Imperial Bedroom

im gonna need to listen to this 2 or 3 more times i think. there were moments that rubbed me wrong and moments i really loved. My snap judgement would be a 3.5. I could see it growing with repeats though. I'd love to hear a Nick Lowe produced version.

3.5, I like it but not as driven to relisten

Baroque pop good lurrcs not my favorite of his tho

It’s Elvis Costello. Nothing groundbreaking and not sure why there’s more than 1 of his albums

best EC album i've heard yet, but i'm still not sold

Sure, I like Elvis Costello.

I am a huge Elvis Costello fan but this album just doesn’t hit like his earlier work. It has some good songs but this album doesn’t reach the heights of his 1970’s albums. Still, mid-grade Elvis Costello is better than top shelf most other artists.

Like the other 500 Elvis Costello albums on this list, it's plenty enjoyable. Just not something you "must hear" at all to me. It's fairly standard, if well-made, pop rock.

Fine

Sorry mr Costello I was busy at work this was kind of just background noise. To be relistened.

this was a very neato album urrm. nothing too special about it, but i enjoyed listening

Although I didn't love this album, I did have a fun time exploring some of Costello's hits afterwards. Some songs just struck a lovely chord - added a few to my rotation. Top song was "The Long Honeymoon"

I respect the heck out of Elvis Costello. I understand this is good, well-written music. I just haven’t found an album of his past This Year’s Model that I have connected with.

Such a pretentious album. I felt like an idiot for not appreciating it more.

A little bit of a front loaded album. Some good songs at the beginning, some pretty rock and roll, but overall kinda just okay

Vond zijn stem op sommige nummers prettiger dan andere.

Ok album. Nothing outstanding to me though.

Album for a rainy day.

Decent.

Reasonable

Costello is becoming an artist I'm conflicted about, as his debut album was brilliant, but each album of his I've heard since has struggled to reach the high of My Aim Is True. Shame.

3.5

2.5 - I mean, it's better than some of his other albums, but still nothing special to me at the moment. Maybe I could see myself liking this more upon relisten, but I say that very hesitantly.

Hyvää musaa, vaikken vieläkään kokenut suurta Costello-valaistumista.

Avausraita (joka ikävästi puuttuu yllättävän monesta paikasta) kiinnostava, muuten aika basic rock-levy. 3/5

I usually don't understand Elvis Costello, but there a few songs of his I adore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIzTXbixEaQ) I would need to listen to this one more to get a vibe and I aint got time. 3 stars.

much more enjoyable than the previous 85 Elvis Costello albums the generator served up

solid, didn't blow me away.

Beautiful voice. The sound and quality seem to be ahead of its time. Every song could go on a different playlist. Definitely worth further digging into their library. High 3

Liked this much much more than previous Costello albums, just seems like deep layered music. still don't like his vocals much. 3.3

Niet overdreven speciaal

Not bad, not amazing, but was a decent listen

It's OK, honestly nothing super special.

Always impressed by Elvis Costello. I don't know why I've not delved deeper in the past.

This is like almost great sometimes

AJ: This was pretty cool. Lots of really cool songs, a couple slow bois but overall pretty cool. I like his voice but found myself getting tired of it at points. But it really hits in a few songs. The band is tight as hell. Hipster rock. 3 Cat: this was cool and cute! Loved how his piano stuff was the focus on parts.

Musicianship is on point, but doesn't really do it for me.

Good, but not my fav of his.

Elvis Costello

a connu pire elvis costello

It was pretty good, just too long in my opinion.

3/5 Best: Man Out of Time Worst: Boy with a Problem

3.5 Solid by the other Elvis.

I love Elvis' voice! He writes unconventional songs, and this album grew on me for the 2nd listen. No big radio hits from this album, but some good songs are: Beyond Belief The Long Honeymoon Man Out of Time The Loved Ones Human Hands Kid About It

Don’t think this is my favourite. But, I am a fan. Another artist where we seem to be overwhelmed by greatest hits and miss a lot of good music.

Ok, but I hadn't heard any songs of this before.

Some really well crafted songs. I find it a bit tedious though, the way everything is crafted so specifically.

Still not a fan, but I think I appreciated the vocal cadence on this album a bit more. It is what it is.

Fine but nothing special

It’s a fine album.

The usual Elvis Costello mix of eclectic pop (lots of orchestral influence)

Not a huge fan of his voice, but the songs were pretty good.

Had no idea what to expect, as I don't think I've ever listened to Elvis Costello. It was average.

some not great songs but also some genuine bangers

The production might be great, but I prefer the energy of their earlier albums.

'Man Out of Time' és un dels millors temes de la seva discografia. I una de les millors mostres d'un exemple perfecte de la maduresa artística de Costello: lletres intel.ligents, arranjaments precisos i melodies addictives. I 'Imperial Bedroom' un dels millors treballs on tot això es dóna duna manera més acurada

Costello takes an artsy turn to his New Wave music, using all sorts of strange instruments and synths and studio effects to produce an immersive experience. The combination of his power pop vocals and chords with the vaudeville instrumentation and wall of sound remind me a lot of Sgt Pepper. This is his most versatile album, hearing an intriguing unique style in every track. I thought the first 5 songs were fantastic and thrilling, but I got really bored by the rest of the album, only really liking "The Loved Ones" and "Town Cryer". Reminds me a bit of the Zombies with the piano and baroque vocals, but frankly I found most of the second half quite boring. At least they're almost all less than 3 minutes, but it got exhausting with its 50 minute length. These weak tracks really weigh it down.

Some of the better songs are good, but most of the songs feel meandering and boring.

This is the first artist we have gotten more than one album for and it had to be Elvis fucking Costello. It's inoffensive, but nothing really jumps out at me. There are a few somewhat catchey sections of songs, but i'm not vibing with any of it super hard. Another 3/5 for the books. Almost blue is the best track on the album solely because it is a ballad

not really my thing but i kind of get it. interesting sounds and good voice.

This is the third Elvis Costello album that I have gotten, and I would consider myself a new fan of his. If I could, I would give this album a 3.5/5. Very easy to listen to and enjoy.

он ничего, я пока его особенно не поняла, но интересный

I don’t love it, but I guess I never really did love Elvis Costello.

Almost Blue is a great song. Sadly most of the rest of the album wasn’t quite as good, I wonder if Elvis Costello has other recordings that lean more into the blues genre; I’ll check and give those a listen. Side note - I used to live next to the Chandlers where EC bought most of his guitars from

It's not quite as bad as most Elvis Costello joints but it's still pretty plastic. I think The Attractions are doing a lot of work here, pulling back Costello's cheesiness and laying down some legit music. All in all, I give it a middling score. I've listened to later albums and this is not as bad as I know it could be.

Cool

Ah. Yes Beyond Belief, Man out of Time and Almost Blue are fine tunes. But elsewhere everything is swamped in complex arrangements and overproduction. I am not one who subscribes to this album as masterpiece. Overthought and overwrought.

God aweful, waste of a great album cover

Generous 3 stars for me. Lots to like here but wasn't a lot to love. Found I enjoyed the songs while they happened but nothing really stood out to me and I quickly forgot the song that came before it completely. Enjoyable listen and maybe needs a revisit but didn't really grab me the way I thought it might

Elvis Costello was way more of a singer-songwriterthan I remember. Not bad.

Nice one

Surprised how bored I got listening to this

Never been an Elvis Costello fan and this album didn't change my mind; kinda can't stand his stuffy nose sounding singing. It's alright, nothing special. 6/10.

Always a great record but better records from Elvis' early career. The hits are undeniable, of course.

Probably the Elvis Costello album I've liked the most of the 3 I've seen so far. Would be a 3.5 if I could do it. Standouts: Beyond Belief, Man Out Of Time, ...And In Every Home, Boy With A Problem, You Little Fool

It's consummate and impressively crafted. But it's not for me

I've tried and tried and tried to "get" Elvis Costello's albums but, besides My Aim is True (and a couple of songs on Armed Forces), it just doesn't stick. The songs mostly live in that almoooost-melodic-but-not-quite-there zone, and are rinsed in a kind of campy corniness that just doesn't take me anywhere.

I had a couple of his albums and saw him in concert when I was in my teens, but, honestly, other than a handful of songs, I don't remember much of his work. I don't think I'd heard this album or any of its tracks before. There are some interesting numbers on it. I like that he's tried different styles and sounds over his career. He is an adventurous and talented composer and writer, and even though I don't always love his music and his voice -- just a matter of personal preference -- I definitely appreciate it.

3.5 - My review for this will echo much of what I said about "Armed Forces." Costello creates these intricate songs constructed like clever mechanical toys, but mostly they make me feel nothing and it's a chore to get through the full album. However, I do like the hushed vocals on "Beyond Belief." And there's some nice Spector-esque glitter on "You Little Fool." I also love the jagged violin fills on "Town Cryer."

Groovy

This album was, in my opinion, the perfect form of idea into execution. I don’t really think Me. Costello would change a thing about the album, so as far as production goes, it’s perfect in that sense. That doesn’t mean that I would change anything, though. There were too many cheesy love lyrics and Elvis’ singing was very corny at times. A perfect cheesy love album, but that’s not what I’m into. 3/5

It's an all right listen, but not my favorite Costello album. It definitely has some interesting sounds and ideas, but overall didn't really ever "wow" me

The early 80's were a productive time for Costello. He broke free of the angry young man image and developed as a great songwriter. Up until around late '83 he was untouchable. Then Mozza came along and added some oddity to the package. Imperial Bedroom sounds like a man transforming in front of you. This couldn't be more true than on Man Out of Time. It all means that the album doesn't quite hold it together. But it does move Costello up to another level.

Standouts include Beyond Belief and Man Out of Time

Not Costello enough

Decent. Liked 2 or 3 songs but that's about it. Costello's voice sounded like lead singer of RHCP to me somewhat.

Hienosti sävellettyä softrockia

When I was young, I thought Elvis Costello (of this & susbequent albums) was "grown up music". Now I'm grown up, and I agree with my younger self. Lots going on, lots of talent and originality and variety. But still, somehow, lacking the "hook me in" factor. Maybe I need to give it another go around (or maybe then, his sometimes over-wrought singing would start to bug me, like it bugs Natalie).

This might provoke some outrage or disbelief from the hard-core EC fans (hi Peter, hi Glenn), but this is not a really standout Elvis album for me. Thinking about it, I tend to prefer his quick-and-dirty albums, a bit more rock and roll, a bit less polished. I can see what he was heading for, but I find that Elvis is less effective when he tries to get fancy. So, some good songs (the singles, plus Shabby Doll and Beyond Belief are stand-outs for me), but not a great Elvis album for me. (Mind you, that's still on the "would listen again" list)

ok pleasant listen but not memorable

Ok

This is the fourth Elvis Costello album I've had to listen to on this list and, as I said in the other 3 reviews, the albums are all the same: 1-2 great songs, 4-5 mediocre songs, and the rest terrible songs. This album is no different. Unfortunately it appears there's at least one more album on the list so I'll have to write this same review one more time.

OK, but well past his best period by this point.

beyond belief actually really hooked me by the end, I started it off thinking it probably wasn't gunna be for me but I ended up actually quite enjoying it though there were some songs that made me just wish they were over like shabby doll overall not a bad listen, probably not something I would come back to though

Music - 3 stars Cover art - 4 stars

Weirdly can't get on the streaming service. Voted 3 bit still to listen.

Imperial Bedroom is the 7th album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. There was a variety of instrument experimentation on this album that employed a variety of genres like new wave pop, baroque pop, and art rock. This album was critically acclaimed for its songwriting, production, & lyrics, and has been considered a masterpiece and one of Costello's best works. Costello may have hit his peak with this album. This was a fun and interesting album to listen to. I don't think I've heard pop like this before, and I enjoyed it. Every song stands on its own as something fresh and unique, but all together they make quite the collection of eclectic tracks. This album may not be for everyone, but everyone should still give it a shot.

Pas vraiment de chansons marquantes, mais c'est toujours sympathique du Elvis Costello.

The first couple of songs were really interesting and there was some other good stuff mixed in, but there were also some really tedious piano ballads that I could have really done without

Not a Costello fan at all, but this album isn’t half bad.

L’album commence très bien, mais plus on avance, moins c’est intéressant et plus c’est quétaine. J’ai l’impression d’écouter la voix française de Rick Moranis chanter.

My mom is a big Elvis Costello fan and she was excited when I got this album today. Unfortunately I will have to be disappointing her, while I do think this is a good album it is really just not my thing. Costello is a wonderfully talented musician and I respect his impact on music and I know he is a particularly creative lyricist. It just doesn't really hit the spot for me.

I enjoyed "almost blue" - his voice is a bit less affected here and has room to breathe. It's almost the oppposite of something like "the loved ones" with the crazy sampled orchestration. The album overall has pretty drastic shifts in tone but flows well overall.

A few high notes but quite a bit of beige padding it out.

This album was good, but it loses points because Elvis does not have an enjoyable singing voice. It is very grating at times. 3/5

Elvis Costello is fine. It does mostly sound like the same song on repeat, but I wojuldn't call it bad music.

I've always struggled with Elvis Costello. I think it's just that I don't like his voice. Makes me think there might be some truth in music critics liking Elvis Costello because music critics look like Elvis Costello. So when the first song sounded like Pulp, I though this was going to be the moment it all clicks. But then it wasn't. Some it does though, enough to have it on for a fair few listens though. Strangely it doesn't feel like a 51 minute album, which is normally a good sign.

I'd take THIS Elvis over that other one any day! Solid album. 3/5

Yeah

A good listen but so similar from song to song that it just coalesced into pleasant background music without anything particularly standing out

I can say with 100% certainty I had no idea what Elvis Costello sounded like or what his general vibe was. He reminded me of more 90s music, like Barenaked Ladies, rather than an early 80s group. This isn’t a bad thing.

This was almost very good. enjoyed a lot of it, but can't put my finger on what wasn't quite there for it. Maybe it was the singing? Somehow got a lot of Hamilton vibes from this.

Not as good as people say. Influenced by the Beatles

YO! I've never heard a whole album by Elvis, I've enjoyed his music forever and have many songs in multiple playlists. I added a couple songs to my liked songs playlist. A little Elvis goes a long way.

A 3, and only just.

Ahggh. I know there is quite a few EC albums on here. Like the guy, lyrically good. Don't love the voice, I find it a bit annoying. Good set of songs that are diverse is style. Its a tad bland but it is solid. Difficult. Gonna be a 3.

I love Elvis Costello but at worst this just feels by the numbers and at best it is a bunch of unfinished ideas for later works. Not that bad, just not that memorable

It's Elvis Costello, so generally OK for me. But not an album that I had listened to before and I didn't hear any hits

ok but not my fave EC

Pop elegante y tranquilo con buena voz

I like Elvis Costello and I don't know a single one of these songs.

vocals remind me of bowie. funky production, great bass. quite moody, noir music. "man out of time" is fantastic. "...and in every home" has some wonderful orchestral arrangement - smooth strings and powerful brass.

Not my favorite Elvis Costello

Haven't heard this album before. There were no songs on it that I knew either. Elvis Costello just isn't as popular in the USA as he is in the UK. Given that. I really loved this album. I need to hear more of it to justifyr a better rating. For now, I'll give it a solid 3/5. I am sure this will go higher in future listens.

Elvis is growing on me.

I like Elvis Costello, though I tire easily of him... yet I found this album to be an easy listen.

Another good Elvis Costello album. No big stand out hits but it's pretty consistently good

This was odd. As the tracks were playing through more and more sounded familiar so maybe the album is in the collection. Definitely possible as a lot of early Elvis was bought. A quick check and it cannot be found - seemingly has been removed from the building. There are plenty of his trademarks, the barbed lyrics, the sometimes snarly vocals. There does appear to be a shift away from the more poppy stuff. The quality is there but maybe not as accessible as earlier work.

Je crois que tout a déjà été dit à propos de ce que l'on appelle communément « L'imposture Costello ». L'argument le plus marquant de cette théorie est sans nul doute la voix dégueulasse de l'artiste à classer parmi les pires de l'industrie. À l'extrême opposée de cet organe défectueux, je dispose moi-même d'une voix chantée absolument sublime, encore saluée hier soir lors d'une soirée karaoké (que j'ai une nouvelle fois remportée haut la main). C'est bien simple, je ne pus pas terminer la moindre chanson sans entendre des « Was für eine geile Stimme... » prononcés dans un allemand parfait à mon endroit. Pour vous donner une idée, la seule personne que je connaisse ayant tenté de relativiser ce fait pourtant établi n'est autre que mon ennemi juré eltrapeze. Celui-ci a en effet un jour affirmé que ma voix était « belle mais pas non plus exceptionnelle ». Ces propos sont aberrants et ont naturellement contribué à nourrir la haine qui nous unit aujourd'hui. Pour en revenir aux soirées karaoké, vous savez que la situation est toujours extrêmement tendue entre Robert et moi, robrebellière. La raison, et vous la connaissez, est que je viole depuis plusieurs semaines le septième commandement de son décalogue en chantant à tue-tête des chansons encore non-générées. C'est la raison pour laquelle, hier, en tentant de sortir du bar organisant l'évènement en question, je fus pris d'effroi lorsque je vis la rue occupée sur toute sa longueur par des véhicules d'intervention appartenant à la milice de Robert. Fort heureusement, le patron du bar me fit évacuer par le fleuve qui longue la terrasse en me prêtant l'une de ses gondoles et je m'échappai ni vu ni connu jusqu'à mon domicile.

L'écoute de cet album a été gâchée par une réflexion m'ayant accompagnée tout au long des 50 minuts proposées par Elvis Costello & The Attractions: mais pourquoi diable les Attractions n'ont-ils pas sorti un album solo.

Beyond belief is my all time favorite Elvis Costello song, closely followed or maybe a co-first with Lipstick Vogue... listening to a couple albums coincidentally in close succession is making me realize though that I’m maybe really more of a “Greatest Hits” variety of fan. I don’t dislike any of it but a lot of it sort of blends together for me.

Genre: Pop Rock 3/5 I have to admit: this is my first LP-length sitdown with Elvis Costello. His work with Paul McCartney in the late 80s did not go unnoticed from me, as I'm a huge Macca-head, but even then I wasn't particular to the cards he was bringing to the table. It seems the man has a great sense of melody, and knows how to arrange his ideas into full-fledged songs, but his voice... I've never been a fan of it. It's nasal, it's piercing (WITHOUT being high-pitched), and it's always so loud in the mix. The gentlemen behind the boards do nothing to hide it. It makes songs like Man Out of Time, a really nice and interesting pop song overall, sound like a parody of what they're trying to be. I've never understood why nobody told him to sing differently. It reminds me of somebody pretending to sound like a bad 80s singer. This man certainly has his fans, and while this album was more enjoyable than I expected, with some decent 80s pop arrangements, but it was impossible to get passed his voice for me.

Not a bad album, it is well produced and his vocals are flawless in their use, but he lost some of the edge of his earlier albums.

Distinctly Elvis Costello. Some tracks particularly enjoyable.

Enjoyed it. Probably didn't get it the attention it deserved. Solid.

Ooooooooooooo

Creative rocking. Often wish it was a different singer. I'll stick with the radio plays

Interesting elements, especially the instrumentation. I could take or leave the lyrics and vocals.

I find his voice quite difficult but I did like a couple of the tracks

2nd Elvis album on the list. Different vibe this time, lost the upbeat indie pop vibe for something more like crooning. Nothing terrible here, but not a repeater

6/10

Rock suave

Good end-to-end listen

I find Elvis Costello a little annoying. This was ok.

Not my favorite Elvis Costello album, but still enjoyable. His guitar tuning and playing remains unmistakable to me.

Elvis C is Elvis C but does not need a million albums on this list. True Elvis C is a 3* fine album, but tempted to dock just for how many albums are on the list

Average voice, bits of interesting music, in all not annoying but not exciting either. One star off for the font used on the album cover -- How AWFUL! Absolutely a stain to the Piccaso work. Then another star off for the scream at the end of Man out of Time.

shabby doo human hands

6/10

Much more mature than the first Costello album I listened to, to the point of being borderline overproduced (did we need strings there?). Great ballads.

ok

Elvis, te tengo por vío. Brutal Youth es del corte. Es cierto como más de alguno dijo, tu voz puede molestar, y aquí molesta por momentos.

OK

I have a fading but still distinct memory of being a little kid and for some reason up LATE on a Saturday night in the 70s - the tv was on in the living room (shag carpet + fireplace - obviously) and the much-whispered-about in 1st grade [but only ever actually seen by "Dennis" who was clearly at that time the class rebel (i.e. degenerate-in-training)] Saturday Night Live was on. I recall a very aggressive and odd looking guy singing emphatically and getting RIGHTUPTHISCLOSE to the camera. Of course this was Elvis Costello and his (in)famous appearance before being banned from SNL for years. This was not the Elton John or Queen I was used to listening to. And certainly not the Muppet Show. Fast forward a few decades when I re-arrived very very late to the Costello game - only within the last 15 or so years? And this was one I'd never heard before; I don't even know if I'd heard any of these in passing back in the early 80s - if any were in the MTV mix between Def Leppard and Rainbow I clearly don't remember. I wouldn't have been ripe for it. Right off the bat "Beyond Belief" brings a great haunting melody and I love the bass riffs into and through the fade out. Another quick standout is "Shabby Doll" which combines EC's crooner feel over a funky beat. My two personal faves. There's a fullness to the sound on this entire album - much bigger than his earlier raw material but defining it on its own merit it does sound fantastic. It's funny though, after liking it a lot over the first few songs I'm not sure my interest stayed at the same level. Historically I love big sounding huge mixes on albums. But I don't know if I love it for Elvis Costello? "...And In Every Home" is unquestionably well-crafted - with horns and strings, it sounds like something 3 levels above something off of Sgt. Pepper - but do I actually like it? It's ... fine. This song could have been better served by another band (early Kinks?) perhaps. I will say that the album closes really well - "Pidgin English" and "You Little Fool" especially really brought it back for me - some "familiar unexpected" EC musical choices within each of these songs. I feel like my rating is possibly premature - even though it didn't hit me overall, this is an ambitious album and absolutely showcases what a talent Costello is. I feel like this is one that might grow on a listener over time. Overall the album sounds really great, but I initially find that I really prefer the early rawness of EC's first few albums. For now it's in the "intriguing enough to give a few more spins" bin with other 3 star ratings... 7/10 3 stars.

3/5

I am digging the sonic landscape of Elvis Costello. Really dig The Long Honeymoon. Lots of the album just feels like it lacks punch.

Pretty cool... but I can't imagine going back too often.

Not his best, had a overly produced 80's quality to a lot of it. Still enjoyable though.

While I am not the biggest fan of Elvis Costello, he does have a certain charm.

was ok

I’m familiar with Elvis Costello, only recognized one song on the track. I appreciated the variety of instruments and genres throughout the album, but his voice is not my favorite.

Dug it. Don't know Elvis Costello too well.

Probably wouldn't listen to again.

Was not a fan of the overall sound.

meh first song was gas tho

A new album for me. Classic Elvis Costello. Its ok but no songs that really stick out for me.

Jonathan Coulton vibes

8th July 2021 Listened on the living room speaker while working on the day after the Wembley sesh. I liked it but I have to admit that it passed me by a bit.

Some of the same issues with the last Costello album. He doesn’t vary his voice a lot. I did like the timechange in Man About Time. Can’t go wrong with the horns in ...And In Every Home either

Great to see some Wirral representation. Costello is a legend and a fantastic songwriter. I don’t think this album is anything groundbreaking or crazy but it’s very well crafted and excellently recorded with every song seamlessly blending into the nex. Thoroughly enjoyed it but it needs more bangers.

Pleasantly surprised. Like Pulp but with some actual depth. Would listen again.

Not bad not my favorite

It worries me he keeps specify 'human' hands. Something you want to tell us Mr. Costello? I wasn't blown away by this album, but while listening to it I caught myself bobbing my head several times, so clearly I enjoyed it. Because there were no songs that stood out exceptionally to me, I'll give this a 3, but I'd rather give it a 3.5.

Niet heel veel van kunnen draaien, klinkt wel interessant.

solid album. Not my favorite by Elvis, but worth a relisten.

Decent

Elvis Costello is some of the most inoffensive rock ever written. Your grandma won’t hate it!

Still not a fan of Elvis Costello

It was fine good keys but generally nothing offended or cought my ear

It started kind of slow for me, but it proved to be a grower of sorts. Guess it was because I was waiting for some sort of 80's new wave banger, but turns out it's more of a baroque pop thing. Enjoyable.

eh

I’m having trouble seeing the gushing love for everything Elvis Costello. Good, yes. Mind blowing? Eh?

This was fine but thats about it. I've never been a big fan of Mr Costello except for the hits.

3.3

It’s ok. Not exciting

Quite nice, great vocal melodies

80’er rock, god sangskrivning, god produktion

I went back and forth between thinking of this as average or average-ish and reasonably essential (2 and 3 in my rating scale, respectively) for basically the whole record; It was the "town cryer" pun that finally did it for me. This isn't a standout pop album for me. For what it's worth, I think bringing out the instrumental variety more would do a lot for it: My ear is drawn first to Costello's voice, my least favorite piece of the texture. However, there's quite a bit to be mined here, and no songs are throwaways, never mind skips.

Another good costello album

Elvis Costello is the mayonnaise of music.

I can't figure out what these kinds of albums are for - like, if you're a fan, when do you listen to this? what does it do for you? what mood does it set? what experience are you after? He's a style chameloeon, hoping around sounds from light new wave, to adult sophistipop, to jazzy Parisian bossa nova - but it's always the same scaly big eyed chameloeon - the distinctive voice and melodic phrasing.

it's not remotely close to ranking in the worst exports of the british and irish isles in the 1980s, but his voice just is genuinely unpleasant to listen to.

I made it to track 7. It's an Elvis Costello album, alright. I can't fucking believe there are six albums of his on the list. This, realistically, was inoffensive but mediocre. It's just that he has a way of making pretty much every song sound the same, even when they're totally different. In my feeble past attempts at creating art and in my four decades of appreciation of art, I have always thought that perhaps the most difficult part of an artist's job is knowing how much is enough; knowing when to stop adding to the piece. Elvis Costello does not understand this, and is ABSOLUTELY UNDESERVING OF SIX ALBUMS YOU "MUST" LISTEN TO. This is the 3rd I have listened to, and I don't look forward to the others. ⭐⭐

Just not an Elvis Costello fan.

Who is Elvis Costello making music for? It's surely not me. I'm not even sure he knows who he's making music for.

so bored of elvis costello

At least it's the last one that I have to listen to.

Yawn.

I wonder if the accolades it received at the time was the about face move going from “new wave punk guy” to classicist? It has Beyond Belief and also a lot of other songs, some of them very long even when they’re 3 minutes.

VbEaRdY

I hate this guy

Not for me.

why are there so may Elvis Costello albums in this list :\

Sad and grey.

This list really makes you wanna hate Elvis Costello I swear can we just remove all of his boring albums

Another Elvis Costello album, I just can’t understand him and why Robert Dimery is absolutely in love with him. I’m beginning to realise the worst part of his albums are is his awful vocals. Like, couldn’t he get another singer and it would be like so much better? Two more albums by him, and it’s his best solo and group album by score, so I hope it’s better. 4/6

2 stars I got into E.C. 22 years ago. I was a freshman in high school and really liked the idea of a cool geeky rock star. I got really into his first 3 albums. But I heard that Imperial Bedroom was a beloved album. I gave it a shot then and did not get it. Over the years I tried it out again. I never get it. “Man Out of Time” and “Beyond Belief” were pretty good songs. But so much other stuff that did not stick with me. I really wanted to like it this time around. I think I finally heard some subtlety that I didn’t appreciate years ago. But the complex melodies and not- so-straight forward approach to song structure didn’t lead to an album I cared much to listen to more of.

Favourite Songs: Tears Before Bedtime

204 / 1089. 70s Elvis Costello > 80s Elvis Costello. And no, you cannot convince me otherwise. A few really good tracks, but nothing transcending good into classic territory for my ears. 5/10.

Wanted to like it but it got reallll boring

Another one I just couldn’t engage with. Not unpleasant, just not grabbing my attention

The beatings will continue until I agree to enjoy elvis costello. But I persevere and refuse to give in

Better than the last Elvis Costello album I listened to from this list. Decent instruments but do not like the songwriting or style. More power to those that enjoy this

Αναγνωρίζω την raggea και τα ωραία στοιχεία του αλμουμ, αλλά μου πέρασε εντελώς στο υπόβαθρο (όπως με το 70% αυτών των άλμπουμ...). ...

Not the kind of thing I wanted to listen to during a headache, immediately after a bad date. It went almost perfectly. But she kept calling me "boy" after getting a little too drunk. I wonder, when I read these reviews back far in the future, I will remember who this is, or if she'll still be in my life. Hey future Rylee, her name begins with A. Remember? Anyway, 50 minutes of mediocre Elvis Costello didn't help. I really liked the first album I heard from him, This Year's Model, but this is far less exciting. More bloated. More varied, sure, but that means there's a higher chance for things here to sound like something I don't like. And most of the time, I don't. Sorry.

Dull

I don't like Elvis Costello's voice. The rest of the music isn't nearly good enough to make up for it. After four songs, I had to turn it off. It was just too annoying. 2/5

Anytime there is an artist on this list with multiple albums, I have to wonder if they were all hits, or all influential, or have some reason to tip the scales. This album just feels like an okay affair. I guess the big hook was the use of a different producer, but it sounded like Elvis Costello. I just don’t see a reason to have multiple albums by the guy when there are other bands (including some clearly inspired by him) who don’t make the cut.

kinda funny, maar echt zo nikszeggend. beetje doodoo

Niet mijn smaak

Han har en dålig röst och gör inte särskilt bra låtar. Det är musik, men är det bra musik? Inte en enda "hit" (i mina öron) , inte en enda låt som man känner "wow". Och då har grabben en miljard album på denna lista. Jag förstår genuint inte vad grejen är. Tror nästan jag hatar mannen, om jag känner nåt.

Elvis Costello is fine, but there is entirely too much Elvis Costello on this list

I'm pretty hit or miss on Costello. I think I enjoy more of his hits than what was presented on this album. I'll need to come back and relisten some time soon to really have a formed opinion of this one. It wasn't what I expected.

Have listened to this before and it didn't leave much of an impression this time either, all very well put together but does nothing for me 🤷‍♂️

Easily the worst Elvis Costello outing on this list.

Wasn’t bad. But there’s better in Elvis’ discography. 2.75

Every time he had a riff or groove that I thought was good or was going somewhere he would only do it for like 30 seconds and then move on.

This record feels exactly like wandering through a massive, dusty mansion where every square inch is decorated with way too many matching velvet pillows. It is certainly very expensive and fancy to look at, but you will quickly find yourself suffocating and desperately begging for a fresh breeze.

Man Out of Time is a pretty good song, but I didn't like the rest of this at all. I mostly like only his uptempo songs, not whatever this stuff is.

Not for me. I hate accordions. Bro also got weird melodic flow. Kinda feels like those guys who play acoustic sets with a guitar and their ipad at the mexican restaurant in key west. actually thats exactly what it feels like.

This isn’t good

This album just doesn’t do it for me. I’m a fan of Elvis Costello, but this lacks the edge of his better work.

It was alright I guess

Plenty of Costello on here already, this is not one that should be.

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

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.

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

No es mi estilo

Right artist wrong album

First tracks are enjoyable, but others not so much

I can’t take anymore Elvis Costello 2/5

Costello, not my thingo.

the most boring release in the new wave genre

pfff

elvis costellow

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.

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.

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

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.

I beginning to think This Year’s Model is the exception to a career of shitty albums.

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.

While I've enjoyed some of Elvis Costello's work, this album does nothing for me.

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

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.

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.

Bom apenas, um pouco repetitivo. E alguns minutos depois já havia esquecido completamente do álbum

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.

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.

Too middle of the road for me, really enjoyed his early stuff, and saw him live in 1979….

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

I like the instrumentation but not a fan of vocals

Worse than the first time I heard this unfortunately

Mediocre music for mediocre white people

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

not for me

Nice backgroundmusic.

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.

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.

Whiny and corny in a way I do not like.

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.

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.

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.

Couldn’t really get on with the vocals of this guy but I didn’t hate it so there’s that.

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.

Just ok

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

Hvis Elvis Presley var Kongen af Rock ‘n’ Roll er Elvis Costello Kong Kedelig.

..

Too many of this dweeb