Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello is one of the great singles artists of all time - so why do I often find his albums lacking? This seems to be the pount at which he goes from spiky punk-rocker to Bacharach infused orchestration, and personally, thats a downgrade for me. I can see how this may have turned heads in the 80s, but for me it was just a bitter man complaining about other people, but this time with strings. That makes it sound bad. It isn't "bad"...but bar a few interesting lyrical turns, there was nothing that grabbed me or made me want to come back. A high 2.

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.

4/5

I enjoyed some of the other Elvis Costello material on this list, namely My Aim Is True, but this album does not do anything for me. I could not get through it. There is some weird orchestral instrumentation that does not really fit. The songs are not engaging for me. Would not listen again.

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.

Dang, Elvis Costello was pumping out studio albums back in the day. This one is very ornate in its sound, experimenting with various pop styles with the artiness and baroque-ness of it all. That's all fine and dandy I guess, I've heard enough Elvis Costello via this list to sort of know what to expect. I just felt that things began to drag and become bland at a certain point about halfway through listening.

Day664 - i’m an appreciator of elvis costello and i enjoyed listening to some of the non hits

What a surprise to learn that the Sondre Lerche version of Human Hands isn't the original! I like both. :) This album, on the whole, was good

It’s ok

5.5/10

It’s good. Not the best, but extremely good.

Pretty cool new wave pop songwriting. Not like the hits I’ve heard from Costello.

I'm coming to see why Costello is so heavily featured on the list.

overproduced mewling, same as the rest of his records

Pretty alright.

Whimsical album that seemed to constantly straddle being interesting-arty-novel and downright annoying.

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*

Den här spexaren igen! Men inte mig emot, han är toppen.

More like a 2.5. Completely fine but didn’t hold my attention at all.

Preferred to Armed Forces. 3.

Not as great as This Year's Model, but still very engaging and enjoyable

This is the sixth or seventh album for Elvis Costello since My Aim Is True and it feels like a return to who the artist is, as opposed to the lost meanderings of someone trying to find themselves. Welcome back

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

Don’t like Elvis Costello

Fine, kinda boring

2.1 Okay this is like the third or fourth Elvis Costello album on here. Got to be the highest ratio of appearances for how shite and/or unpopular they are. Usually when someone appears far more times than they should on here - Springsteen, Clapton etc., they at least have a massive following. But I've never actually met anyone who likes Costello. The music is so so pointless. It's not that it's terrible, I think it's just wasting precious oxygen. It feels like a waste of humanities effort not only to listen to this, but to create and produce this in the first place. The guy would have made a bigger impact to society by being a litter picker.

¿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.

Costello wasted his own talents and that of his illustrious collaborators on this pedestrian album. His voice is too snide and his sensibilities too wry to mesh with Emerick's rich but uninspired arrangements.

Enough with Elvis Costello already. Overrepresented on this list.

It was okay, I liked Beyond belief

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.

This was a really good album. I didn't expect much but was quite pleasantly surprised

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.

Meh.

Some mixture of The Beatles and XTC.

Really intriguing music

If I never hear "Shabby Doll" again it will be too soon. Elvis just seems to whine his way through every song. Better than other EC&TA albums I've listened too, granted that's not saying much.

Not a fan. His voice is kind of whiny

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

4.4

Pretty artsy but enjoyable. Not going back to this one but I had a good time througout,

Although I didn't hate it, nothing fascinating happened.

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.

Ugh 2/5

Kinda like Billy Bragg mixed with Peter Gabriel or something. And I’m here for it. I really enjoyed this album a lot actually, good mix of both very digestible and also kinda quirky. Not the most innovative or novel of albums but I feel like it provides a very unique vibe.

Det er okay. Troede det var noget helt andet kan jeg godt mærke

I’d say I enjoyed this album more than most of Elvis Costello’s catalog. It leans into New Wave, with some baroque arrangements, and is very piano and organ driven. While I still think Costello is way overrated, especially how often his albums show up on top lists, I have to admit this one stood out. It’s an album I’d be open to revisiting again in the future.

Solid Elvis Costello album but nothing absolutely amazing.

Good album but there are better Elvis Costello albums.

I liked maybe four songs. Kinda boring. The instruments used and sound created was boring to me. Not a fan of 80s stuff in general tho. Can’t finish the album

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

Famous, but covers were better.

I've listened to this album a few times now, and it has grown on me quite a bit. The instrumentation is really interesting, with things like the harpsichord, mellotron and accordion added. One track that stuck with me was "Kid About It," maybe it was the shout and then quiet bits. I probably liked this album more than the previous one with Elvis Costello. It has a number of hummable bits in it, and I may come back to this again. So... 4 it is. Top tracks: "Kid About It," "...And In Every Home," "Pidgin English"

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.

Absolutely hysterical that our final pick is an Elvis Costello album. Sure, I know statistically it was more likely, but hysterical nonetheless. He's way over-represented in the 1001, but at least I like his music (unlike freakin' Leonard Cohen, the other criminally over-represented artist in the 1001). One of my biggest complaints of his over-representation is that the albums sound too similar to each other, but this album at least has the distinction of being a little different and it grew on me with each listen. Good songs, well-arranged and played, excellent recording quality. I can't give EC a 5 - he's a little too goofy for that, but I would definitely revisit. Favorite tracks: Beyond Belief, Tears Before Bedtime, Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon (the first four tracks are just really strong - overall Side 1 is better than Side 2), The Loved Ones.

Please god, no more Costello

Another Elvis Costello masterpiece. This time facing the emotional burden of Love and heartache head-on. The songs are more arty, more complex lyrically and musically, deeper, challenging and rich. Expanding into more symphonic instrumentation, a mature and sophisticated outing. I think this is the last of the early EC albums that matter, and he fully exposes himself as an artist reaching for something more mainstream.

Langweilig…

Jedan od njegovih klasika

I'm not a very good singer, so I tend to stick with shower tunes and occasionally karaoke. I certainly don't professionally record my voice and force others to listen to it. Not only is Elvis Costello not constrained in this way, he deliberately leans into his mediocrity. Props to him for having the unearned confidence to both create nonsensical melodic progressions and fail to execute them at nearly every opportunity, but it's not fun to listen to this. I hear he's an amazing songwriter, but I couldn't get past this wilfully incompetent delivery to appreciate any of that even after seven times through. 1 star for his performance and another for The Attractions, who are actually a very tight accompaniment section in every song.

Not my fav

GARBO

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.

Not for me. 1/5

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

sorry boring

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

Nice voice but didn’t really care for much else

It was crap

Gorgeous album. Poetic lyrics and an ambitious sound scape.

Not sure we need this much Elvis but he’s certainly an excellent artist. Nothing in this really grabbed me but overall solid. Light 4.

Sweeping melodies and biting lyrics. Elvis Costello's trademarked style on full display in an early iteration. Sweet and nasty at the same time.. Man out of Time is one of my favorites of his and among the the best on this album.

Not my favorite Elvis Costello sound but he brings a lot of cool ideas to the table here. This is more intellectual and baroque-pop sounding than the albums I prefer from him but it is an ambitious effort. It's cool to hear how pop standards and pre-rock and roll can influence his sound. I like "Shabby Doll", "Man Out Of Time", and "Almost Blue" best.

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.

Slightly better than the other Elvis Costello albums I’ve already listened to but still not for me

Not my favorite Elvis album. 2.5

Fine for what it is with a couple of noteworthy songs, but this is certainly not my favorite Elvis Costello album. Many of the songs kind of blended together at the same basic background.

[The songs] exhibit a malaise of the spirit and a sinking feeling about happy endings. The souring and spoiling of England was just under way. Passing from town to town on the tours of the early '80s, I came to know some people who seemed just as disenchanted and discouraged. Their stories found their way into these songs. —Elvis Costello, 2002 Beyond believe - very chill, like it Tears before bedtime - a little bit more spacelike, like it alot, also very chill Shabby doll - put me in a disco in the 80s on Halloween please, love The long honeymoon - it's okay, would fit in the background of a scene in an hotel when the mans cheating Man out of time - love love love, mix of sounds, catchy, will you still love a man out of time?? Almost blue - not much text variation and somehow still very sad ...And in every home - love the instrumental arrangement, feels so extra (3rd fav) The loved ones - relatable, if dancable music why overthinker lyrics (2nd fav) Human Hands - my fav so far i think, LOVE (fav) Kid about it - dont love it in comparison to rest, has some catchy parts but feels very long Little savage - hmm, dont really know, i feel neutral to this song Boy with a problem - dont really like it, gives grown man not being able to take responsibility (least fav) Pidgin english - I really prefered the beginning of the album, neither lyrics nor melody feels very special Little fool - quite catchy, like it Town Cryer - feels like a good ending, pretty chill

Yeah it's fine

Found it to be very good songwriting, so all songs stuck on relisten, but probably only had two moments in the album that I stopped to think that I really liked.

Maybe it is listening to this off the back of King Crimson and Mastodon, two records that were extremely my shit, but there was nothing here that really grabbed me. it was inoffensive but that's about as nice as I can be.

Really like the diversity

This is the 6th(!) Elvis Costello album. I've rated all the others either 2 or 3 stars and that tracks for this one. I admit this album has a couple of well-written tracks, but it's a shame they're sung so badly. Especially so for the soft ballads like Almost Blue. 2.5 rounded down.

It’s fine I guess

Didn't blow me away but neither a stinker

2/5 Too much reverb added in post production, probably to give it a live sound. The singer misses a lot of notes which is unfortunate, cuz some songs like The Loved Ones have some vibe to it. Overall sounds a lot like an art album, and since art is very subjective, I can't really give it an objective rating. It's not for me, but I respect the effort.

pretty fire

The Wikipedia entry says Elvis Costello changed producers for this one because he thought Nick Lowe wouldn’t let him experiment as much in the studio. I’m team Lowe - I liked a couple of songs but I prefer my Costello angular and punchy rather than baroque.

I really enjoyed this - certainly more than the previous Elvis Costello album. I favorited 3 songs - Long honeymoon, Pidgeon English, and Town Cryer - which is pretty high for me for a previously unheard album. I did listen while en route to Singapore so maybe some generosity owing to conditions. But a solid album I intend to come back to. 4/5

Album 888 of 1089 Elvis Costello & The Attractions -Imperial Bedroom (1982) Rating : 3 / 5 I like most of what I hear from Elvis Costello, though some albums clearly stand out more than others. This one falls firmly in the lower-middle for me. It was pleasant enough to listen to, but it never really caught on or offered anything that stuck with me. The songs are decent, but there wasn’t one that reached out and grabbed my attention. Very average by Costello’s standards, in my opinion.

This album has a nice chilled vibe to it. It’s strange as i dont feel like there is a stand out track on this album, which may be why nothing leapt out as something i already knew, but it just works well as a whole. Nothing great enough to raise it over and above but just a bloody good cohesive album.

This was enjoyable, as anything by Elvis and his Attractions always is, but it wouldn’t be my favourite. I don’t think it quite holds up when compared to their earlier efforts.

Another album that doesn't appear on Amazon Music so I ended up listening to it via YouTube. The extra ad breaks are really not the best way to listen to an album (I do not want Hello Fresh YouTube, please stop). I love the track Beyond Belief already but based entirely on former Reel Big Fish trumpeter and backing vocalist Scott Klopfenstein's regular Twitch streams - it's on his list of covers people can request (along with 9/10 by Jeff Rosenstock that I also fell in love with because of that stream). Of the songs I didn't know, I loved Man Out Of Time, ... And In Every Home, Little Savage and Town Cryer. The weird out of tune guitar solo in Pidgin English was not for me though, and really took away from a track I was otherwise enjoying. It was like those old comedy routines where songs were purposely played wrong for laughs. In general though, the 1001 Album Generator has really driven it home that I like Elvis Costello. 4/5

Good

Überambitioniert und überladen: Costello verliert sich in komplexen Arrangements und prätentiösem Songwriting. Trotz einzelner Highlights bleibt das Album emotional distanziert und schwer zugänglich. Kein leichter Hörgenuss.

I can’t really think of anything to say. Just a whole lot of nothingness for my money. But it’s fine.

It wasn't boring. That's about all I'll give it.

On the one hand I like Elvis Costello. On the other he can feel kind of repetitive. I am on the fence. Some of the stuff is really good and some of it is signature Elvis Costello. Maybe it is that to like his music you have to embrace his voice full stop, and sometimes I like an instrumental break or even an alternate singer. Actually this opens up a thought inside me... I often do like bands that switch up or duet or go instrumental now and then... It isn't that I don't like or appreciate Elvis Costello, because I do. It may be that this album is simply too "Elvis Costello himself" heavy?

Another Elvis Costello on the list. I know, there are six in total — six unimaginable Elvis Costello albums on this list. Just to repeat: there’s no logical explanation… unless he’s fucking with the guy who made it. Eu escutei e acho até legaliznho, mas não é relevante musicalmente para seis albuns e isso só serviu para eu pegar aversão...

This one is supposed to be the one where Costello grows up and proves that he can be a Serious Writer. Back in high school, I really liked it for that, and Emerick's production actually made me appreciate the Beatles more (in particular, this album sounds kinda reminiscent of Happiness is a Warm Gun). But lately, these songs feel a bit lifeless, and I'd take any of his first five albums over it in a heartbeat.

OK, that's enough Elvis Costello lads. Wait - he has 6 albums on here and The Hives have NONE. What the..................

Uninspired baroque nonsense

o outro que brotou aqui do costello era mais legalzinho esse é ok

dá pra ver uma clara influência dos beatles nesse aqui!! me pareceu mais maduro que os outros dois dele que já apareceram, só que menos divertido. mas num eh ruim não!

lol at the dude drawing parallels with james joyce in the reviews. five of these fuckers down, one to go...

Yep.

Not my favorite album of theirs, but a sold entry.

Wow! All these years I thought I didn't like Elvis Costello, then comes this assignment and I'm floored. Lyrically weird and playful. Excellent compositions and a fun, mid-tempo record overall. A little overstuffed, but who cares? I'll definitely be revisiting this soon.

Not a fan of Elvis Costello

Prima album, niet z'n beste werk.

I find Elvis Costello to be perfectly middle of the road. I agree with many others that he is massively over represented on this list.

I'm pretty neutral on a lot of artists on this list, and most music that is lower rated, I would be forgiving on, and even my 1's were early on, and probably changed now. All this to say, that I firmly believe Elvis Costello for me is my "worst artist" on this list. I can't get with him, and most if not all of his albums I have not enjoyed, and not a single one has left a memorable mark on me.

Solid, swanky, classic. 7/10

A lovely slice of early 80's New Wave. It fades a bit on side 2 but a really good album.

Imperial Bedroom is well-produced but quickly becomes boring. Costello’s voice and repetitive flow make the songs blend together into one long, heavy mass without real highlights. The album aims to be grand and artistic, but ends up feeling like polite background music with too much attitude. 1/5

Bland garbage

Elvis Costello had better albums

Great individual songs but after a few Costello songs, it gets droning.

Every time I try to give Elvis Costello another chance, I’m reminded that all his shitty songs sound the same and his voice sucks.

Cool vibes, it felt nicely experimental. There were some songs that I liked a lot and other not at all, but overall a nice listen! 3.5/5 The 'Shabby doll' which I found funny and stayed stuck in my head

This feels like a mix of a lot of music I like. Very familiar but still so new. Billy Joel, Elton John...

a little too clogged imo

Just ok. Don't love the album, but love the cover.

J’étais surprise de trouver un énième album de Costello ici, mais je dois dire que c’est celui que j’ai préféré, dans sa beauté tranquille

Not a big fan of Elvis Costello, but can see where people would like this, but it's just not for me. If that makes me a hater, then call me Emperor Palpatine cause I'm letting the hate fill and flow through me.

Only one more from him after this, can't wait Will I listen to again: 0%

He tried. That’s worth something.

This was just... fine? It's my first Elvis Costello album on this list but apparently there are about 6 or 7 more waiting for me. What about this guy is so special that he's so overrepresented? This album was fine, it wasn't revolutionary and it was a bit dorky at parts but what am I missing?

i guess this is elvis costello being a crooner? didn't really work for me and it is way too long. dying for it to end on the second half of the album

The self-loathing across this entire album was so thorough and intense to my malleable tween mind that repeated exposure might have permanently damaged my own sense of self-worth. Overall, the album is uneven - side two can get a little slow and the production is overwrought at times - but when it hits, it is landing right into the center of my forehead. To be fair, I honestly cannot say at this point if it found the sweet spot of my soul or if I developed the bulk of my personality around its sentiments. Beyond Belief still haunts me even after 40+ years of excessively close listening. Incredibly, when you break it down, there is very little to this song but put the pieces together and its a highlight of 20th century songwriting, performance and production. There is no other song like it, either - not only is it unique to Elvis's catalog but I mean that no one else ever made a song like this as far as I know. There is no chorus to speak of, it sounds almost like a stream of conscious ramble that steps on its own toes as it builds toward a final line that is repeated a few times. Fuckin' weird, man! but it works. People don't talk enough about how Elvis Costello might be the most sophisticated songwriter since Cole Porter. Maybe even more sophisticated. And they also miss that he is one of the finest pop singers you will ever hear. That is why more of his tunes aren't standards - they are too goddamn hard to sing! Side note: can we discuss Bruce Thomas's bass at the end of Shabby Doll - and really over this entire album? It's bonkers. The work of a mad genius. Despite their eventual acrimonious falling out due to Bruce's slagging Elvis in his tell-all memoir, his devout musicianship was so essential that Elvis permanently renamed his backing band from The Attractions to The Imposters, even though everyone else remained the same. Everything about Man Out of Time slays, but the exceedingly clever word play always shreds my mind, even after what has probably been 10,000 plays. Who's nerves are always on a knife's edge? Who's up late polishing the blade? Love is always scarpering or cowering or fawning You drink yourself insensitive and hate yourself in the morning Those four lines still send a chill up my spine every time. It is possible that I have never heard that song and not immediately replayed it. But is scarpering even a real word? I was too young to drink when I first heard these lines but I lived them for many years. Like I was saying before, I don't know if Elvis is observing the human condition or directing it. The other song we absolutely have to discuss is the closer, Town Cryer. Where self-loathing meets self-pitying and they jump off the cliff together. Fuck me!

There are definitely too many Elvis Costello albums in this collection, but I appreciate that this was included, as it seems like it's a different direction and sound from a lot of his other albums. My favorites are probably the opening track "Beyond belief", "Shabby doll", and the more-classic-Costello-sounding "Human hands", but few of the tracks really fall flat (but few rise all that high either, I suppose). It's hard to know how to rate this album, as it didn't really do anything special for me, but I can see why so many critics consider this one of if not his best work across a long career.

Incredibly well-written even If the music and vocals don't always grab me. The run of great songs: The Long Honeymoon to Man Out of Time to Almost Blue to And in Every Home is amazing. Am I the only one who hears "guilty feet have got no rhythm" in Town Cryer?

Whenever I have heard Elvis Costello, I've always thought that I should listen to more but this album wasn't the one to really get me going.

I honestly dont care for Elvis Costello's music in general. This is the 3rd album I've gotten from him. 2/5 Nothing interesting really, pretty basic

It's been so many Elvis Costello albums... And I still don't get it. At least this one wasn't so boring

Man, this was a lot of fun. Definitely enjoyed this more than My Aim Is True, and I think this one really showcases what made Elvis Costello great. It's fun, retro, and a total team effort. Freaking awesome cover art. Fave songs: - Beyond Belief - Tears Before Bedtime - Shabby Doll - Man Out Of Time - Human Hands - Little Savage - Pidgin English - Town Cryer

Pretty good Elvis Costello album; I especially liked the opening track. Costello & the Attractions always fall into the "great to listen to circumstantially, but I'll likely not ever choose to listen to them on my own" bin for me. 3.25/5

More Elvis Costello that I hadn't heard. I like this but not as much as the first few albums. 3.25/5

easy listening,

78% Best: Beyond Belief; Shabby Doll; Man Out Of Time Must-Hear? They had me in the first half. Then failed to match it on the second. Not quite for me

this was bland and kind of a drag to get through

eh

IbMepdErRoIoAmL... two can play that stupid game PaRlEbTuTmYiLmAhMoE

meh

Probably the best written songs I've heard from this guy. I still don't really want to hear his voice ever again

Jeśli ta lista nauczyła mnie czegokolwiek to tego, że jestem fanką Elvisa Costello (o którym wcześniej miałam mgliste pojęcie i nie znałam żadnego z jego utworów). Jest w jego utworach coś nie tylko popowego, ale i filmowego - łatwo je sobie wybrać na ścieżkę dźwiękową życia. I może nie jest to najbardziej nowatorskie granie na świecie, ale mi i tak wystarcza do dobrej zabawy. A muzyka może czasem być tylko tym - dobrą zabawą. I nie ma w tym nic złego. 7.5/10

Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Super nervig.

Just fine. Inoffensive. Not so inoffensive to be offensively inoffensive.

A bit boring towards the end, but a nice sound overall

Yet another album from Costello and I still don't like his music. He's boring 2/5

A weird rock album that I wouldn’t fault you for liking, but it’s not for me.

Good

Decent album but not his best- in my opinion

Bored me a lot

Don't like his voice.

38/1001 :: Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Imperial Bedroom Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 2 Fav Tracks: Human Hands Elvis Costello? I don’t get it. Never have, never will (and I’ve tried). Not sure what else to say other than I was excited when it was over…

This is very varied album, full of great songs with the very special voice of Elvis Costello

The more I listen to Elvis Costello albums, I less I like Elvis Costello. Shipbuilding, everyday I write the book need to retain that special place in my heart as a full album of his ridiculous voice is driving me crazy.

I have nothing negative to say about this. Loved every song, genuinely enjoyed every moment. His voice is easy to make fun of but it’s not distracting and it doesn’t detract from the songs. You can needle drop anywhere on this album and it sounds like a tight jazz club and with a singer who could also be fronting the stooges, it rules. I don’t think this thing has a stand out single or anything to play on repeat but the album as a whole might as well be a 50 minute single that’s phenomenal end to end.

This album really started for my at Shabby Doll and it picked up through the rest of the album. This was a really fun listen. Well-composed songs that interesting instruments and elements for every song. His voice reminds me of a cross-over of Bob Dylan and Charley Crockett. Kinda nasal-y and whiny but has a great texture. I don't think I'll be returning to this album too much unless I'm in a particular mood, but definitely enjoyed it.

Songs on here are so well crafted, that's the best part of an Elvis Costello record - the songwriting. The worst part is that sometimes his voice can get too sniveling. I'm biased towards the more rocking tracks, but I think I enjoyed every song on here. I'm feeling a soft 5/5

yeah……. idk

this album reminds me of the time I was fired from my university job at the beginning of a shift and then asked to work the rest of my shift. I stuck around for a few hours until an average looking man offered to eat my ass, then I just got up and left early.

Not drinking hatorade on this, but also not drinking simp-juice

There are much better Elvis Costello albums than this one!

Very non offensive

Elvis Costello + Geoff Emerick equal awesome!

Incredibly average album. Not bad, but nothing that really grabbed me outside a couple tracks and some really cool moments on others. Not sure why this is on the list, we got the Elvis Costello thing with his debut and "This Year's Model". That's all we needed thank you

A great album at his prime

no me gusto, para nada, es mas no recuerdo que me haya dejado algo el album, puede ser que se escuchaba muy bien nomas.

Can’t give it higher than a 2

Kind of get it. Baroque pop with the Beatles a big influence here. Not too keen on Costello’s voice. Lyrics are probably a bit overrated. But one I might come back to.

Very enjoyable album. I don't think I was familiar with any of the songs from this one, which is weird, because my exposure to Mr. McManus isn't limited.

This is a very frustrating album, because it seems the band forgot the part about needing hooks. But what's there is still pretty good. It's like all the songs are missing is the hook, it generally has everything else. Costello's voice is great, they still sound impossibly cool, but I think they tried to be a bit *too* cool for this record. No matter how cool you are, you can't survive not having hooks. Every song I'm just waiting for that catchy chorus or riff, and it just doesn't come. And once in a while I'll get it, but the song is too mid-tempo for it to actually be catchy. Best songs are The Long Honeymoon and The Loved Ones. Human Hands is a solid track too. Overall solid record, just missing the hooks. One of those, if I kept going back to it, I'd appreciate it, but probably won't be going back. I'll just listen to This Year's Model instead.

Fake elvis

I mean I guess it's not bad, it's just not my thing.

I instantly became enamored with the arrangements on this album. Everything was so well put together...some songs were bouncy and fun while others were more relaxed. Costello's voice took a second to get used to, I never hated it but I always thought it was kind of...goofy? But I can appreciate Dylan and Bjork so I'm fine with this too. I may have underestimated him as an artist (I only knew a few songs prior), it looks like ill be doing some investigating on his discography!

Don't know why Elvis Costello has so many albums on this list. Absolutely nothing interesting about this at all.

Maybe I need to listen to this a few mote times. I like Elvis Costello but this is kinda meh?

Hoped for more here, there are some tracks by EC that I've liked. This was a mediocre album with nothing much to give than background music. Samey and underwhelming.

★★★½

EC is fine. This album is fine. But not sure he needs multiple albums on the list.

I haven’t taken to Elvis Costello at all and didn’t enjoy this. I think I only have one more of his albums to go, thank god.

I didn't like this.

Another new to me selection. I don't know much about Elvis Costello except the reputation of being an influential act. Here we go. Very eighties for sure. Two songs in and I am interested. The music is layered with lots of different sounds. I enjoyed Shabby Doll quite a bit. I really enjoy the manic parts of the songs. Way more than when he slows it down. Almost dragged after the end of Man out of Time, for instance. The album is a little bloated for me too. The best 10-12 songs would have sufficed. This is just okay for me. I don't see it as being revolutionary, although i think some of his other works fit that bill. 2.8/5

Honestly this kinda of just bored me. Another one of those albums where I don't really understand why it's on here. Maybe it would be really good if I was a big Elvis Costello fan.

This is interesting. I think Elvis Costello is better enjoyed in small doses and mostly with his bangers. And I realize this is probably a bad take, people love him as an artist, but I can’t ever fully get into his full length albums. I do appreciate the non traditional instruments in this one, and how he plays with unique sounds. Though, overall, it didn’t quite keep me wanting more.

Lol, I got this back-to-back with Armed Forces. This is marginally better, but not enough to upgrade the score—like the previous album, I will most likely not revisit any of these songs. All in all I've gotten four Costello albums on this list so far, and I'm not even half way through yet (though one hopes that those are all). You'd think he was the Beatles or something.

Elvis Costello ✅

Great rock album, it feels more modern that the 80s. Great instrumentals and vocals. Mix of good storytelling and feel good songs.

Good tunes

Taisi olla hieman parempi. Tykkään jousista ja huumorista. Kivoja biisejä

Fine. I have a feeling itll grow on me

5/10

This album sounds how the cover looks. Like someone attempting to mimic Picasso but gets nervous that audience won't get it if it's too abstract. Or maybe it's like the adult jokes in Disney movies and I'm just not smart enough to know there are things going over my head. I'm sure there's some real art here because I've read a few extremely nerdy reviews that say so, but I can't find it. I feel like it would be more accurate to call them Elvis Costello and the Distractions. Elvis's voice is passable when he's shouting over a cacophony of noise, but as soon as then slow the tempo down and pare back the instruments, his voice is kinda bad. "Almost Blue" really hurt me. I didn't really love "Little Savage", "Boy With A Problem", or "Town Cryer" either, but otherwise was able to bop my head and go along with the circus.

Good new wave? No way! Possibly the cleanest sounding 80s album so far, loving the lack of reverb and clear vocals.

With a few exceptions, I've never been a big Elvis Costello fan. Just noticing that he kind of sounds like Joe Strummer. 3

Ok, I know that Costello gets a lot of flak around here. He's overly represented on the list and they quality of his music varies. I genuinely like some of his stuff, despite the complaints. But I've never come across "Imperial Bedroom" before. It seems to be a divisive album from a divisive artist and was marketed as Costello's masterpiece (with a question mark for extra intrigue and plausible deniability). It honestly feels like the kind of album I should like. It's ambitious, experimental, and completely free, all with a definite pop quality. I didn't initially connect with it, but after more than 2 years of doing this challenge, I know a slow burn when I hear one. Sure enough, after a few listens, this one started to click more. You can rightly criticize this list for having too much Costello and I understand why you'd be tempted to gloss over this one for the lack of obvious pop singles. But it's worth a bit of effort and a chance. Even the very ballady ones are more interesting than I originally gave him credit for.

I love Elvis

I'm 517 albums in, and it feels like about 5% have been Elvis Costello. This is by far and away the greatest Elvis Costello album I have heard. By which I mean it's fine.

Elvis Costello is always worth a listen.

This is getting silly, I’m starting to think one of the contributors is Elvis Costello’s mum. If this has just been an instrumental by The Attractions I might have liked it, but his goofy voice ruins it

The first song gave me false hope, this was pretty naff

Nothing particularly exciting, not terrible i guess?

So glad I got to listen to this. Elvis has many imitators but he does it best.

I groaned out loud when I saw this being served up, as I've not really been on-board with most of his stuff. But you know, this one is at least pleasant throughout. I think the music is good enough that it prevents it from being boring, but it is quite slight.

Ever since hearing the wonderful 'I Want You" Elvis Costello has been on my radar to explore, but somehow I never did. So I was very excited to be gifted this album from the generator. Elvis Costello is simply fantastic. His lyricism is wonderfull his musical arrangments are grandiose, but as a complete album this one failed to keep me interesting the whole way trough.

A very bleak 4 stars, in the regular scoring system a 7/10 but on the low side of 7... My problem with this album is its inconsistency. It's a mixed bag of ideas and not all of these ideas work. I mean, '...And in every home', come on! A misplaced Burt Bacharach kind of song. I like the Costello of 'Beyond belief' much better. And a very exciting moment is the intro - repeated a number of times - of 'Human hands'. The Dsus4-F6 chord progression is incredibly exciting, that is truly a marvel.

Ugh no. Elvis Costello is the worst and this is the third album THIRD I’ve had from this guy. Please stop.

Hadn't heard this album before. Its ok, not great, not bad either. No real memorable songs on this album

Not on Amazon music so can’t listen to it

It was just ok, and considering the amount of Elvis Costello on this list, that might not be ok. He is technically competent and has some stories to tell, but always feels like he’s slightly off the mark for landing a hit song. “The Long Honeymoon” was an interesting story with some suspenseful ambiance, I liked that. My favorite was “Human Hands” but only because the vocal refrain of ‘whenever I put my foot in my mouth’ sounded melodically and verbally a lot like Meatloaf’s “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth”. Instead of my usual plea for this list to erase an unnecessary album with literally anything dance music or 2010’s pop, it would’ve been nice to had an album from somewhere that isn’t predominantly white/English speaking. Not enough of those. Strong 2/5 for this one

Costello is so overrated. There is no excuse for how many of his records are in this list. They all suck. They are all forgettable. This one is no different. There are so many bands who aren't in this book and turds like Costello are just hanging her with 10 records. It's bullshit.

i am pretty lightly positive towards elvis costello but i had never listened to this one before. it was pretty decent. it's not as fun to listen to as some of his other albums and nothing really stood out to me as great, but still i felt it was solidly good. is it an album i had to listen to before i died? i dunno, probably not. was it solid? yeah, i think so.

Not my thing.

Plan on listening on way to ireland

Like fortsatt ikkje Elvis Costello

Quiet listening on the deck. Breezy 70s with a book

découvrir un nouveau album

Not great. Not even good

i'd like to personally thank Elvis Costello for re-enforcing my argument that men don't need to be able to sing to be musicians. Below mid, I can't say it's bad but I can't see myself ever replaying this album. I did quite like man out of time but no other real stand outs for me. Wish I could rate this a 1.75

Very interesting. I like it. Great album.

Eh, nothing special

Did not enjoy this

This album was a little better than the last one from him, "This Year's Model" (1978).

so this list has an excess of Elvis Costello. huh... and wait a second... he plays a jazzmaster! we must cancel him cause i want to own that exact guitar ever since i first become a nirvana fan but i think it dont belong to me!

Till the bed breaks

Elvis Costello albums are always a treat.

Wasn't paying attention very closely to this album during my workout, but the music sounded pretty fun and upbeat

nothing directly hateable about this but id never reach for it. i just dont think 80s is for me best track: man out of time worst track: …and out of time

I guess fourth time's the charm. This is the most I've enjoyed a Costello album so far. I'm not exactly sure what's different; obviously, I know I like more of the songs. The hit rate for me personally is simply higher. There's not really any of that rock'n'roll-throwback sound from his other records. His voice bothers me less. I don't know, it's just better. The studio-rock really works here.

I find myself liking Elvis Costello more and more each time I listen to him. There didn't seem to be any catchy tunes in this album, but overall I enjoyed it.

Fourth of, I think, six Elvis Costello albums on the list. Much like Blood & Chocolate, I like this when reviewing in isolation (but 6 is definitely too many)

not my style but the music was decent

3/5 was pretty good

elvis costello is annoying, so without hooks (THIS YEAR’S MODEL, but here: “beyond belief,” “tears before bedtime”) to properly channel that cornball nasal tone, to give it shape and purpose, he wears out his welcome. some of the playing is good here and the arrangements are meticulous, but those only carry so much water. every time i listen to elvis costello, i’m on the edge of not liking it. even the records i do like. this doesn’t tip the right way. and “town cryer” can go pound salt. (i don’t want to) listen to him whine.

I’ve always been an Elvis Costello appreciator for a songwriting and infectious melodies. He has had such an amazing impact on the world of music and has spin a wide variety of genres influence by his sound, though I can’t really place any particular record. for a songwriting and infectious melodies. He has had such a amazing impact on the world of music and has spin a wide variety of genres influence by his sound, though I can’t really place any particular record. I have listened to Elvis Costello Records before but mostly I’m a random track listener when it comes to his work so to my memory, this is the first Elvis Costello record that I have fully listened to, and given my full attention, and I was pretty blown away I’m so used to his more pop oriented songs that hearing songs like man out of Time and Pidgin English caught me off guard. This album is psychedelic and filled with such beautiful instrumentation wildly. Funky bass fills and unpredictable. Chord changes made this such a fun listen. My first lesson was in the car and I was tapping along and digging it, but I put it on while working on a project late at night and it hit differently. It was dark and sad at times. And the songs became more complex and deceiving. I love the lower moments of this album the slow, sad, classic pouring his heart out to anyone who’s listening. Great story tell her and really knows the right combinations to coax you into feeling something. No, I still need to dive into Elvis Costello‘s library album feels like you can stand alone as a conception piece of art like a good book written with the journey in mind and not two cells many copies as possible Elvis C. Do you have a new fan

Didn't love it though Elvis usually takes me a few listens to appreciate, and this had no songs I know.

His best album on the listing so far (not a compliment) Best Song: Man Out of Time Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2/5

Where the parts are greater than their sum

I love Elvis Costello, but this album is just good to me

Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be another Elvis Costello album, here we are. Google says he has 33 studio albums so I am just going to assume they are all on here. I can't stand his voice. I'm at the point with this guy that I can't even appreciate the song writing or music because his vocals are all I can hear.

I don't hold this in as high esteem as the critics and many fans do but I do appreciate the craft of it, it's just not really my taste. 3.5 stars

One Elvis Costello song is all a person needs. After that, he drones on and on

+1 protest vote for simply too many Elvis Costello albums on this list. One EC album, or preferably none, would be a great improvement. So many fantastic albums are not on this list to make room for his entire catalog, it seems.

The orchestrations and instrumentations are cool.

Wär kännten nöd, de Elvis Castello? Trotzdäm hani na nie öppis vonem gloset. Eigentli na rächt cool.

he find die erdte 3 songs etz sehr unspektakulär. ich verstoh nöd ganz was alli a dem guy so spannend finded. ischs de text? so shabby doll isch etz biitz groovy aber nöd würklich, nöd catchy, nöd meega hooks, er singt nöd so geil? aso guet gspielt cooli drums und so aber jooo? almost blue au hueeere whiny. nai. the loved ones findi chli besser, aber s zieht sich mega und find sini stimm eeeecht nöd geil.

beyond belief as in "das lied isch arsch beyond belief" nei echt, finds sehr es komischs lied, d instrument sind iwie alli disjointed ja nöd so en coole start, armed forces hani ja recht cool gfunde sorry ich find d musig würkli so lasch und ohni energie und sini stimm isch jz aunöd so de börner vlt bin ich au chli gemein okok shabby doll macht sache, cools klavier HAHAH bass??? oke das het aber jz na spass gmacht long honeymoon isch auna cool? passt nöd würkli zum rest vom album aber jo chammer mache mann verfall ich wieder am charme vo costello??? i wott nöd oke durreschnuufe, almost blue isch eifach ok gsi und and in every home findi gad echt nöd guet hahahah uii the loved isch wieder huuere weird aber finds gad wieder sehr cool? jaa jz laufts eifach chli iwie, aso es isch sicher nöd z wenig abwechsligsriich town cryer au wieder sehr vill aber d striicher hani na cool gfunde hahaha ich weiss nöd, ich bin iwie sehr entzwei, de ahfang hetmi mega gnervt aber denn ischs vill besser worde. so ziemlich jedes lied het öppis z büte gha au wenni jz nöd alli flich gern gha han aber sicher es album wo ich nomal wird lose

Sort of just exists? Not sure I would listen again.

I finally get the EC hate with this list. I've been able to defend or deflect most criticisms but this album has no place on this list. It's not bad, it's also not monumental in the terms of a 'must listen' 3/5

meh

Elvis over some lounge music was better than expected. That's #5

Very chilled out album that I have never heard before. It's a nice listen with great lyrics and, although nothing that blew me away, the music fits with it. I'd probably add some of these songs to a fun/chill playlist. Wouldn't be opposed to listening to this again.

I have been pretty consistent with decent marks for elvis costello, and this one will be no different, but at the same time, much like Neil Young, nick cave, radiohead perhaps we don't need to include this many of one artist. I like all of the above, but just feels like overkill. And thats not a reaction to this album, as its quite enjoyable Shabby Doll is great

This is damn good. Less glib and more haunted-sounding than his later work, which is the reverse of how that usually works.

🤦‍♀️

Showtuney

Beyond Belief 3.8 Tears Before Bedtime 3.5 Shabby Doll 3.7 The Long Honeymoon 3.3 Man Out of Time 4.2 Almost Blue 4 …And in Every Home 3.4 The Loved Ones 3.5 Human Hands 3.6 Kid About It 3.4 Little Savage 3.5 Boy With a Problem 3.4 Pidgin English 3.5 You Little Fool 3.5 Town Cryer 3.6 Score: 3.593333333

Wonderful

So good – a dozen highly literate, sharply observed, skilfully played and produced pop gems. Coherent storylines and consistent-to-complementary tones from song to song make this a master class in pop music, from the strong first cut to the exquisite closer. Tasteful applications strings and horns and subtle piano figures seem to comment on the moods of these songs, adding lush sort of depth and richness in uber-appropriate ways. "Shabby Doll;" “Man Out of Time” and “Almost Blue” and "Beyond Belief" and "Little Fool" are the top cuts but every song is excellent in its own way, which is why this is, without a doubt, a masterpiece.

not the best Elvis Costello album imho. I enjoy more the pop punk first years and i think these where the years that took him up there. The sweet and sultry albums don't suit him. Sorry

Rather good

I keep trying to like Elvis Costello more than I do. I’m not sure what I’m reaching for here. The album cover is awesome. The first two songs are great, then the rest of the record didn’t really grab me. I enjoyed it more upon repeat listens, but I’m not sure this one will stay in heavy rotation.

This just seemed kind of one note to me, not much stood out. I’m sure it’s relevant to someone. Another case for a 10 point scale. 2.5/5

This one is in my top 5 Costello albums, but it just doesn’t rise to meet the level of his debut or Armed Forces or This Year’s Model. But the production on it is great. And the collision of styles even greater. Not to mention his lyricism, which has always been outstanding. I mean, c’mon. Can you ask for a more perfect opening? “History repeats the old conceits The glib replies, the same defeats Keep your finger on important issues With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues”

I’m sure there are elements that I’m just missing, or are maybe over my head. I can certainly appreciate the complexity of the arrangements and production here, def next level. But can’t say any of the songs on this one really grabbed my attention fully. Probably better material out there from EC.

A solid showing. I appreciate this and liked a fair amount. I’m just don’t get super hyped the second best Elvis. 3.25 and prob one his albums we’ve gotten that I liked the most.

One of those albums I know is good, but just not for me. I suspect we’ll be seeing much more from Costello in this exercise… 3/5

A bit eclectic, really enjoyed it

Another Elvis Costello! And once again not really for me. Did find myself enjoying this one more than past entries. Overall- 2.5/5

Has it's moments, not something I'll listen to again tho

A little bit of a flaming lips sounding like it tho

Nothing grabbed me, cool cover art though

Liked this more than I expected. Somewhere between 3 and 4. Will go higher because of the good musicianship by The Attractions.

Not doing any harm. Surprisingly hard to track down.

2.5

He is an artist who I like and admire a great deal but don’t listen to that often to be honest. This was pretty good if a bit overlong. I did like it though.

I respect this guy for his unique sounds and song writing, but he's just a little too clean cut to make me cut loose on the dance floor.

Ok record for me

Haha I like the weird Picasso-style Elvis Costello guy on the album art. Costello another guy with songs I have listened to and enjoyed, but rarely lived with an entire album. Love his voice. Scrolling through the tracklist I see no big singles that I recognize, but I do see the Human Hands song that Gabs submitted to ML2 which I gave no points (Oop). Excited to have no ties to any of these songs by a guy who I know does good stuff, let's goooo.... And In Every Home > Shabby Doll > Man Out of Time > You Little Fool > The Loved Ones > Kid About It > Town Cryer > Pidgin English > Human Hands > Almost Blue > Boy With A Problem > Tears Before Bedtime > Little Savage > Beyond Belief > The Long Honeymoon Wow I really like Shabby Doll. That's got that Elvis Costello Punch that I like. Ooh and And In Every Home is even better haha. Human Hands even hitting in the context of this album. This was a nice listen! Was ready for another snarky Seger 2 or 3, but enough cool memorable shit happening here that I am excited to revisit some day in the future. I think this got that coveted 4 star rating.

3.6/5

I have always respected Costello but never really listened to a lot of his albums. When I was living in Canada the closest place to buy music was a Radio Shack in Fort Frances. I picked up When I Was Cruel on a whim and a need to hear something new and there was a lack of options. I had listened to This Year's Model and enjoyed it in the past. I lived with a girl in Minneapolis with her Mom and Brother. Her Brother would play a lot of music that I would end up loving and we would talk artists. We would smoke cigarettes in the basement and drink beer. He looked like your stereotypical late 20's that never grew out of the mid 90's, flannel and goatee. Elvis Costello came up a couple times but this album never did. I enjoyed a few tracks on this album but I can't see myself going back to it. The Long Honeymoon and Almost Blue stood out for me.

As always, Elvis Costello is fine but never hits with me

I have never heard Elvis Costello before in my life so I really didn't know what to make of this. He is an interesting songwriter, but his singing voice is also... interesting. I'm going to sit on the fence with this one and rate it a 3.

I really liked this album. I hadn't heard it before other than the three singles. It had lots of variety - even a bossanova! Liked Songs Added: Beyond Belief Man Out Of Time Almost Blue

Great album!

A pleasant listen, nothing special

3.5