Reviews (page 3 of 8)
another forgettable Elvis Costello album
First Costello album I kind of liked.
Not a great Costello fan, but this one's a grower.
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.
Estranho… Gostei muito do primeiro disco de Costello que gerei na lista, “This Year’s Model”, então entrei nesse com expectativas até que altas. Mas o que ele fez aqui não me agradou totalmente, me deixou até confuso. Bem, uma coisa é certa, agora sei que o artista em questão é inconsistente em seu trabalho. O que há de errado que eu não achei no álbum passado? Algumas coisas. Primeiramente, o estilo vocal de Costello aqui não é tão agradável quanto no outro disco dele que peguei. Aqui ele parece arrastar as letras, cantando daquele jeito que dá vontade de pedir pra ele parar por um segundo e deixar a gente respirar. Sem contar que sua voz é completamente monótona aqui. E é algo chato pois os instrumentais desse disco são bem interessantes e variados, e merecem acompanhamento melhor. Algumas canções ainda conseguem ser legais, possuindo um ritmo bacana e casando bem com o tom monótono do cantor, mas não é o suficiente para resgatar o disco da mediocridade e da ocasional irritação. Cara, pelo amor de Deus, deixa a música respirar! Sai de cima! 2/5
Honestly it sounds like Elvis wants to be here about as much as I do
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
I really enjoyed the first two Costello albums we reviewed and gave them both a 4. This one was terrible and made me sad.
Four songs in and I was believing Elvis Costello had lost the antics and shitty vocal extras I’ve grown accustomed to disliking with his songs so that he could just plainly sing. …and for the most part he did. The background music was decent as it was on his previous albums we listened to with this project albeit was composed in a slower, more deliberate manner. This still isn’t an album I’ll be deliberately listening to again, but it didn’t suck as bad as I had expected it to based on his previous creations.
If Michael Bublé had grown up on folk and rock instead of jazz, this would be what you’d get. Now, I never liked Michael Bublé and I don’t like this muddy, moody collection of indulgences. Costello is best when he sings with energy, purpose and urgency but this album offers none of that.
Dissppointing. I was excited to discover a new Elvis Costelo album, but this missed the mark. There are a couple of bright spots on the album, and his writing still shines but his tone is subdued and dull. If I heard this in 1981 I'd have asked for a wellness check be made to his home. This isn't the Elvis we know and love.
I quite liked this album. There was only one song that I didn't particularly care for. I would give it four stars.
One of the best albums ever made. I’m sorry to all who don’t like Elvis Costello though. Having 9,000 albums on here is a bit much even for me.
This album starts off pretty strong. "Beyond Belief" almost had me believing that this might be an exceptional album. Unfortunately, it all quickly dissolved into the EC record we've already heard many times before. It's okay, Declan. We can do the rest of this project without you.
Protest vote over how many Elvis Costello albums are on this list
3.5
No es mi estilo
Right artist wrong album
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.
4/5
Medicore 80s pop/rock. 3/5
First tracks are enjoyable, but others not so much
I can’t take anymore Elvis Costello 2/5
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.
*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
Costello, not my thingo.
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.
näeee
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.”
I enjoyed this album. I would describe it as having a strong pop sensibility, yet more nuanced. The choruses and melodies have a lot of the hooks you would expect in typical pop, but they are just a little more interesting, sometimes going to dissonance when you might be expecting the same resolution you've heard 1,000 times. I also appreciate the unique quality of Costello's voice, something like an "emo punk lounge singer". The album has beautiful arrangements, especially the piano and keyboard parts. Would recommend.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
the most boring release in the new wave genre
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.
Good album.
pfff
elvis costellow
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.
I’ve listened to four Elvis Costello albums so far, and I still can’t get over his whiny, grating voice. It really makes listening to his albums feel like a chore. Most of the songs themselves were okay, but they were just brought down by the vocals.
Just a bit meh
some of this was realllllly good, and some of it simply did not do it for me. there are some skips on here. 3.5/5
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 guess it’s not bad, but it’s pretty fucking lame. Music for VH1 Boomers 2.5 ⭐️
I really just don't see the appeal.....some glimmers of new wave fun, but pretty tedious overall.
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
Really like this Elvis 🕺
Really enjoyed this one
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
Empecé el álbum sin muchas expectativas, y quedé realmente sorprendida de –a pesar de sonarme como música de ascensor– haberlo estado disfrutando... ...solo por 6 canciones, ya que a partir de ahí lo seguí escuchando hasta casi el final sin dar cuenta de algún cambio musicalmente interesante. Volví a iniciarlo enfocándome mejor en este y, definitivamente, el disco no tarda en convertirse en más de lo mismo. La última canción, por lo menos, te hace retomarle la atención. Descubrí que hay unos seis álbumes de Elvis Costello en esta lista, y no se me ocurre qué podría haber hecho en los demás cinco que amerite tener semejante cantidad en esta; espero no tener que descubrirlo en un largo tiempo. ↑: Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon, Man Out Of Time, Town Cryer ↓: ...And In Every Home, The Loved Ones, Boy With A Problem
many incredibly sweet melodies delivered in costello's very sour voice, coated in creative and lush arrangements from a former beatles engineer. critical catnip for all sorts of obvious reasons, and tho it took me a little bit to get situated, i eventually also slotted into this rly amazingly...the chemistry goes off in a way totally unique from costello's more band-oriented records, his songwriting goes all sorts of exotic places both musically and emotionally. im not sure i could confidently describe to you the exact feeling i get out of this atm, since its surface level elements are such an odd fit...this seems like a type of record he only needed to make once, before moving back into stuff thats maybe a bit more of a "natural" fit for him. but its colorful and strange and pretty arresting by the end...probably in my top 3 faves ive heard from the guy!
This was more enjoyable than the other Elvis Costello albums I've endured on this list. Wish some of those spots could have gone to more adventurous and better music. 2.5/5 Won't listen again
I’m only familiar with very early and mid oughts Costello music, this 80s era is not that interesting to be honest. The piano parts remind me of glam rock, Elton John style of songs, but most of the album sounds pretty mid and unmemorable.
😒Forgettable—aside from the fucking annoying way he’d hit that shabby doll line—this shit put me in a bad mood.
Just ok. Too may Elvis Costello albums on here.
I beginning to think This Year’s Model is the exception to a career of shitty albums.
Too heavy metal for me
I kinda liked this one
# Imperial Bedroom (1982): An In-Depth Review ## Overview Released in July 1982, *Imperial Bedroom* represents Elvis Costello's most ambitious studio undertaking—a sprawling, 15-track opus that traded the raw energy of his early New Wave classics for intricate pop craftsmanship. It was his seventh studio album and notably the first collection of original material not produced by Nick Lowe, marking a significant turning point in his career. --- ## Production & Recording The decision to hire **Geoff Emerick**—the legendary engineer behind *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band*, *Revolver*, and "Strawberry Fields Forever"—signaled Costello's intentions immediately. Costello booked George Martin's **AIR Studios** for an unprecedented **12 weeks**, granting himself and The Attractions the kind of scope he imagined The Beatles enjoyed in the mid-1960s . The recording process was unconventional. Basic tracks were cut quickly—often in just a few days—but the real work came in the meticulous layering. Emerick recorded at 15 ips (unusual for multitrack) without Dolby noise reduction, creating a distinctive sonic character . The production involved extensive experimentation: vocal lines were re-composed and overdubbed, instruments were panned dynamically across the stereo field, and Costello spent weeks working with just Emerick and assistant Jon Jacobs on vocal arrangements, sometimes lowering his voice by an octave or creating "vocal group" effects through overdubs . **Steve Nieve's orchestral arrangements** were crucial—French horns on "The Long Honeymoon," brass and woodwinds on "Pidgin English," a violin section on "Town Cryer," and a **40-piece orchestra** on "...And In Every Home." George Martin himself vetted Nieve's charts during breaks from producing Paul McCartney's *Tug of War* (which Emerick was simultaneously engineering) . --- ## Musical Style & Composition *Imperial Bedroom* abandons the straightforward rock of Costello's early work for a kaleidoscopic journey through: - **Tin Pan Alley pop** and jazz standards (the Chet Baker-inspired "Almost Blue") - **Psychedelic baroque** ("...And In Every Home") - **Bacharach-style orchestral pop** ("The Long Honeymoon") - **Merseybeat and 60s pop** ("You Little Fool," "The Loved Ones") - **Tango and Latin influences** ("Pidgin English") The album was written primarily on piano under the heavy influence of **Billie Holiday, David Ackles, Frank Sinatra, and Erik Satie** . Costello described the songs as exhibiting "a malaise of the spirit and a sinking feeling about happy endings" . --- ## Lyrical Analysis Costello's wordplay reaches new heights of density and allusion. The opening lines of "Beyond Belief" demonstrate the album's literary ambition: > *"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"* **Key thematic threads include:** **Marital Discord & Infidelity:** Written during the collapse of Costello's first marriage to Mary, tracks like "The Long Honeymoon" depict Hitchcockian realizations about partners who aren't who they seemed. "Tears Before Bedtime" presents a domestic tragicomedy with dueling male-female narratives . **Self-Loathing & Celebrity:** "Man Out of Time" represents one of Costello's harshest self-inventories, transforming the hunter of "My Aim Is True" into the hunted—a man who achieved his dreams only to find them hollow. The song opens with a manic band freakout before coalescing into one of The Attractions' greatest performances . **Narrative Complexity:** "Kid About It" shifts from third to first person; "The Loved Ones" features bewildering shifts of narrator and subject; "Pidgin English" contrasts dual vocal stylings. The lyric sheet was famously printed as one continuous run-on sentence without punctuation, creating an immersive, challenging reading experience . **Emotional Elusiveness:** As one critic noted, "you never really know" with Costello—the lyrics blur and obfuscate personal revelation behind wordplay, making the album "sound like a more personal album than most of his previous output" while remaining deliberately elusive . --- ## Themes The album explores: 1. **The Performance of Emotion** — Costello examines how feelings are staged, faked, or misunderstood ("crocodile tears," "pretense") 2. **The Disillusionment of Success** — Having conquered the punk/New Wave world, Costello interrogates what comes after 3. **Gender & Power Dynamics** — Relationships are battlegrounds of deception and self-deception 4. **The Artificiality of Pop** — The ornate production mirrors the constructed nature of the emotions being described --- ## Influence & Legacy *Imperial Bedroom* stands as a **bridge** between Costello's angry young man persona and his later genre-fluid career. It predicted: - His **Burt Bacharach collaboration** (*Painted from Memory*, 1998) — evident in "The Long Honeymoon" - His **classical/orchestral work** with the Brodsky Quartet — foreshadowed by the string arrangements here - His **soul/R&B explorations** — "Town Cryer" hints at the Allen Toussaint collaborations to come The album influenced countless artists who sought to merge **literary lyricism with pop craftsmanship**. It ranks at **#275 on the Great List** and was the **#4 record of 1982** (trailing only Michael Jackson's *Thriller*, Bruce Springsteen's *Nebraska*, and Prince's *1999*) . Chet Baker recorded "Almost Blue" shortly before his death, validating Costello's entry into the jazz standard tradition. The song has become one of Costello's most-covered compositions . --- ## Pros | Aspect | Strength | |--------|----------| | **Songwriting** | Among Costello's most sophisticated compositions; 15 exceptional songs with no filler | | **Production** | Geoff Emerick's sonic expertise creates an "aural tour de force" | | **Musical Range** | Effortless shifts between psych, soul, tango, and orchestral pop without losing coherence | | **Vocal Performance** | Experimental arrangements showcase Costello's range—falsetto, lowered octaves, layered harmonies | | **The Attractions** | Some of their finest work; Steve Nieve's arrangements are revelatory | | **Lyricism** | Dense, allusive, and genuinely poetic—T.S. Eliot territory | | **Standout Tracks** | "Man Out of Time," "Almost Blue," "Beyond Belief," "The Loved Ones," "Town Cryer" | --- ## Cons | Aspect | Criticism | |--------|-----------| | **Overproduction** | Some find the sound "glazed over and compressed" or "overwrought" | | **Length** | At nearly an hour with 15 tracks, it can feel "empirically boring" or exhausting | | **Lack of Energy** | Missing the "frenetic energy" of early Costello; no straightforward rockers | | **Inconsistency** | "...And In Every Home" strikes some as "pompous" and overlong; "Human Hands" never quite coheres | | **Commercial Performance** | Peaked at #30 in the US (his worst showing at that point) with no hit singles | | **Accessibility** | The density of lyrics and arrangements creates a barrier to entry for casual listeners | | **Marketing** | Columbia's "MASTERPIECE?" campaign with a question mark was arguably self-sabotaging | --- ## Conclusion *Imperial Bedroom* is Costello's **most ambitious album**—a lavish, intricate work that sacrificed the immediate gratification of his early punk-pop for something more enduring. It is not his most accessible record, nor his most commercially successful, but it represents the **culmination of his ambitions** as both songwriter and record-maker . The album proves that Costello could "play with the big boys" in the tradition of classic pop craftsmanship while maintaining the bitter, biting intelligence that defined his best work. As Costello himself noted, it was designed to "sound like music rather than a confession"—yet the confession is there, buried beneath the orchestration, for those willing to dig . **Verdict:** An essential, if demanding, masterpiece that rewards patient listening and stands as one of the most sophisticated pop albums of the 1980s.
Not for me.
Gay again
I don’t get all the critical acclaim for this album. Bland and uninspiring songs and Elvis Costello’s voice just grates on me.
Meh
While I've enjoyed some of Elvis Costello's work, this album does nothing for me.
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.
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
Like non-mainstream David Bowie, but a bit worse
Better than the last Elvis Costello album I had to listen to but still not really my thing.
I've not liked any of Costello's albums that I've listened to due to this, but this is my least favorite so far. He seems like an absolutely miserable person based on the lyrics of these songs. The Wikipedia article suggests he was exploring negative emotions so that might be the explanation. He's either really good at it or is actually a total a-hole. Either way, it was not enjoyable.
Kind of boring tbh
Gotta love Elvis Costello!
Nice but not my favorite
(4/7) I never really listened to this dude before but I suppose he's ok
This really did nothing for me. There were a few nice moments (I vaguely recall a couple of guitar bits and an off-kilter piano that reminded me of Tom Waits) but nothing of note.
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.
I don't know exactly why but this feels like dork music. Haven't really enjoyed the other Elvis Costello records and this one didn't change my opinion.
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.
Bom apenas, um pouco repetitivo. E alguns minutos depois já havia esquecido completamente do álbum
Best: Beyond Belief, ... And In Every Home
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.
Just didn’t connect with this. I don’t dislike his voice but I found myself counting down the songs until the end and this isn’t a good sign. I have definitely heard worse but this will not be the album that makes me a real fan of Elvis Costello.
Beyond Belief is probably my favourite Elvis song, so how can I give this album anything but top marks.
This was 50 minutes of absolutely nothing; white noise in music form. I can't believe Elvis Costello has 6 albums on this list. I don't think your average person could name a single song by him, but according to this list ge is twice as important as The Cure or Prince. I don't even remember if The Beatles have 6 albums on this list. I would have switched this out for Magical Mystery Tour in a heartbeat. Mid 2.
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.
Too middle of the road for me, really enjoyed his early stuff, and saw him live in 1979….
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.
Honestly this was a bit boring. I do like some Elvis Costello but when he has 6 albums in the book this definitely could have been excluded. I actually gave it 2 listens because some of the critical reception is really strong, it's Costello's Sgt Pepper? I don't really get it though, other than a few tracks which used a wider style of instrumentation, such as And In Every Home. After 2 listens barely anything stuck with me. I much prefer his jauntier, new wave style music
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.
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.
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.
I like the instrumentation but not a fan of vocals
Worse than the first time I heard this unfortunately
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.
Mediocre music for mediocre white people
A decent album, but for me it is quite a drop off from his earlier albums. 4 stars or B-.
It’s Elvis Costello. It’s me. So it will be no surprise to anyone that I gave this album of 5/5. I added “Man Out of Time” to my Generator playlist.
The day has come. My fate is sealed. The dreadful moment foretold by the stars: an Elvis Costello album. I’ve never heard a single thing from this man, but I keep seeing him mentioned in reviews. I also keep seeing that he has a shit ton of albums on here, which can only mean one thing: they’re all a steaming pile of hot garbage. I have to prepare myself emotionally, psychologically and spiritually before I listen to any of this. God, if you do exist, please have mercy on my soul. But I know that you ain’t real. Or at least not a good god. A loving god wouldn’t bestow upon his creation so many Elvis Costello albums. Okay, first impression. His voice kind of annoys me at times. It’s nothing incredible. It’s not really my cup of tea, honestly. I’m not an expert on production, I know next to nothing about it, but I feel like his voice is too loud on some songs. I think that was the intention, but it just annoys me. I think I’m going crazy, but the way he sings doesn’t really go that well with the instruments that are played. It feels like there’s him and then the rest, and I feel like that’s true. I think I could’ve enjoyed this album if it were approached differently. Yeah, no reason for six Costello albums. I have no idea what impact this one had, but I’m sure it’s impossible for all six to be that influential. God, do I hate Almost Blue. It may be the worst song on this album. He’s yelling over the instruments. Was this the best take? The vocals could use some polishing. The instrumentation is varied from song to song, but he still somehow sounds the same in parts. The way he sings the chorus on Kid About It makes me gag. New worst song on the album. I don’t know how else to explain it, but throughout this entire album there are points where his voice sounds disconnected from the instrumental. He’s also trying to do some things that his voice clearly isn’t fit for. I wasn’t looking forward to hating this album. I really wanted to give it a chance. I just don’t enjoy it. Not my taste at all. It’s not the worst thing ever, but I wouldn’t bring myself to listen to this again. A Man Out of Time is the best on the album in my opinion. I fear the day the next album from him will grace me.
peak mid
Meh didn’t speak to me.
like when you get some good food but have no sauce to put on it
Nice voice. Mid songs
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.
The instrumentals in the back of the songs are really good, but I feel like the guy singing ruins it for me
Looked like it had to much potential from the front cover boring sloppy lazy
not for me
I like Elvis Costello, this was good. For some reason the whole album is not available on Apple Music though.
Nice backgroundmusic.
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”.
This record does not belong in this list. Repeat with me: This record does not belong in this list. This record does not belong in this list. This record does not belong in this list. Repeat for whatever it feels satisfying for you. For me? for what it took me to change to another record in my multimedia player.
The guy can write songs
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
love the cover art!
Midvis Cumtelllo
It’s was okay. Not sure why this album is so influential to be on here.
I do enjoy Elvis Costello. This is not as memorable as some, but it's still pretty solid.
Efectivo el maestro
I feel like the whole band is firing on cylinders here. It’s where Elvis Costello is channeling his inner jazz standards pen. “Almost Blue” sounds like something Chet Baker would’ve recorded in his prime.
1. so dull.
Those who say there are too many Elvis Costello albums on the list, well, they are not wrong. But this is a damn fine record.
4/5
I’ve now had 4 or 5 EC albums on this list. It’s safe to say the acceptance criteria for this list is flawed. 2 was acceptable. However many they put on here is criminal.
I liked the upbeat songs a bit more than the jazzier ballads but the whole album was great. Fun instrumentation and great overall sound
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.
One of my ALL TIME FAVORITES FROM EC! "Town Cryer" is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE SONGS FROM EC!. Such a great record front to back.
Good
Really nice, proper songwriter album. Could be a 5 with time.
its ok GO NEXT
Whiny and corny in a way I do not like.
Elvis Costello is so sauceless, I couldn't listen to another full album of his because its just too boring, for that he gets a 1
This was so boring and I’m wondering how many more Elvis Costello albums I will have to review before the end of this. To me, this sounds so generic, nothing special about the vocals or music to make it memorable (or enjoyable).
Listened through it twice and can't remember a single song
Decent album all around. Huge variety in all types of music. Just wish it was a little more bearable.
That's a lot of Elvis Costello albums here... but I like all of them, so I won't complain
Very difficult to get into. Not sure I was in the right headspace but I found Costello’s voice to be very grating. The music was silly but also uninteresting. Soft pass. No standouts. It all blurred together.
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.
It's now starting to dawn on me that there is way too much Elvis Costello on this list. I've had many of his albums already, I've not hated any of them but I've not particularly liked them either. Every time I'm left with this feeling of utter mediocrity from his music. And not necessarily in a bad way, I appreciate that it is perfectly good, it just doesn't trigger any sort of emotional reaction from me at all, good or bad. And I just think that an artist with such an inability to create such music doesn't need SIX entire albums on this list. Considering how many other better and more influential artists who only got 2, 1, or even no albums on the list at all, it frustrates me to see those spots filled with something that's so innocuous. I would give this a 3, but minus one point for there being about 4 too many Elvis Costello albums on the list.
Probably very good, but i cant get into Elvis Costello these days.
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.
it was nice. i like his glasses.
this man is indeed "mid" -juyeon
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.
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
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.
first listen: his voice gets on my nerves. i like the piano riffs here and there, fun and joyful. nothing super compelling imo.
+ ikke mye - wacky shit ass 1/5 would destroy the record if it was gifted to me
Kæm faan høre på det her. Stygg stemme.
Less pop and more ambience.
I’m not one to talk about the production, but this is certainly the best-produced Costello album we’ve heard.
Perfect album for long saturday (sunday) morning 😭❤️
Couldn’t really get on with the vocals of this guy but I didn’t hate it so there’s that.
This one’s cute
I have a bit of anti-Elvis Costello bias. Except for the song “Allison” So I endeavored to listen with particularly open ears. I just can’t connect to the music. I don’t know what it is. The music is inoffensive. His voice is ok (although not my thing and sometimes annoys me a little). There are a couple of “nice” songs too, but I just can’t ever imagine ever reaching for this album. What mood is it for? What am I missing? This is probably a 3, but it’s my list, so I’m going 2.
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.
Just ok
I'm just not a fan of Elvis Costello.
This was pretty good. I was into and wanted to know the songs better because I think it would really work for me then.
Attempt #3 or 4 to listen to a whole Elvis Costello album with an open mind for the sake of this list. I'm sure there are like 14 more at this rate. Great. Anyway, somehow this didn't annoy me as much as the other albums, maybe because I'm getting used to his annoying voice? Or maybe it's just less goofy and grating. There are still certainly moments of that, but this is less bad than other albums of his. Well, at least until "And in Every Home," which is complete cheese. Human Hands, two tracks later, is nearly as dumb. It's tracks like these that make Costello haters hate. Pidjin English is a pretty good song. I guess it's an indication that sometimes Costello gets it right in his eclectic mix of styles, though for me it usually goes wrong.
I'm sorry, I have Elvis Costello fatigue at this point. He's a small doses kind of artist. This particular album is also far from being his best work. I listened once, that's enough for my remaining lifespan.
Bit warbly
Boring & at times annoying. 2/5
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?
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 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.
Hvor er det t vildt at det kun er det 2. Album vi har haft.. Det lyder som det vi hørte sidst, men allerede nu har jeg fået for meget. Det er ikke umuligt at lytte til, men det er bare den samme sang i 50 minutter..
Hvis Elvis Presley var Kongen af Rock ‘n’ Roll er Elvis Costello Kong Kedelig.
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
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.
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
Too many of this dweeb
Some lush sounds and a number of great tunes - was nudging towards a four but unquestionably drags on a little too long.
Costello is such an “eh”. This album is particularly “eh”. 2/5
feels vintage pleasant, not my fave but might listen to it again 3,5/5
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
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.
Enjoyable for a Costello album. Some interesting songs.
Meh
Elvis C. album #5 here, and by far my favorite of them all. It's not even close. 3.5/5
Spencer said I would rate it one less star than him and he was right on the money. Mid ass new wave
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've had enough Elvis Costello with just 2 albums. Please make it stop.
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.
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.
Was quite impressed when I got the first couple of EC albums... This is like the 6th on the list - and his voice is irritating.
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!
So many of these tracks ended up on his Greatest Hits album. Costello is a Love/Hate sound, very few in between I suspect. I’m a Team Costello kinda guy, so easy 5 for me.
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.
The moment when Elvis Costello stopped being a punk icon and rebel and turned into a lounge singer. It's not that it's bad; It's that Costello's voice is not suited to this type of music and it wasn't exactly the music that 20-year-old me wanted to hear. It's more what my grandparents wanted to hear. If not for old critics and 2000s hipsters, this album would be forgotten.
Not bad
mid album
Goede productie maar het boeide me niet zo
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 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.
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.
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.
This album was exceptionally tedious. Elvis didn't hit a successful balance between the claimed "experimental musical pallets", and his vocals. He just barrels over everything without taking a pause, and with himself sitting way on top in the mix. The songs all listened the same, and while there were some good moments this was all around nit my thing. 2/5
the man is flat
There's a lot going on here, and I think this is probably one of those albums that requires a lot of work to really pick up what's being put down. Unfortunately for Mr. Costello, his overrepresentation on this list has created knee-jerk disgust, and not many listeners are going to bother putting in the required time (myself included). I did give it a couple of full playthroughs, though, and I'm willing to toss it the benefit of the doubt.
I’m curious why this album stood out differently from the other Elvis Costello albums on the list. Like couldn’t we have skipped this one, kept the other nine that are on the list? Better yet, couldn’t we have skipped the other nine, and just kept one of his albums? If we did have to select only one entry from Costello I don’t think this would be it.
Cooler pop
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'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’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
Для меня Элвис Костелло - одно из открытий этого списка, но в данном случае я согласен с большинством. Здесь он раздражает.
Bel album que j'avais oublié il fait plaisir à ré entendre 👍🤗
Did I accidentally have the first song on repeat? Or does every song just sound the same?
I accidentally listened to this twice, and the second time around was way better. I kinda dig it.
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?
Not everything Elvis Costello needs to be here. 2* This is fine, boring, bland.
I found this really, really boring.
A lot of pleasant songs
Elvis Costello always feels a lil boring to me.
Elvis Costello is what Frank Zappa would be if he was a massive dweeb. There are admittedly some good moments throughout the album, but then it strays off into psychedelic carnival music with his awful moany voice over it. He's just another dork trying to make something different. Boring album.
His best album so far! And it's definitely not as bad as the others but it's still not great l.One good song at least. I can't believe I still have multiple more albums from him 😐👍
1. belief -1 2. tearz - 1 3. doll - 1 4. long -1 5. time - 1.5 6. blue - 2 7. Home -0 8. Loved - 1 9. Human -1 10. Kid -1 11. Savage -1.5 12. Boy -1.5 13. English -0 14. Fool -1 15. Town - 1.5
Not the best Who album.
Same quality as most of his other ones, big shocker
I thought I liked this guy, but actually, he kind of just whinges. And not in a nice way! The massive overproduction was not that great either! I didn't actively hate it, but I didn't enjoy it much either. There was very little of the punky grit hidden amongst the pretentious horns. You're not in the Beatles, pal! 2 stars.
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.
A little boring, I prefer the bounce of the earlier work.
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
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
Didn’t like his voice
Pretty good, not one I’d have listened to otherwise!
Lowkey baroque.
Not entirely unlistenable, but I won't listen again. This album is obscure for a reason and I don't think it belongs on this list. A couple of songs are enjoyable, but not memorable. Most are avant garde pretentious nonsense.
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.
“Beyond Belief” is a scorching start that set me up for disappointment as there’s maybe an EP’s duration of greatness here; Costello has a lot to say, but I don’t want to hear most of it. “Town Cryer” would be a good pun in a single line, but he makes the pun carry a song, which feels typical: thin stuff.
You can hear the ambition and ideas crammed into the many different songs on here. I guess it was a big deal at the time, but for this ca. 1986 Elvis first-listener it just sounds like a good EC album. For more details, insert the usual comments from my many earlier reviews... I think I just figured out I like Steve Nieve much more than Elvis himself. It's always the keyboard parts that excite me.
Probably the worst EC we have listened to on this list. Not a fan. 1.5/5
Solid catchy melodies. I quite liked this!
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
Bueno...no es que m'agradi molt,per tenir de fondo ta bé...un 6.
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
NO MORE ELVIS COSTELLO ALBUMS PLEASE GOD. 1.5 stars.
Nothing jumped out to me but it worked decently as study music. If only I wasn't cramming filters...
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.
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
Some songs were groovy, some songs made me feel extreme excitement to be finished with this album.
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.
Eh. There are some real questionable choices on this list.