Music Banter - View Single Post - Bulldog's Armchair Guide To Elvis Costello

Bulldog · 09-29-2011, 03:50 PM

I'm bored, and this cold I've got's sucked any will to do much else out of me, so I'm gonna give this a shot;

This Thread: The ADHD Version

Been thinking about doing this for a while now, so here goes. Here I'll just sum up my thoughts on every studio album I've talked about in this thread in a few sentences, just for the sake of anyone brushing over this thing and wondering what's what as far as I'm concerned. So then, in chronological order (and modified according to what I think of each album today as opposed to a few years ago)...

My Aim Is True (1977): 4/5
Very raw, solid throughout and deserves all the acclaim it gets. Sounds a bit too similar to its influences in places though, and not as good as it got.

This Year's Model (1978): 4/5
Ups the ante by letting punk-rock tempos and guitar-heavy production into (most of) the proceedings. Solid again, but let down by a couple of very weak points.

Armed Forces (1979): 5/10
A blatant stab at a mass audience, and as such is lead by fantastic singles which are in turn surrounded by largely mediocre, overproduced album tracks. Worth it for the said highlights though.

Get Happy (1980): 9/10
In my opinion, the first truly outstanding Costello album, creating a very interesting blend of Motown and British new wave. A bit flabby, but the good far outweights the bad.

Trust (1981): 10/10
Fuckin' A.

Almost Blue (1981): 7/10
Tries my patience at times, but a fine and faithful country covers album with a very traditional feel to it. Not as knock-out awesome as it could've been though.

Imperial Bedroom (1982): 10/10
The second of the holy trinity as far as I'm concerned.

Punch the Clock (1983): 4/10
A couple of good songs, otherwise this overcooked pop album jars far too much, to the point that the horn sections start sounding like Italian traffic jams.

Goodbye Cruel World: 2/10
Oh dear...

King Of America (1986): 9/10
Much more like it. Down-to-earth, throws in a lot of Americana influences - it's the sound of an artist really enjoying himself.

Blood and Chocolate (1986): 8/10
A sister-album of sorts to This Year's Model. Very good stuff, but not one of my favourites.

Spike (1989): 8/10
I change my mind about this album a lot more than I used to. No two songs sound the same on it, which is both unique and jarring at times. Well worth a listen though.

Mighty Like a Rose (1991): 7/10
Another one I change my mind about a lot, for exactly the same reasons as Spike.

The Juliet Letters (1993) [w/ the Brodsky Quartet]: 10/10
I've regretted giving this a paltry 7 for quite a while now. A fantastic listening experience - Costello lives up to fronting a string quartet a lot better than you'd think.

Brutal Youth (1994): 6/10
Back to basics stuff. It's Elvis Costello & the Attractions on autopilot, which is decent enough, but far from brilliant.

Kojak Variety (1995): 3/10
Yawn.

Only worth it for the cover of Pouring Water On a Drowning Man.
if truth be told.

All This Useless Beauty (1996): 8/10
Very sedate and mellow by large, but also just happens to be very good as well. Another one that misses out on better marks becauase of a weak point or two.

Painted From Memory (1998) [w/ Burt Bacharach]: 7/10
Good easy listening stuff. Would've been better though had...
a) the album been divided up between new songs and old Bacharach classics, which sounded brilliant on the album's tour
b) had the final track sounded more like thye version in Grace Of My Heart

When I Was Cruel (2002): 7/10
Very experimental with electronic textures and unique, but could easily have lost a third of its tracklist and not had its impact deadened.

North (2003): 5/10
4 or 5 really lovely, melodic torch songs, but as for the rest of it...

...borrrrrring.

The Delivery Man (2004): 8/10
Kind of like a guided tour through the man's discography, and as such a very varied album stylistically. Can suffer from being a tad unfocused at times though.

The River In Reverse (2006): 9/10
Despite a couple of duff space-fillers that should never had made the album, not to mention the fact that Toussaint himself sings only one song, this is a great album.

Momofuku (2008): 6/10
Meh (see Brutal Youth).

Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (2009): 6/10
A bluegrass album, and not a bad one at that. By and large it's more interesting than actually good though.

National Ransom (2010): 8/10
(see The Delivery Man)

09-29-2011, 03:50 PM	#207 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	I'm bored, and this cold I've got's sucked any will to do much else out of me, so I'm gonna give this a shot; This Thread: The ADHD Version Been thinking about doing this for a while now, so here goes. Here I'll just sum up my thoughts on every studio album I've talked about in this thread in a few sentences, just for the sake of anyone brushing over this thing and wondering what's what as far as I'm concerned. So then, in chronological order (and modified according to what I think of each album today as opposed to a few years ago)... My Aim Is True (1977): 4/5 Very raw, solid throughout and deserves all the acclaim it gets. Sounds a bit too similar to its influences in places though, and not as good as it got. This Year's Model (1978): 4/5 Ups the ante by letting punk-rock tempos and guitar-heavy production into (most of) the proceedings. Solid again, but let down by a couple of very weak points. Armed Forces (1979): 5/10 A blatant stab at a mass audience, and as such is lead by fantastic singles which are in turn surrounded by largely mediocre, overproduced album tracks. Worth it for the said highlights though. Get Happy (1980): 9/10 In my opinion, the first truly outstanding Costello album, creating a very interesting blend of Motown and British new wave. A bit flabby, but the good far outweights the bad. Trust (1981): 10/10 Fuckin' A. Almost Blue (1981): 7/10 Tries my patience at times, but a fine and faithful country covers album with a very traditional feel to it. Not as knock-out awesome as it could've been though. Imperial Bedroom (1982): 10/10 The second of the holy trinity as far as I'm concerned. Punch the Clock (1983): 4/10 A couple of good songs, otherwise this overcooked pop album jars far too much, to the point that the horn sections start sounding like Italian traffic jams. Goodbye Cruel World: 2/10 Oh dear... King Of America (1986): 9/10 Much more like it. Down-to-earth, throws in a lot of Americana influences - it's the sound of an artist really enjoying himself. Blood and Chocolate (1986): 8/10 A sister-album of sorts to This Year's Model. Very good stuff, but not one of my favourites. Spike (1989): 8/10 I change my mind about this album a lot more than I used to. No two songs sound the same on it, which is both unique and jarring at times. Well worth a listen though. Mighty Like a Rose (1991): 7/10 Another one I change my mind about a lot, for exactly the same reasons as Spike. The Juliet Letters (1993) [w/ the Brodsky Quartet]: 10/10 I've regretted giving this a paltry 7 for quite a while now. A fantastic listening experience - Costello lives up to fronting a string quartet a lot better than you'd think. Brutal Youth (1994): 6/10 Back to basics stuff. It's Elvis Costello & the Attractions on autopilot, which is decent enough, but far from brilliant. Kojak Variety (1995): 3/10 Yawn. Only worth it for the cover of Pouring Water On a Drowning Man. if truth be told. All This Useless Beauty (1996): 8/10 Very sedate and mellow by large, but also just happens to be very good as well. Another one that misses out on better marks becauase of a weak point or two. Painted From Memory (1998) [w/ Burt Bacharach]: 7/10 Good easy listening stuff. Would've been better though had... a) the album been divided up between new songs and old Bacharach classics, which sounded brilliant on the album's tour b) had the final track sounded more like thye version in Grace Of My Heart When I Was Cruel (2002): 7/10 Very experimental with electronic textures and unique, but could easily have lost a third of its tracklist and not had its impact deadened. North (2003): 5/10 4 or 5 really lovely, melodic torch songs, but as for the rest of it... ...borrrrrring. The Delivery Man (2004): 8/10 Kind of like a guided tour through the man's discography, and as such a very varied album stylistically. Can suffer from being a tad unfocused at times though. The River In Reverse (2006): 9/10 Despite a couple of duff space-fillers that should never had made the album, not to mention the fact that Toussaint himself sings only one song, this is a great album. Momofuku (2008): 6/10 Meh (see Brutal Youth). Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (2009): 6/10 A bluegrass album, and not a bad one at that. By and large it's more interesting than actually good though. National Ransom (2010): 8/10 (see The Delivery Man)