Imperial Bedroom

I really tried to like this album. I really did. But I just cant

I recognise that this album has received a large amount of critical acclaim, whether that be for the producing, musical technique, lyrics or instrumental composition, I am unsure. What I am sure of is that this really didn’t do it for me. A little monotonous and unremarkable for my taste.

I swear, I audibly groaned when Declan popped up on the list again, well, it was more of an expletive laden exclamation.. It feels like every time I turn around, there’s another Elvis Costello album to slog through, and honestly, my patience is totally over. Imperial Bedroom is supposed to be his big, sophisticated masterpiece, the one where he swaps his raw, new-wave energy for fancy, baroque-pop arrangements. Yeah? Fuck off Declan, get when you get there, fuck off some more.

idk

Someone has decided Elvis Costello is a major influence. He's not

ok

This was a case of just too much. I think IO might have enjoyed some more of this album if there were less flourishes and background instrumentation going on. There's probably a reason I had never heard of this album, despite being a fan of Elvis Costello from around this era.

not my favorite. eternal. couldn’t wait for it to be over. the music wasn’t bad bad but just not for me

Treći njegov album. To je već tri previše. Ne sjećam se nijedne pjesme s prva dva ali osjetim da je ovaj barem jednu trunčicu drugačiji. To ne znači nužno bolji. Čovjek je jednostavno vrlo netalentovan. Danas sam saznala da je nepotizam vjerovatno razlog što ga stalno slušam ovdje. Ima smisla.

12/07/2026 I just don't get Elvis Costello, I think his music is boring and my soul does a little every time another one of his albums pops up. Spotify listeners: 837k

So was this list made by Costello because this is the fourth album of his I’ve gotten and they’ve deteriorated in quality or I’m just bored of him, didn’t realise it when the album looped which was disappointing and can’t remember a single track.

Instrumentally it’s alright, vocally it’s shite sorry Elvis. Apparently the song writing is decent though can’t say that does much when all I’m thinking is ‘wish this guy would be quiet’ 1 star feels too harsh as that puts it in the same category as Eminem but that Eminem album was 0 stars really

First impression: Not a singular memorable track on this album. Out of everything I've heard thus far Costello did not hit the mark with this album. Musically everything sounds nice, but predictable; and the lyrics are so corny. Not a fan of Elvis Costello but I know he's capable of releasing bangers like The Beat. Overall this album was a dud for me. Favourite Track: everything was so forgettable it just melted into one big track. Literally nothing stood out to me except for Boy With a Problem due to a smidge of shock value in his lyrics. To clarify I would never pin Boy With a Problem as a fav (fuck domestic violence). I like Costello's voice but sometimes how he decides to deliver certain lines sound really unpleasant to me in terms of annunciation. One Sentence: subpar and unremarkable. Will I revisit? No

Not really

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.

it was nice. i like his glasses.

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

Costello is such an “eh”. This album is particularly “eh”. 2/5

I've had enough Elvis Costello with just 2 albums. Please make it stop.

The moment when Elvis Costello stopped being a punk icon and rebel and turned into a lounge singer. It's not that it's bad; It's that Costello's voice is not suited to this type of music and it wasn't exactly the music that 20-year-old me wanted to hear. It's more what my grandparents wanted to hear. If not for old critics and 2000s hipsters, this album would be forgotten.

mid album

Goede productie maar het boeide me niet zo

This album was exceptionally tedious. Elvis didn't hit a successful balance between the claimed "experimental musical pallets", and his vocals. He just barrels over everything without taking a pause, and with himself sitting way on top in the mix. The songs all listened the same, and while there were some good moments this was all around nit my thing. 2/5

There's a lot going on here, and I think this is probably one of those albums that requires a lot of work to really pick up what's being put down. Unfortunately for Mr. Costello, his overrepresentation on this list has created knee-jerk disgust, and not many listeners are going to bother putting in the required time (myself included). I did give it a couple of full playthroughs, though, and I'm willing to toss it the benefit of the doubt.

Для меня Элвис Костелло - одно из открытий этого списка, но в данном случае я согласен с большинством. Здесь он раздражает.

Not everything Elvis Costello needs to be here. 2* This is fine, boring, bland.

Elvis Costello is what Frank Zappa would be if he was a massive dweeb. There are admittedly some good moments throughout the album, but then it strays off into psychedelic carnival music with his awful moany voice over it. He's just another dork trying to make something different. Boring album.

His best album so far! And it's definitely not as bad as the others but it's still not great l.One good song at least. I can't believe I still have multiple more albums from him 😐👍

I thought I liked this guy, but actually, he kind of just whinges. And not in a nice way! The massive overproduction was not that great either! I didn't actively hate it, but I didn't enjoy it much either. There was very little of the punky grit hidden amongst the pretentious horns. You're not in the Beatles, pal! 2 stars.

A little boring, I prefer the bounce of the earlier work.

Not entirely unlistenable, but I won't listen again. This album is obscure for a reason and I don't think it belongs on this list. A couple of songs are enjoyable, but not memorable. Most are avant garde pretentious nonsense.

Probably the worst EC we have listened to on this list. Not a fan. 1.5/5

Bueno...no es que m'agradi molt,per tenir de fondo ta bé...un 6.

NO MORE ELVIS COSTELLO ALBUMS PLEASE GOD. 1.5 stars.

Some songs were groovy, some songs made me feel extreme excitement to be finished with this album.

Eh. There are some real questionable choices on this list.

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.

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.

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.

overproduced mewling, same as the rest of his records

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

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.

Meh.

Not a fan. His voice is kind of whiny

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

Ugh 2/5

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

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

Famous, but covers were better.

Langweilig…

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

Nice voice but didn’t really care for much else

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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

Uninspired baroque nonsense

Not a fan of Elvis Costello

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.

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

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

this was bland and kind of a drag to get through

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.

Bored me a lot

Don't like his voice.

There are much better Elvis Costello albums than this one!

Can’t give it higher than a 2

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Not my thing.

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

Eh, nothing special

Did not enjoy this

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

🤦‍♀️

Nothing grabbed me, cool cover art though

2.5

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.

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

I'm sure there are some very cheeky lyrics about the realities of middle age buried somewhere in here, but I can't listen long enough to find them. I never felt grown up enough for Elvis Costello, and now that I'm grown up, I still don't.

I just don’t really like Elvis Costello no matter how hard this list tries to convince me otherwise.

It ticks a lot of boxes. Doesn't mean I like it.

Some lovely arrangements, but rather monotonous and ultimately not particularly noteworthy.

New Wave rock pop, hints of Bowie and Rufus. Quirky. Think I like the idea of Elvis Costello more than the actual music.

I didn’t like the Elvis Costello album I got two days ago and I don’t like this one either.

This is my second Elvis Costello album. The first exceeded my expectations, this one was more in line with what I think of when I hear Elvis Costello...

Elvis experiments with mixed results. Enough of the Costello now! Thanks

Trembling love songs from the pianonhat man.

Our 6th Elvis Costello album on the list. Haven't we covered Elvis Costello enough already?! As for the album itself, it started off alright, then got progressively more boring.

S’alright.

It's just boring!

01) Beyond Belief - 6,0 02) Tears Before Bedtime - 6,0 03) Shabby Doll - 6,0 04) The Long Honeymoon - 6,0 05) Man Out of Time - 6,0 06) Almost Blue - 6,0 07) ...And in Every Home - 5,5 08) The Loved Ones - 5,5 09) Human Hands - 5,5 10) Kid About It - 6,0 11) Little Savage - 5,5 12) Boy With a Problem - 5,5 13) Pidgin English - 5,5 14) You Little Fool - 6,0 15) Town Cryer - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,77 (58/100) Current ranking: 418/508

That’s it? that’s Elvis Costello? Huh no thanks

I have zero thoughts or feelings regarding this album. It isn't bad. It's even almost good. But it doesn't hook me in any way.

The algorithm would suggest that I would very much like Elvis Costello. But i don't, not very much. I don't need multiple albums on this list to prove that to myself. Some of the tracks are ok, I even like some of this album, just not the whole album... not very much anyway

Vandaag komt vriend van de show Elvis Costello weer eens aan de poort rammelen. Het goede nieuws is dat dit de vierde keer is dat hij zich komt melden en dat betekent dat ik Col du Costello bijna beklommen heb. Hierna nog twee keer. Verdomme nog twee keer. Maargoed, dit is waarvoor we hebben getekend. We hebben ons vrijwillig in de schoot geworpen van de sekte van Robert Dimery en dan hoort dit er bij. Slikken zullen we. Misschien begin ik wat onverschillig te worden, begin ik te wennen of ben ik simpelweg murw gebeukt, maar ik vind dit niet het vervelendste Elvis Costello album. Toch ben ik wel zo klaar met deze man dat ik me er eigenlijk niet toe kan zetten om een 3 uit te gaan delen hiervoor. En na 50 minuten weet ik dat zeker. Het kon erger, maar het blijft een 2. Wat een overgewaardeerde flapdrol.

Elvis gave up his cool guy roots to become a bit of a normie on this one, I think

I usually enjoy listening to Elvis Costello, but not this one. There were no exceptional songs or standout moments. It's a pretty blah album and quite forgettable.

I have had Beyond Belief on the rotation for a while and legit love that song. The rest of the album Elvis has his head way too far up his ass. The same tonality that works so well when he's doing his punk/cool nerd thing comes across as incredibly self-important and smug when hes doing slow burns and weird vaudeville (?) sounding tunes. I particularly hated the Shabby Doll / The Long Honeymoon duo. There are a few other bright spots on here. Man Out of Time, but to my ear it sounds like this Dion song, Only You Know (great song). You Little Fool was good too.

The rare instance of artistic development actually being a negative for the final product. Elvis’s first few albums are all time classics (I suspect we’ll see them later)- witty, acerbic, mean and fun. My Aim is True is a top 5 album for me. But as he got older he lost his edge and started fucking around w this more mature jazzy sound, but I don’t think he has the voice or chops to pull it off. This album is fine but mediocre and undistinguished. I don’t know who it’s for. At his best, you can almost hear the snarl in his voice, but in this version he’s basically crooning. As a truly great artist, he probably just wanted to not repeat himself, but it would have been better for pop music if Elvis had just cranked out five more my aim is trues instead of evolving himself into a guy who sucks.

Hmm, I guess I dont really get Elvis Costello. Only real connection I had before this album was Whats So Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding - total rocker I know Geoff Emerick engineered this and this work came out well within Costellos prime. This album ranks all over the place as “an all timer” I just never felt the album keep my attention. Like a flatter Elton John Man Out Of Time didnt cut it for me Almost Blue was a gorgeous track, but super slow. 2.5 stars and rounding down. Maybe ill try it out again this weekend.

I love Elvis Costello but really didn't enjoy this album. Sounds like it was some of his later, more pretentious stuff, and it sure feels like it

Shabby Doll was the most fun but otherwise a bit eh

I...do not know why this Elvis album is on the list. There are a couple decent songs on the list, but we all know there are better efforts out there. Just odd.

Not a big fan of the vocal performance by Costello. The musical arrangements are unique and at times interesting. But overall the project is very forgettable.

I have to be in the right mood for elvis Costello and clearly I wasn’t today. It was kind of boring

There were songs I wouldn’t mind hearing again, but not songs I would actively seek out. It was okay.

Not my bag.

I'm not a Costello fan, I find it s quite meh.

I do like some of his other work, but this album left me flat - some good songwriting, but mostly fumbling to find his rhythm without the obvious vocal or musical talent to make up for anything but fantastic songwriting…

His voice got annoying after a few tracks. Not my thing

#509. This is exactly what I've come to expect from Mr. Costello. Which is to say- it isn't very good, and I don't like it very much. 2/5: nah

My main feeling listening to this was annoyance and I’m trying to pinpoint why. I think it’s because there were promising glimmers here and there but then it would descend into something kind of tedious. I guess it’s the promise of something that never materialises. Plus, yes, we all know he is wildly over represented on here

not my cup of tea

I have nothing to say about this except that it's not for me. Maybe Elvis Costello has albums I enjoy but this isn't one of them.

This seems like a reach. It’s fine but not like I’ll ever want to listen to it again. There are other, better Elvis Costello albums. Unless he’s your favorite artist, you can skip this one. 2/5

Don't have a strong take on this one. I listened to this while working on something and tuned out most of the singing, but I thought the instrumentals were good. Agree that Shabby Doll was the best song on the album.

Not as good as the album a week ago.

Third Elvis Costello album so far and this one didn't particularly do anything for me. Singing reminded me a bit of Randy Newman on this, has a similar sort of lack of enunciation. Like the previous album it sounds quite varied and interesting initially and at some point it hits you that it actually sounds samey. Almost blue was a good track, his voice suits the croony ones.

Not good at all

ehhhh, kind of annoying album. 2.5 stars. Not a fan of Elvis Costello's voice.

This was just so boring. I don't get the love for this guy. 2/5

Лучшая песня напоминает мне Артура Рассела, и это всё, что я помню про этот альбом. Это на самом деле не такая уже ужасная музыка, и фоном я в целом воспринимал происходящее неплохо. Но переслушивать желания совсем нет. Лучшая песня - Beyond Belief.

I found this to be slow and a bit boring. Picked up with …And In Every Home but overall not my jam.

5.5/10. Elvis Costello: *breathes* Robert Dimery: "Holy cranberry bagels!!! No greater masterpiece has ever been conceived in the history of music!!! Shiver me timbers!!! Take all my money!!!" Gosh, not every bloody toenail clipping that has ever come out of Elvis Costello's toes needs to make it on this list. My Aim Is True is enough Elvis Costello for a compilation of 1,001 albums. Also, the title of the album as displayed on the album cover of this album belongs on something like r/dontdeadopeninside. What the hell is an IbMePdErRoIoAmL???

Nope. I'm mad now. Good ideas squandered on bad songs.

Nope, still not into it. Ask again in 100 days

Leagues better than any other Costello & The Attractions album so far (not a high bar)

Imperial Bedroom is more of the same from Elvis Costello. Okay, catchy in places but ultimately a bit dull and one-speed and a guy who doesn't really deserve so many albums on this list. Another 2.

Not the strongest work from Costello, definitely prefer his slightly higher energy, hookier content.

I know that I dislike this but I'm having a hard time gauging my level of dislike. It feels like the vocals have the spotlight for every song. I don't especially like or dislike his singing. He definitely has a style and I'm just sorta meh on that. His melodies aren't especially catchy. But he really loses me with the poetry of his lyrics. I just don't know what he's on about and seems kinda corny. Leaves me feeling like a can't really relate. I don't get it. And I don't really want it. I can't decide between a 2 or 3 so let's break it down: Beyond Belief - 2.75 Tears Before Bedtime - 2.5 Shabby Doll - 3 (I like the bass & piano on this one) The Long Honeymoon - 3 (nice guitaring) Man Out of Time - 2 (the last 40 seconds of this song is great. the rest sucks.) Almost Blue - 2 And In Every Home - 2.5 The Loved Ones - 3.5 (pretty great bass playing) Human Hands - 3 Kid About It - 1.75 Little Savage - 3 Boy With A Problem - 1.5 Pidgin English - 1.5 You Little Fool - 2 Town Cryer - 1 Average score per song = 2.333333

This was boring, if I'm totally honest. I've enjoyed some of the six million Costello albums spread across this project, but this wasn't one of them. There's a decent song or two, and nothing he does is particularly bad, but it didn't grip me at all.

I just don’t like Costello that much. His singing throws me off for whatever reason.

There's something indefinable that juts puts me off of Elvis Costello. Whether it is his voice, the trite guitars and songs, or just plain unoriginality... I don't know.

Felt about this the same way I feel about all Elvis Costello, which is basically "why does this guy sing like this and then make the same song 20 times"

Never really been a fan of Elvia Costello and this did little to change my mind.

This was so bland. Elvis Costello’s voice is dull as hell and only captured my attention for like a piece of a song. I got about halfway through and bailed, so excited to move on from this album. Then a friend was there to inform me there are 6 other albums by him on this list and I wanted to cry… Someone please force the author of these books to enforce a 2 or 3 album minimum per artist…. JFC…

My Aim Is True pleasantly surprised me. This did not. Why does every critically acclaimed songwriter have to morph into these clown that make “rich tapestries of kaleidoscopic music?” It sounds like a boring circus no one wants to be at.

This album is an example of my weakness as a music listener. I am sure that if I could pick up on the lyrics, storytelling in each song the first time listening, Elvis Costello would mean much more to me. But, I can't so he doesn't. His strength is in his lyricism and my weakness is in hearing that.

An interesting evolution, but much of this album was not for me.

Second straight day of Elvis (more like L-vis) Costello. I’m sick of this wanker

Raga ma da dove arrivano tutti sti riconoscimenti? È blando, non trasmette niente di niente e non è nemmeno piacevole all’orecchio.

ragazzi miei che fatica. Elvis Costello e Brian Eno mi hanno veramente rotto tutto ciò che poteva rompersi.

another day, another elvis costello album. SMH…

3rd EC&TA album in two weeks. Ugh. This is just so…..so generic to me.

4/10 Didnt enjoy this. Vocals are painful to listen and drown out every other aspect Favourite Song=Almost Blue Least Favourite Song=Shabby Doll

Elvis Costello always sounds to me like a guy nursing his midlife crisis by making music that might have sounded cool in the 50s. His singing style is just a case in point. His shtick is seldom working. Mostly, I find it pretentious. 2/5

Number of Elvis Costello songs I've now heard: 65 (5 entire albums) Number of Elvis Costello songs I remember: 0 This guy's the king of creating the most generic music imaginable. What a whole bunch of nothing.

Nice storyteller... but repetitive and struggles in the vocals

Bit boring

Really well composed songs. His voice sounds just slightly off key to me. 2/5

A few good songs, but mostly mid or weak

Didn't enjoy

I had the same problem with this album as I did Bob Dylan. Great instrumentals ruined by subpar vocal work. 'Man Out of Time' was my favorite. I liked 'The Long Honeymoon' too. Just wish they were covers so I didn't have to be subjected to those vocals.

This was ok, it seemed like it was front loaded with the best songs and then petered out at the end. Probably would never listed to it again. Favorite songs were: 2. Tears Before Bedtime 5. Man Out Of Time 4/10

This was ok but then would be not sure if it was produced bad, or what. But I think I might just not like Elvis.

Never heard the album before. I appreciate the variety of muscial styles and the performances of the musicians. The songs don't resonate with me. Part of the issue is Costello's voice. It's not just the nasally "I'm not going to try to sing" vocals. It's that he is regularly off key and looking for the note. I would probably rate this album 4 stars if the songs were instrumentals and 5 stars if sung by a proper vocalist.

He's generally talented, but I just don't really enjoy listening. Maybe it's his voice, but I was wanting it to be over.

Great instrumental and production performances and a fantastic album cover painting, but at the end of the day it is all ruined, as it always is by the singing of Elvis Costello, with his narrow range and terrible intonation that keeps the songs from soaring. Another waste of space on the list. I've never understood how Elvis Costello managed to pull the wool over so many critics eyes. Way, way overrated. He tries on different genres, but is not often able to authentically live in them.

I must say I don't really understand why Elvis Costello has multiple records on this list. I read online that he was praised for his lyrics and storytelling. If that's the case then it passes me by. I mostly find myself annoyed with his voice, and the music feels quite luck laster. Not anything that raises any eyebrows to me.

I just don't get it. There are loads of Elvis Costello on this list and while he has a good song here and there I find most of it kind of forgettable.

Other than 'Man out of time', this album just washed over me. I don't remember a single note, despite playing it in full, back to back three times.

just meh

Not my thing. Ok but wouldn’t listen again

He sounds so far up his own ass that he can sing from his mouth again

Yet another Elvis Costello album. The best thing about been dealt another one is that I’m a bit closer to the end of his particular additions to the list (according to the book it’s 6 so 3 to go) It’s not that I don’t like him or his music but a truer reflection of his status on the list would have been to restrict it to just My Aim Is True and Armed Forces which you could argue were groundbreaking albums. This is an album I am not familiar with so I hoped I would be proved wrong and found something new in his music. It starts brightly enough but carries on in the same vein leaving me thinking these collection of songs could be on any of his albums. It’s an alright album but it prompted me to research if he has any connection to the compilers of this list. Nothing found so far so wonder if he stumped up the cash to produce it? 2/5 11/8/24