fajn slišat harmoniko uporabljeno na boljši način kot jo slovenci primarno ("The Long Honeymoon"). Zj men kle več kt očitno manjka kontekst, k na wiki je večkrat omenjeno, kako je ta album drugačen v vajbu kot Elvisovi prejšnji, k so bli očitno bolj jezni. Pa da mu je popularnost mal upadala in je hotel probat neki nouga. Pojma nimam, tkole v vakuumu nevednosti je men sam prijetno vse do zdaj, besedila fajna, variety v glasbi, ampak še zmer kohezivno. "Man Out Of Time" je zanimiv. Prvi, "Beyond Belief" mi je bil kul & drugi, "Tears Before Bedtime". "...And in Every Home" me instrumentalno mal na Beatle spomne & nism edina, ker točn to je na wiki izpostavljen ('which one reviewer likened to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper'). Mogoč zato k je bil producent isti? (Geoff Emerick) Zdaj, miljon komadov v album, pa vidim problem. Vse se mi začenja blendat. Ne spomnim se več, kako so zvenel prvi komadi. Se prav, non-offensive, čist prijetno, ampak forgettable?
A lot of pleasant songs
Elvis Costello always feels a lil boring to me.
Not the best Who album.
Same quality as most of his other ones, big shocker
Looking for a way to impress the ladies, you learn the art of cocktail mixology. You’ve got yourself a job as a barman at a pretty swanky bar, the kind of place where patrons wear suits and ties or frocks and rocks. You show of all your cocktail making flair, flipping bottles around before pouring, and throwing ice in the air to catch behind your back. The girls are impressed, but they are here on a date with some finance guy who spends half the night ducking off to the men’s room for some late night line dancing. You ride your bike home, alone.
Its alright. Not sure it stands out in any way.
The Attractions do most of the heavy lifting in this album. If Elvis Costello was backed by a worse band, I'd really dislike his voice, and that would drag down my opinion of the album. But the band is surprisingly good enough that I don't notice how much I hate Elvis's voice. Favorite Song(s): Almost Blue
Pretty good, not one I’d have listened to otherwise!
It was fine, but nothing stood out in particular
I love a lot of Elvis Costello, but not when he decides to become a crooning lounge singer.
We like Elvis Costello but after a while his songs do start to sound the same a bit. Maybe that's because his voice is so distinctive but it was still good
Gute Unterhaltungsmusik.
The first song, Beyond Belief, is great. Unfortunately it's all downhill after that.
# Album Name: Imperial Bedroom # Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Pretty mid album. Was alright. Nothing really stood out for me though. # Top Tunes: not sure # Would I listen to it again? not sure
There’s only 2 albums of his that should be on the list ‘my aim is true’ and ‘this years model’ nothing is really wrong with this album but listening to ‘imperial bedroom’ is having little to no impact on my life 3/5
Nothing jumped out to me but it worked decently as study music. If only I wasn't cramming filters...
3.5 My first exposure to Elvis Costello - I'm intrigued, but the album didn't really grab me - I'll revisit and look into the rest of his catalogue though
I think well of Elvis Costello and the are some tremendous moments on here but I find there's a bit too much going on with some of these songs. Somehow, two-and-a-half minute tracks can feel more like four. That would be ok now and again but this record seems to be rammed with them.
It's ok. I've always "kind of" like Elvis, in that, I don't turn him off it comes on the radio or a playlist. But, I never ever have sought him out. This album exemplifies why. It's good/fine. The music is technically proficient, but not engaging. He writes interesting lyrics, but doesn't really deliver them with any emption or flair. The best song here is "Man Out Of Time" with it's howling into and the way it reappears and rocks out the end. Unusual, cool, interesting. But 3 minutes out of 50. It gets a 3 for not being annoying ever, but also there's nothing here calling me back.
Aufgenommen wurde das Album zwischen November 1981 und März 1982 in den AIR Studios in London. Produzent war Geoff Emerick, bekannt durch seine Arbeit mit den Beatles. Elvis Costello & The Attractions stammen aus Großbritannien, und das Album bewegt sich zwischen New Wave, Art-Pop und klassisch arrangiertem Rock. Die Songs zeigen Costello auf dem Höhepunkt seiner kompositorischen Kontrolle. „Beyond Belief“ eröffnet mit dichtem, nervösem Rhythmus und verschachteltem Gesang. „Man Out of Time“ entfaltet sich als dramatische Ballade mit weiten Klangräumen. „Almost Blue“ dagegen ist ein ruhiger, jazz-beeinflusster Song, der seine Wandlungsfähigkeit unterstreicht. Klanglich setzt „Imperial Bedroom“ auf Detailreichtum: Streicher, Bläser und Tasteninstrumente fügen sich zu einer komplexen, sorgfältig konstruierten Produktion. Das Album verzichtet auf den rauen New-Wave-Charakter früherer Werke und präsentiert sich introspektiv und vielschichtig. Ein anspruchsvolles, sorgfältig arrangiertes Werk, das Geduld erfordert, aber durch musikalische Reife überzeugt.
Elvis Costello has always been a blind spot for me, never really was into him growing up and never hung out with anyone who was into him. This album was surprising in some ways, but overall what I expected.
It’s ok
5.5/10
Pretty alright.
This is like the 4th Elvis Costello album I’ve been given, firmly in the “it’s not bad, but I don’t find it interesting camp.
Trevligt, men tilltalade mig inte lika mycket som My Aim Is True
Känner väl ungefär som med det första jag hörde med honom, lite ballt, lite tramsigt. *shrug*
More like a 2.5. Completely fine but didn’t hold my attention at all.
Preferred to Armed Forces. 3.
It's alright, but it's not him at his best. I don't think this belongs in the book. The difference between good and bad songs is not as big as on his older albums. The bad songs are better, the good songs are worse. Favorite song: man out of time
¿Otro disco más de Elvis Costello? ¿Otro? ¿Será este el bueno? Veo que es el quinto que reviso. Pues mejor de lo que esperaba. Me guardo The long honeymoon y The loved ones.
This was an okay album to listen to. Not my favorite of his, but a good solid collection of songs, though some may call it boring, I think of as consistent. No real standout tracks, though the opener Beyond Belief had me doing a double take for a TV On The Radio song for some reason.
I didn't mind this album at all. It's not one I needed to hear before I die, but I'm starting to see that's the case with a lot of these albums. The author of the list has a massive hard-on for a lot of artists, Elvis Costello is one of them. 2.89 / 5 stars
I’ve enjoyed discovering Elvis Costello in this project, but this album didn’t land as well as the others have.
could have been a four if it was a tad shorter. but i must say it sounds sophisticated and pretty exciting with a lot of instrumentation. but yeah its too long.
Some mixture of The Beatles and XTC.
I like Elvis Costello. I like that he sounds different and not perfect. I like that his lyrics are a bit different. I find it endearing when an artist isn't a generational talent, but just someone who loves doing what they are doing
Pretty artsy but enjoyable. Not going back to this one but I had a good time througout,
It’s still a no
I just didn't find this all that compelling. I generally like Elvis Costello, particularly the earlier more punk feeling material.
Solid Elvis Costello album but nothing absolutely amazing.
Good album but there are better Elvis Costello albums.
Elvis capo della new wave, anche se questo album non mi ha detto nulla. Sicuramente non è brutto, le sonorità sono anche piacevoli però forse è uno di quegli album che va riascoltati.
Le canzoni di per se mi sono piaciute molto, molta varietà ma un bel mood, per me la voce di lui ha rovinato tutto, c'erano momenti in cui sembrava quasi stonasse
At least he didn’t say the n word with a hard R this time. 5/10
Yeah, why not end my journey with a sixth Elvis Costello album. He is a good artist, but I don't get all of his stuff or get why everything (or 6 things) he does is gold. His debut was absolutely kick ass and his follow-up effort was pretty darn good too. The rest are just fine. This one is sort of his magnum opus from what I understand, and saw him trying to take on a more grandiose style. But to me it's a rather dense album sonically, and that doesn't make for easy listening. Great albums don't require you to strain your brain to get it, understand it, or love it. Great albums just hit you. This one didn't. I listened to it a couple times to see if it grew on me. But I think I'm more in line with the public reaction and its commercial performance, which was so-so, than the music critics, who acclaimed it. It's alright.
Oh boy another Elvis Costello album. This one at least was a little better. I still don't understand why he shows up so often on this list though. I'd much rather listen to literally any other new wave album than this. I feel like I'm listening to a Monty Python skit the entire time though. Do with that what you will.
Ok Elvis. Not his best
Not a fan
i found it was okay and i enjoyed it more than other albums like Armed Forces and Blood and Chocolate, i might just be getting used to his sound as he has like 20,000 albums on this list but i thought it was okay
This was okay, nothing awful but nothing too extraordinary. Which makes me question why there’s so many Elvis Costello albums in this project… 2.5/5
Imperial Bedroom is one of those albums that feels like it is trying very hard to be clever, but the results are hit and miss. The arrangements are elaborate, full of flourishes and detours that show off ambition, yet often end up weighing the songs down. Costello’s lyrical sharpness is there, but the music does not always give those words the focus they need, leaving some tracks to meander without much impact. There are moments where the pieces click, but too often the album feels fussy rather than inspired. Instead of the tight, biting energy that made Costello’s earlier work so compelling, Imperial Bedroom sprawls and loses momentum. It is easy to respect what he was aiming for, but as a listening experience it comes across more as an overstuffed experiment than an album that really lands.
Ok listen. Not a huge fan of all of their music.