This Year's Model

This really didn't grab me

I liked this album better than the last one I had to review, and at just 39 minutes, it wasn't too challenging. I'm still not sure why he has so many albums on the list.

I just don't /get/ it

Meh

Glammy og litt ekkel sånn rockabilly faenskap?

Joah.

Was sort of cool at first, I liked No Action. Kind of one note for most of the album though. Don't feel like it belongs on this list.

I usually don't mind Elvis Costello and I quite enjoy his voice, but this album was just a bit boring to be honest. Nothing managed to stand out and every song just kind of passed me by, not the worst thing I've ever heard by any stretch of the imagination, but hard for me to find the reason it's on a list such as this.

Fine, not impressed

242/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

This is phychopath music. I'd rather listen to a banana ripening. Or the last beat of a dying person's heart. Or the sound of a million horse hooves stepping on a million broken bottles. Sounds grim? You did this to me Costello! You fucking did this to me!

Not really that memorable. Kind of samey.

Not sure how to describe it, but this whole album rubbed me the wrong way...

What an annoying album. How is he (at least) 5 times on this list?

And you're telling me the critics put this guy in 6 times? I reject the notion that I must listen to this guy 5 more times.

I really expected to like this more than I did. The only song I knew of his was Peace Love & Understanding, and I like this song. I just kind of kept forgetting that I was listening to this album, unfortunately.

It's... not my cup of tea. The vocals are off-putting, it's like Elvis is trying way too hard to stand out. Aside from a few songs, most are unforgettable, and more than a few have creepy overtones and borderline misogny written in them. Dated, but I can understand why this might have been influential back in the day. Best songs: The Beat, Radio, Radio Worst songs: You Belong To Me, Living in Paradise

Number of Elvis Costello songs I've now heard: 79 (6 entire albums) Number of Elvis Costello songs I remember: 0 I've now heard every single Costello album on this list and I'm very happy that I can now go on with my life never having to listen to or think about this guy ever again. Actually sort of impressive to write 6 entire albums of literally nothing.

was expecting to like this waaaay more than i did. i think fundamentally i don’t care enough about male whining to enjoy this ):

Meh

A couple okay songs the rest are forgettable.

The other Elvis did it better.

like every other elvis costello album this hits me absolutely nowhere, no real strong feelings about this, although i did find it to be about 15% more grating than his other albums

Best Song: Lipstick Vogue. The bass in this song might be the highlight of the whole album. Worst Song: Hand In Hand. Ending the song with an ad nauseum repetition of the title isn't the choice that I would have made here. Overall: I really don't understand the appeal that Elvis Costello has to warrant so many places on this list. His exaggeratedly staccato delivery really starts to grind on me after a while, and the instrumentation around it is just okay. Inoffensive and unexciting.

Do not enjoy Elvis' voice, sorry.

This was the first time I’d listened to an Elvis Costello album and perhaps a bit more familiarity with his other works might help to better understand where this sits. He can certainly write a decent song and there’s probably more to discover in his lyrics with repeated listens. Can’t tell if he’s much imitated since or just doing what others had done before and blending musical styles together to make something that’s new. I’m sitting on the fence with this one!

Clean vocals and production, but not something I'd re-listen to for fun.

I enjoyed this album, especially the guitar riffs and catchy lyrics. I appreciate the music but wouldn't go out of my way to buy the album. The listen was good but I know that others would appreciate it much more than I can. I really enjoyed the energy in "Pump It Up", 'Lipstick Vogue', and 'Radio, Radio'. The organ in the tracks were a great touch.

Eh, nothing crazy. Ok at best. 4.5/10

I never understood why my mom enjoyed Elvis Costello and I still don’t. I guess this is the shit that was exciting for people before the internet existed.

2,5

I listened to this album while doing homework in class. I didn’t enjoy the last album I had of him, and this was more of the same. It’s fine, but not anything I enjoyed. No standouts because I didn’t stop to check my phone while I played the album.

mmmm not for me. sanitized and clean, nothing to grasp onto.

Elvis Costello. In het begin van mijn reis kreeg ik hem vrij snel twee keer en toen kon het me niet bekoren. Nu krijg ik hem nog een keer en m'n conclusie is eigenlijk onveranderd. Aardige muziek met een wat vervelend bijdehand klinkende zanger. Ik ben er nog steeds niet kapot van.

Ei sietämättömintä Costelloa, ihan ookoo. Mutta onko näiden kaikkien Costellojen paikka tosiaan tällä listalla? Ylitarjonta luo inflaation, ja ajattelen tästä levystä, että plääh. Enkä edelleenkään tykkää tästä ironisesta otteesta, vaikka just tän levyn hammondeista tykkäänkin. Se luo liian ”hälläväliä, kyl te tiiätte että mä osaan” -tunnelman.

I can’t tell if it’s hackneyed or influential but I know it sounds like songs I’ve heard a thousand times before in the corniest way.

Possibly the most accessible Elvis Costello album I heard. Super irritating regardless. Please don’t compare him to Weezer — Weezer at least wrote hooks people remember 😰😰😰 Elvis is correct that he gets "No Action" though.

This album is soooooooo freakyyyyy! Elvis Costello you are a freak!!!!

Unremarkable. Sounded like 80s music before 80s music was a thing. I don’t love 80s music

Another Elvis Costello album. And I am still left eternally wondering why he has the status that he has. This is... Okay.

I own this album on CD, but looking at my Apple Music records, it looks I only listened to it in its entirety one time, and I don't remember much about it. However, I do remember asking for it for Christmas because I'd heard "Pump It Up" and thought I'd give Elvis Costello a try. Well, a try was all I gave him. I never really listened to him much until I started this project. This will be my third album of his to review, after Armed Forces and My Aim Is True. I'm expecting to enjoy this album as well. Hmm, well, now I understand why I only listened to this album once and only came back for additional helpings of "Pump It Up." This album was really boring. Musically, it felt like there was way to much restraint in the arrangements. In Costello's other works, I really enjoy the tension between chaos and order that tends to permeate his sound. There really wasn't much that was fun on this album. I like Elvis Costello's singing, but even his vocals sound a tad dull here too. "Pump It Up" is easily the biggest winner off this album, and "Lip Service" and "Lipstick Vogue" were pretty good too. All in all though, there's just too little to enjoy on this album. Everything that's not those three songs just runs together to me. This was a major letdown for me, but now that I've reviewed all of Elvis Costello's albums from the seventies, I'm really curious as to how I'll feel about his later work.

This really did nothing for me and I’m surprised by its inclusion on the list.

while I can say I've now listened to an Elvis Costello album and that's part of the reason for working through a list such as this...I didn't like it, repetitive and got bored quickly

Not my cup of tea, only got through 1.5 songs

2 Costello albums down

This started to grow on me. Not all over the place, but in little spots.

First listen. Not my kind of thing.

2.5

maybe i’m just not in the mood for it but i thought the album was just okay? the first two tracks were not bad but it got a bit boring halfway in

Not my cup of tea

- ganz stimmig, aber so richtig catched es mich irgendwie nicht

i fear i had to skip 'this year's girl'. 'the beat' grew on me - love the instrumentals, very boppy. did not like 'pump it up' at all, very strange to me that that's his top song. 'you belong to me' started off strong but began to get on my nerves. '(i don't want to go to) chelsea' was quite possibly a favourite. actually idk it also started off stronger. hmmm... still undecided. slightly amanda-palmer-esque 'lip service' was fun (i think the album's beginning to grow on me) i liked 'living in paradise' - although i think either i've heard it before or it sounds really similar to another song. 'big tears' i did not really like, felt too repetitive 'radio, radio' was quite dance-y but his voice can be slightly grating i think it's just the intensity of male singers i'm not dealing with.... some of the songs were nice but the whole album was just a bit much for me and his voice can get slightly whiny.... but saying that the second half of the album was far superior to the first.

Meeeh. 'Pump it up' is a really good track. But the rest is all a bit, meeeeeh. I was a bit surprised by the Afro Beat lite vibes. I thought the Police had the sole ownership of that trope. Still waiting for the moment of realisation of "oooh that's why people like the scouse Elvis".

This album was the reason I had to take a break from this, I just couldn't make myself finish it it was so boring and obnoxious. 3/10 Please don't make me listen to this again.

No es lo peor de Elvis Costello, pero sigue siendo Elvis Costello

Haven't heard this artist before. Immediately found the vocals to be a turn off, as he sounds whiny and nasal. Overall a forgettable album 2/5

first time listening to Elvis Costello, I thought I'd like it more

I learned from this album the way to make a pop song is to repeat the title 100x. I thought it was ok. Didn’t feel super memorable to me.

It’s fine, I guess, but can’t say I’m looking forward to listening to the 5 other Elvis Costello records on this list.

yea I just couldn't finish this one. I like Pump It Up. I know that he played "Radio Radio" with the Beastie Boys on SNL. But this just does nothing for me. I WANT TO LIKE IT. But no.

This was fine I guess 2/5

I wasn't feeling this one. His singing style always sounds forced and/or fake to me. Lyrics get weird at times, too. The band sounds good though.

Just not for me

meh. Not bad I guess

Meh.

Nothing terrible, nothing great

Redelijk hyped was ik wel toen ik zag dat dit album van Elvis Costello aan de beurt was. Hier staan mijn twee favoriete songs van Costello op: The Beat en Pump it Up. Verder dan deze twee ben ik helaas nooit gekomen. No Action is een prima opener. Ik ben fan van de stem van Costello, de riffs en drums zijn goed upbeat, niks mis mee. Zelfde geldt voor This Year's Girl. Dan moet ik toch even ranten: waar ben ik in hemelsnaam naar het luisteren bij Little Triggers. Nee, dit doet het hem niet voor mij. Stoor me meteen aan het nummer. Ik ben lichtelijk getriggerd (ha-ha). You Belong to Me is gewoon gejat van The Last Time van de Stones? (was voor hun ook geen origineel, oke, maar wel bekend gemaakt) Hand In Hand is meh. Maar, lichtpuntjes zijn dan wel (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea en Radio, Radio. Conclusie: ietwat teleurstellend, de beste nummers van de plaat kende ik al. Qua luisterplezier was het toch ondermaats. Twee nummers vond ik naast de nummers die ik al kende de moeite waard om helemaal met aandacht te luisteren. Highlights: The Beat, Pump it Up, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, Radio, Radio Rating: 6,5/10

I do not enjoy Elvis Costello

forgettable

Elvis is best in small bites

Achei moderno para época. Bem pop e pop/romântico. Parece que influenciou Leny Kravits. Alegre e animado. No final um pouco enjoativo

I’m sorry this is kinda boring. I felt like I was waiting for the album to kick into high gear the whole time I listened to it. Maybe this album was the pioneer of the boring generic New Wave genre as a whole? 2.0

bit boring

Annoying singer. Fave Song- Pump It Up

Thought I could like Elvis Costello. I was wrong

This album was ok. I’m pretty indifferent about Elvis Costello. I think I just don’t understand what he is, or where he fits in.

Pretty generic. Pump It Up was catchy. I found the rest of the album pretty bland and boring. 2

What an annoying style of singing. 'Pump It Up' is a banger though.

It's fine

doof

Okayish first half, hella boring second half, I started yawning heavily by the end of it. (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea stands out, it's good

Not a fan.

Elvis 3 times in the last week is a bit much! I liked pump it up because it was in rock band but I’d probably not listen again

Qualche canzone interessante alle mie orecchie, ma non spenderei soldi per comprare il disco

90's indie rock from the late 70's. I will not be listening to Mr. Costello again.

Enough with Elvis Costello. There is no way he deserves three albums (so far) on this list. I really hope this is the last one. Once again, while it can be listened to, it is not innovative or compelling in anyway.

This album feels more contemporary than it is - “pump it up” I always assumed was a 90s song. I don’t love it but I can see how it would have been kind of cool at the time. It did grow on me a bit as the album progressed and it became more “fun” I think. But overall? Meh.

not my thing

Once again I have an issue with the voice, especially when the lyrics at the end are extremely repetitive! I could not finish 2/5

I was just recently feeling thankful to have gone so long without an Elvis Costello album, but now I got two in a week :(

Weird stuff. Technically sound but not very rhythmic.

Not my cup of tea

Only recognized 4 tracks on this album. While I wasn't a big fan of most of the tracks I do respect the classic nature of the album and how it setup Elvis's future work.

Great production, some points drag on however

I didn't mind listening to this, but I would not re-listen.

Genre: Pop rock Instruments: 2/5 Modern Translation: 2/5 Dance Potential: 2/5 Listening Location: commute to work Heard it before: no Favourite Song: Radio, radio & This Year’s Girl Made me feel: Generally upbeat. Didn’t think the album had much variety but thought it was easy listening. Probably wouldn’t listen again.

I want to like Costello but I just can't quite seem to make the jump. His music is uniquely his, he plays with passion and his lyrics are more thought out than so much drivel these days, but something about it just blends into the backgroud for me

I used to dislike Elvis Costello. I still do but I used to as well

Favourite Song: Little Triggers It's alright. Honestly, it's fun and you can tell it would have meant a lot at the time of release, but for now it feels a little dated and bland.

Har lyst å like mye, og det tar seg opp noen steder, men det fisler ut. Beste dang: Lipstick Vogue.

It clearly influenced new wave but it doesn't do anything that later bands didn't do better. Nothing about it stands out. I've never gotten the hype around Costello.

undeniably a great guy, but I dont like his voice or music Significant 43/133 Liked 21/133 Added 6/133 YNN

It’s ok

My dad loves this but I found it all pretty boring. I have heard Pump it Up so many times and just want it to stop

Yeah, listened to it three times, did not really connect. Vocals are just not connecting to me. Active listening probably required rather than passive. 2 generous stars.

Not my style, its OK though

Not for me

For my tastes, the album was ok. Pump It up was the most memorable song. Would I listen to it again, probably not.

it was ok! could see it being nostalgic if you listened to it as a kid. I wasn't mad with it on.

"HAND IN HAND, HAND IN HAND, HAND IN HAND, HAND IN HAND" ruins it.

Musicalmente mi piace (gli strumenti e ritmo). Non so bene cosa pensare della voce. Certe canzoni sono carine, hanno un bel vibe ma non so se le riascolterei di mia spontanea volontà. Non c'è nessuna canzone che mi ha particolarmente colpito. Non è proprio un 2 stelle, più vicino al 2.5.

Bit of a Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe, but, not…

Already forgot what this album sounded like

His voice annoys me, but I can see the allure of the poppier songs like The Beat and Pump it Up. Again, 70s teen Tito went crazy during high school dances for those. Overall sounds like someone doing karaoke who thinks they are good.

Punk/New Wave not really my thing. I didn't dislike the album or any songs on it, but would probably never choose it to listen to. I can see what the attraction is for those who like that style of music, just don't share it with them. I did listen to the entire album, though, so that says a lot. Most albums in this style I couldn't make it through the whole album, this inw is listenable. No complaints.

Unremarkable middle of the road

Nah wasn’t for me

This follows the other EC albums on this list, pretty good songs with a lyrical barb, which don't pack the punch they once did. Having bought the previous and following albums to this one it was the singles that had me shying away from purchasing this. Listening all these years later that has not changed.

Couldn't finish

Before even starting to listen to this album, I realized how little I know about Elvis Costello. Do I know any of his songs? I know he's famous for having glasses, and he had a funny appearance on The Simpsons. Let's see if I like his jams. After Listening - I had definitely heard Pump It Up before without knowing it was Costello. Nothing else was familiar. The music is funky and toe-tapping, but Costello suffers from the same issue I have with Lemmy from Motorhead, every song has the same vocal range. if you took out the music and just placed Costello's singing all on one track, you wouldn't know when one song ended and the next begain. Meh.

5/10, not my thing. Lyrics sometimes made me a little uncomfortable, Elvis Costello is a good singer and instrumentation is also fine. Not my record, maybe a different Elvis Costello record sounds better to me.

Dreadfully boring

This album could be better as it just sounds like generic old punk rock music which is something im not the greatest fan of. I would have to give this a 2.5 if I could but from what ive been reading theres more albums from this guy and they are much worse so im not looking forward for them. Definetly won't recommend to any friends.

скушновато только главный хит норм но его я и так знал

The album is alright. I somewhat understand why others may like it but I found the instrumentals average and the vocals to be a little annoying. Not to say it is a terrible album, just not one that I would care to listen to on my free time. It would be 3 stars if I could get over the adolescent whine that is the vocalist's voice. Favorite song is really the least hated song, and that's no action.

Very underwhelmed. Pump It Up might be the only good track. The rest are just... fine at best. I'm sure it's cited as inspiration behind some other acts, but I just couldn't get into it.

Not much to say. It’s aight

No idea why this guy is on the list so many times.

I'm not getting it

Not my favorite at all. Weirdly sounds modern, but not in a good way necessarily.

I've got no energy left for Elvis (after only 3 of his albums on here), but this was one of the better ones.

It's okay, not great. His voice is interesting, though not very strong or precise. The whole album sounded like every Elvis Costello song I've ever heard, to be honest.

Jailhouse Rock was better

I was excited to hear and Elvis Costello album because I couldn’t name any of his music off the top of my head. Now I know why. This was probably good radio fodder in the late 70s but nothing timeless. The album is consistent but not memorable.

I was meh about this. Nothing stood out to me

Meh. Couldn’t finish it. Sounds like a blend of The Cars with an early punk rock sound.

not into this. just pretty boring all around not good or bad.

Meh

Saai

this book’s rose-tinted obsession with mediocre new wave tests my patience more and more every week

Something about Elvis Costello annoys me and I can't put my finger on it. Sometimes it's pleasant but other times I just really really hate it. Idk I may give it another listen to see but not really feeling it in the moment.

Ei jäänyt mieleen

While I appreciate the impact this album may have on the singer-songwriters who came after it, ultimately I felt like the band didn't have enough space to breathe, and Costello's singing consumed too much of each song. Great drumming though!

średnie

I could do an Elvis Costello ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation but I’m not keen on the actual albums. He’s one of those artists

Not a fan

Still can’t stand Elvis Costello’s voice. People say he’s one of the greatest lyricists but all I’m getting is someone who tries to fit lots of big words into a flat melody. At least with rap you have rhythmic flow instead of verbosity. I gave him 1/5 on another album and this one is begrudgingly 2/5 because Pump It Up and Radio, Radio are kind of okay.

Not my thing. It’s so drum-forward, and I usually love that, but here it seems to make the songs sound too repetitive. Monotone even. Like an overactive metronome. Pump It Up is a perfect example. But I do love the vintage Hasselblad on the cover, so the second star is purely for that.

With Elvis Costello, I just don't think I can abide. It's just not doing it for me. This is the one where everyone becomes a fan right? It's just too fast, wordy, frenetic, clever. The band, yes, they are doing a lot of heavy lifting here, it gives the records this real fantastic tightness and intensity, as well as cohesion, as he moves frenetically from target to target. I'm just not super into the songwriting or the delivery, it just must not be my cup of tea because I can totally acknowledge it's a really infectious and fun series of songs. But altogether, it just doesn't do anything for me. Hate to dismiss such a *competent* and really well-played album like this, with a writer with a vision. Just not for me! 2/5

Sounds like a mailman singing pop rock. I have no idea what the end goal of this music is.

En av världens mest överskattade artister och galet överrepresenterad på denna lista. Inte skitdåligt men saknar ändå det mesta.

Overall not aged well. Nothing innovative to my ears. Annoying that intros have potential but then goes into same old stuff. Disappointing.

First listen Saved 4/12 Top track: Pump It Up

never heard something more boring in my entire life

Alright

High 2, fairly fun listen overall, however most songs sounded really similar, and kind of gave me like movie soundtrack vibes. actually quite likes beats, and pump it up isn't horrible either. not bad at all, just not what I'm into. another thing to note is that this album sounds much more recent than it is, so its influence is recognizable

Pretty good songs I guess but they are combined w/ terrible synth sounds. Doesn’t hold a candle to My Aim is True. The Beat is a 10/10 song.

The third best Elvis behind: Elvis Presley and Elvis Stoyko

Not really my style. Some decent tracks but his vocals are annoying and the music didn't really work for me.

Kinda sounds a bit too much like the Beatles, it sounds ok. Not something I'll come back too.

After hearing My Aim is True and now This Year's Model... I don't see much value in listening to Costello's music at this point. There a couple tracks here I can enjoy but most of what's here has me frustrated. Whether it's the outdated themes of male angst that I have seen handled with more depth and less misogynistic undertones in music released after and even before this album. The back end of the record at least introduces a handful of tracks with more interesting song structure and direction. Night Rally actually is written very well, though the chorus at the end features another one of Costello's frankly annoying performances. Radio, Radio is probably my favorite off the album.

This is our fifth Elvis Costello and my opinion is exactly the same for each one. There are a few Costello tracks that are really, really, really good. But I couldn't care less about the vast majority of his work. Let's hope this was the final Costello album on the list.

Not another Elvis Costello album. He's so boring and it lacks something. I don't know exactly what it is but if this was food it would be flavourless.

I cannot connect with Costello's voice -- too nasally.

Dude really doesn't like women, does he.

Meh. A song or 2 that is liked, I suppose. But meh. 2.5 rounded down

A voice somewhere between that of a punk and a crooner which just doesn't really work for anything but Chelsea, at least on this album. I respect the guy since he wrote Chet Baker's Almost Blue which requires some talent but this is just slightly embarrassing.

Eugh. I thought this was better than some of the other Elvis Costello we've had but still don't like him. Why is he on here so much!

I really didn't find it that engaging. Perhaps it sounded more exciting at the time, but most of the songs didn't carry much weight. I preferred My Aim Is True

Not really for me

nose q les pasa a los ingleses con este chabon, ya tocó otro disco antes que le puse un 3 por lastima mas q otra cosa, el irlandes ese falopa que le puse un 1 tambien tenia canciones producidas por el, y este disco no me gusta nada tampoco. Es como q no esta nada mal lo instrumental, pero no encuentro otras palabras para describir su música que no sean "es muy boluda", a veces, si bien dije que lo instrumental está bueno, parece una cancion del Crash Team Racing para play 1, media en joda para que quede mejor el jueguito... me da esos vibes

Niet voor mij

I don't know what it is about this guy that just seems so boring and unimpressive to me. Every song just puts me to sleep and I can barely understand what he's saying to begin with. 4/10

I don’t enjoy this. Can hear the influences and all that but meh

I only almost hated myself for listening to this album. I might even enjoy Pump it Up or Living in Paradise if I heard it on its own in public.

This is the fifth Elvis Costello album that I've reviewed as part of this project and I still have one to go. Let me just tell you: the fact that I have to listen to another one of these fills me with sadness. Anyway, this review will be much like the other reviews that I've written for Mr. Costello. He's a hack. He's made all of his money on being a cut-rate, pseudo-nostalgic imitation of great artists from the past. He sells this fauxstalgia to middle-class white America and they eat it up because he also talks about sex which makes him just edgy enough that they are able to feel a little less vanilla. But the lyrics are banal when they're not outright stupid and Costello's performances are lackluster at best. The only redeeming thing about this album is that The Attractions are actually really great musicians. They're holding this whole thing up by sheer force of talent even as Costello's hackery chops away the supports. I almost gave it a 3 just because the backing band was solid. But they weren't enough to save the album from such an overrated blowhard.

Pump it Up and Chelsea are bangers but the rest just went on a bit I thought.

An OK album, nothing stand-out. Reminds me a bit if Boomtown Rats. Probably wouldn't put it on again myself.

Iha ok, mut ei mun makuun

Nothing very inspired lyrically or vocally, some decent music hiding underneath here and there but still nothing to write home about. No great songs imo. 2.4

If I'm being honest, I find Elvis Costello to be so cool with one of the most unique voices, a great personality, and fascinating lyrics. But besides Allison, Watching the Detectives, and Veronica, he doesn't really have any songs I enjoy actually listening to. Conceptually I'm a fan, but in practice not really.

Lotsa music coming out of this one, but it all sounds roughly the same. Elvis Costello is like the Tony Danza of music. Execs keep him around because people don't hate him and he can economically produce entertainment to make some coin. Brits have no use for Tony Danza and I've got nothing for this album.

“This Year’s Model” spans the full Elvis Costello spectrum. “Pump It Up” is about as good as Costello gets, and “(I Don’t Want to Go To) Chelsea” is the kind of Costello that there is way too much of on the list. I’m finally done with Costello.

vituttaa tuon naama. ''sanantoisto poppia'' heh... on tässä vähän enemmän kuitenkin, vaikka ei paljoa... kuulostaa paskapunkin rokkihuoran jumputuksen esi isältä... 1978... melkeen siitä ansaitsee ykkösen mutta on tarpeeksi hyvän kuuloista että noh jos nostetaan kahteen huoh... the beat

* 3/7. Thought the instrumentation was good. The synth bopped and the bass lines were crunchy. Couldn’t really get over the quality of Costello’s voice though. Not a huge fan of that whiney sort of tone and diction — half the time I couldn’t understand what he was saying — so his lyrics were somewhat lost to me. Still, a few tracks had me bompin and honestly it wasn’t a bad album to black out and walk to. Don’t think I’ll be coming back to this one though.

Couldn’t get into it

OK - nothing special apart from the tracks I knew anyway

Skipped most.

It must be tough when the other Elvis in music is so much better.

Best (and most famous song): Pump It Up. Decent album, probably wouldn't listen to it again.

am not a fan of his voice

63/100: This album, and more generally Elvis Costello's entire discography thus far, makes me question my music taste, and not in a good way. I like 70's rock. It's probably the type of music I listen to most often. But this is pretty awful and so was the other album of his I reviewed earlier. His music sounds like it was written after closely analyzing polling data on what people want their music to sound like. It's just so generic and entirely unexciting. It actually makes me angry. This dude just straight up sucks, I do not enjoy his music.

I can appreciate this as a precursor to new-wave, but it's not something that blows me away. Not a huge fan of his vocal style. An album saved by The Attractions.

Elvis Costello isn't really my thing but this album was okay. Probably one of those "had to be there" things. I appreciate the songwriting and the use of different instruments, specifically the keyboards on certain tracks. Not bad.

Percebi como um pop bem feito com pegada punk, às vezes ska.

fades into the background. not mad at it?

Stank

Att denna skiva låter ett par år före sin tid ändrar inte på det faktum att den låter helt skit .... och elvis costello låter som en pedofil....

Please go away Mr Costello

This one isn't as infuriating as the last EC album I got here, but it's still got the annoying tics this artist relies on so much. There's actually decent guitar work/tones and some genuinely catchy melodies here, but the song structures are so repetitive that any melodic love a song may earn is quickly squandered by the third chorus. Each song ends with the title being repeated upwards of 10 times in Costello's best (read: most annoying) squeal, and honestly after listening to an hour of this man's vocals I've had about all I can take thanks.

As an album, quite underwhelming, I do appreciate the breakout new wave influence of his second album, but imo the hit singles are better consumed on their own, not paired with mediocrity.

Elvis Costello, take 2. Perhaps this more classic album than the last one I listened to (Brutal Youth) will be what hooks me in. I mean, I really want to be the sort of person who likes Elvis Costello! But again, no. Sorry. I never really had trouble listening to a stand-alone song like "Pump it Up," but listening to this whole album created an ever-gnawing irritating unpleasantness. I tried listening to it hours later to see if it struck me differently. Nope.

Shut up Elvis

Not as bad as I thought it would be, but still pretty bad..

In the cover, Elvis 2.0 is wearing a formal attire, gesturing with a camera in front of him, staring at his subject: us. It was a clean shot, like a stock photo. Without context, I don't think anyone would assume that it contains punk. And it's not the punk that I know, the classic young rebels chair-breaking messy punk. No. It is a "punk" where men in formal suits occasionally slapping the table (not too hardly because the champagne glass on it might spill). Perhaps that's what they call "new wave". What happened between "My Aim is True" and "This Year's Model"? The former is a great album, but this sounds bland. I don't think it's the introduction of The Attractions. Their instrumentals are actually good here. Perhaps it's overproduced, which is weird considering critics described the production as "stripped off". Whatever is this, it sucks. Not that I'm a big fan of angsty punk, but I just hate whatever type of over-sanitized music this is more.

Not a fan of Elvis Costello

No más no termino de engancharme con este disco. O sea, es musiquita agradable, muy alegre, movida, etc. pero en ningún momento me emocionó. No sé si se pasa de simpleo de alegre o qué me faltó, pero fueron cuarenta y pico minutos que no registré en mis oídos aunque lo intenté al menos unas tres veces.

What's this, the 5th Elvis Costello album now? More stupid-sounding rockabilly new wave pub jams, just like I didn't want. What a shame I already used the David Lee Roth quote to shit on Costello for an earlier album. 2/5.

Just about every Elvis Costello album I've ever listened follows the same pattern: One or two incredible songs, 4 or 5 mediocre songs, and the rest garbage. This one is no exception. 2.5 stars.

Tras escuchar por primera vez un disco entero de Elvis Costello siento que es como las lechugas, que todo el mundo cree que son buenas pero en realidad aportan poco a tu organismo. Siendo generoso, podría haberle puesto un tres al álbum, pero siendo estricto, no puedo darle más de un dos a pesar de que la escucha es entretenida en algunas canciones, como en “(I don’t want to go to) Chelsea”, la pizpireta “Living in paradise” o la espídica “Lipstick Vogue” que es, con diferencia, la mejor de todas. Lo que más me gusta es que aparezca Berto Romero en la portada de este disco de 1978.

Pretty boring, best song was the trigger one

Hmmm, more Elvis?

chelsea is a good song. but I actively do not like his other stuff. at all.

Not really my cup of tea. I was going to give it a 1 at first, but it got a bit better in the end.

No reason for this to be on this list. An average album brought low by awful vocals

Didn't really hit for me. Not my preference in vocals and style

I guess if I were smarter this would probably be genius or something, but really it just reminded me of They Might Be Giants, only not as good.

Pump it up is the bright light. The rest is ok

Ok album, very strong 80s beat

A couple of nice songs mired by a collection of what might have once been nice. But most of all, mired by awful sound.

Surprisingly modern sound. Lyrics found to be quite witty and catchy. Keyboards are occasionally repetitive and annoying.

sus

It was ok

Don't like his voice

I stg liked the country album more // Favs: The Beat / Little Triggers Score: Decent 2

Meh. Do not like his voice. The songs are decent but not my style.

Not a fan.

Surprisingly modern sounding

I absolutely loved the previous album of E.Costello’s named ‘My Aim Is True’ so was extremely keen to listen to this offering. This time though, ‘his aim wasn’t as true’ unfortunately. It’s ok, but it’s more of the same and becomes repetitive very quickly. I would label this album ‘safe’ to be honest. There’s no groundbreaking tunes or hooks as per his solo record and lyrics can sound lazy. Don’t get me wrong, you can still enjoy this album...just not as much. 2 Stars!

Not my cup of tea.

aika junnaavia biisiä... muutama ok niin 2 starbaa

Ei oikein herättänyt niin minkäänlaisia tuntemuksia. Pari ihan jees tarttuvaa biisiä, mutta siinäpä se.

Nice but not exciting

Enough Elvis bloody Costello now.

As good as it gets for Elvis. Not bad but have had enough 😂

4

Le tengo cariño como personaje aunque nunca he sido muy fan de su música. En este disco está su mayor éxito en escuchas de Spotify que es "Pump it up" que no me ha gustado especialmente, prefiero: "You belong to me" y "Living in paradise". Un disco normalito en mi opinión.

Not my style or voice, sounds hectic

I wasn't super-thrilled about yet another EC&TA album in less than one week, so I did not listen. Next, please

Not for me

The vocals reminded me too much of Joe Jackson, but pump it up was a vibe

Kind of a meh album. Instrumentation can be interesting, the vocalist's voice is a little annoying. HOWEVER the drum solo in Lipstick Vogue is great

Not for me.

I like the vibe but a little basic for my taste

Not my cup o' tea.

I CAN'T STAND HEARING ANOTHER ELVIS COSTELLO RECORD. I FUCKING HATE ELVIS COSTELLO. SUCH MEDIOCRE MUSIC WITH SUCH ANNOYING VOICE. TO THE CREATORS OF THIS LIST, I FUCKING HATE YOU FOR THE AMOUNT OF ELVIS COSTELLO. FUCK YOU!

👎🏻

Enough with the Costello! We get it!!!

Kjedelig bakgrunnsmusikk som når sitt potensiale hvis det spilles i et annet rom. Var allerede ikke min stil, men musikken blandet seg med mye annet i sjangeren uten å komme med noe spesielt.

I'M SO BORED

Here he is again. No better than the last time.

1.5

Bleh

I just found Elvis Costello's voice incredibly grating all the way through the album. Doesn't help that the only enjoyable song was the last one

I don t like this remastered version

Too much upbeat angst

Goyslop

I hate it

Sophie - I know Elvis Costello by name only, and I wish it had been kept that way. This just did nothing for me. I don’t find the songs to be very individual and the style of his voice isn’t pleasing to listen to. The lyrics are weird. There’s genuinely nothing I enjoyed about this. 1/5

Meh

Uninspiring album. Sounds like Ryan gosling doing karaoke. Funky synth keys(?) which were neat but not enough for me to enjoy the album.

Demasiado alegre para mí gusto

Ei tuo Costello oikein iske ja niitä näkyy listalla riittävän

You latched onto the wrong Elvis, guy

___________ I I I I < 🧍‍♂️> I I I 💀 I I ♟️ I.🚶‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍.. I ◼️ 🟥🟥🟥🟥 ⬛️ 🟥🟥🟥🟥 Aww, Man…Elvis Costello Again!?!? Is Iron Maiden even in this thing????

his voice and vocals easily overpower everything else that is happening in the album. the lyrics in every song feel overabundant for just 2-3 minute songs and just boring. especially when there is so little variance in how he delivers them.

It's ok

Not my cup of tea

I just can’t get over his voice. I really hate it.

Peut-être victime de l'attente à Lyon Part-Dieu, mais vraiment pas séduisant...

сухо. скучно. стиль исполнения не нравится(( потужные выдавливания. напоминает какую-то театральную постановку, где взрослый мужик олег отчаянно пародирует крутого панк рокера женька, по диснеевски загибая коленочки. в текст не вникала. может там и расскрылся весь гений костелло...ну короче если не дай бог в мире не останется музыки, придётся включить этот альбом.

Nice

Really didn't like this one.

не то, чтобы ужасно, но не хорошо точно. ничего примечательного на мой вкус. звучит довольно современно, но не сказать, что это комплимент. абсолютно не нравится голос и манера петь. возможно даже из-за этого сложно перетерпеть альбом и слушать дальше, вдруг что-то стоящее будет. 1,5/5

Mi menos favorito hasta ahora

disappointment. 1.2

Wasn't a fan

Not for me at all. Super repetitive lyrics that drove me crazy, every song sounds the same, and lead vocalist voice is flat most of the time. Nothing interesting here or worth listening to. 3/10

Just so very forgettable. Another album that just isn’t for me.

This album is everything I hate about stereotypical men.

Blah. Not a fan. I tried. I don’t like his voice. The music is dumb. I didn’t turn it off immediately though so I guess that’s something. 01-24-2026

sick of this guy

Wasn't feeling this album.

Costello lacks the bitter, cynical sense of humour of Huey Lewis. Really didnt enjoy this, its just not my thing, mainly the vocal style. It's not as bad as I anticipated, but hand in hand annoyed me so much I'm giving a 1

This was not for me. I would enjoy the songs as part of a movie soundtrack, but will not listen to this album again

If Elvis Costello has 1000 haters, I am one of them. If he has 10 haters, I am one of them. If he has one hater, it is me. If he has no haters, I am dead.

way too much Elvis costello on this list

no likey

No thanks. Repeats himself too much

Not my cup of tea

This music doesn’t move the way my body moves. I like a lot of of what I think people would call cerebral rock, but all the examples I could think of move me too. This doesn’t. The song this year‘s girl starts off kind of interesting, and then the synthesizer starts and I hear Elvis Costello‘s voice, and I’m just not into it. Do you think I could piss a lot of people off by calling Elvis Costello, the white man’s Prince? I think it’s just fair enough to scan but also really annoying. Elvis Costello‘s problems are not my problems. I think that really sums up why I have never cared for gotten into his music. It’s whiny. He’s annoying and sounds always like a high school kid complaining that girls don’t like him. You can be a musical genius, and have really cool and eclectic influences, and great production, and still make bad music!

Aside from the complete lack of vocal range and nuance, the arrangements are painfully annoying and the songs don't go anywhere. Why is this here.

This is one of those albums that has one good song and the rest of the album is garbage. I say this fully knowing I hate Elvis Costello.

This list has a whole lot of British New wave so I guess we've got to settle in for that. The band throughout this album is pretty good but, by god, Elvis Costello... I think after this album I hate this guy. He reminds me of other singers I like far more then him. It made me really want to listen to a Clash album or even The Boomtown Rats. I do not like this snide nice-guy core. You Belong to me and Hand in Hand was about the point I realized this would be a long listen. The band itself being so good makes the fact that I've got to hear Elvis Costello whine over this entire album even worse. Songs like Lip Service have a great sound to it completely destroyed by Costello's "ranting about another woman" hour. I wish this album was an instrumental. THIS GUY IS ON THIS LIST 4 TIMES? God damn it.

The attractions provided a great backup to vocals that unfortunately did not do it for me. I found the album fun but ultimately lackluster. Radio, radio was my favorite song and I am not sure if that is because it was the best or the final song before I got to listen to something else.

My god his voice is annoying

Didn't like it at all, pretty boring

This one is not for me.. His voice bothers me and there's nothing about it that I like 🤷🏻‍♀️

Glad this is over. There is obviously an audience for this dude. But it ain't me. The vocals are the same feeling I get when I listen to Bruce Springsteen. They're just so fucking wretched, that they end up doing a parody of themselves. The music is decent, some standard ole rock n roll. But the vocals ruin it for me. Hope I don't have to listen to too many of his albums.