Elvis Costello & The Attractions | ||
 | Album: 1 of 14 Title: Armed Forces Released: 1979-01-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 36:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Accidents Will Happen (03:00) 2 Senior Service (02:17) 3 Oliver’s Army (02:58) 4 Big Boys (02:55) 5 Green Shirt (02:42) 6 Party Girl (03:21) 7 Goon Squad (03:14) 8 Busy Bodies (03:34) 9 Sunday’s Best (03:17) 10 Moods for Moderns (02:48) 11 Chemistry Class (02:55) 12 Two Little Hitlers (03:11) |
| Armed Forces : Allmusic album Review : After releasing and touring the intense This Years Model, Elvis Costello quickly returned to the studio with the Attractions to record his third album, Armed Forces. In contrast to the stripped-down pop and rock of his first two albums, Armed Forces boasted a detailed and textured pop production, but it was hardly lavish. However, the more spacious arrangements -- complete with ringing pianos, echoing reverb, layered guitars, and harmonies -- accent Costellos melodies, making the record more accessible than his first two albums. Perversely, while the sound of Costellos music was becoming more open and welcoming, his songs became more insular and paranoid, even though he cloaked his emotions well. Many of the songs on Armed Forces use politics as a metaphor for personal relationships, particularly fascism, which explains its working title, Emotional Fascism. Occasionally, the lyrics are forced, but the music never is -- the album demonstrates the depth of Costellos compositional talents and how he can move from the hook-laden pop of "Accidents Will Happen" to the paranoid "Goon Squad" with ease. Some of the songs, like the light reggae of "Two Little Hitlers" and the impassioned "Party Girl," build on his strengths, while others like the layered "Olivers Army" take Costello into new territories. Its a dense but accessible pop record and ranks as his third masterpiece in a row. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 14 Title: Get Happy!! Released: 1980-02-15 Tracks: 20 Duration: 48:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Love for Tender (01:57) 2 Opportunity (03:14) 3 The Imposter (01:59) 4 Secondary Modern (01:58) 5 King Horse (03:02) 6 Possession (02:05) 7 Man Called Uncle (02:18) 8 Clowntime Is Over (03:01) 9 New Amsterdam (02:14) 10 High Fidelity (02:28) 11 I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (02:06) 12 Black and White World (01:56) 13 5ive Gears in Reverse (02:36) 14 B Movie (02:04) 15 Motel Matches (02:31) 16 Human Touch (02:30) 17 Beaten to the Punch (01:49) 18 Temptation (02:34) 19 I Stand Accused (02:21) 20 Riot Act (03:35) |
| Get Happy!! : Allmusic album Review : Get Happy!! was born as much from sincere love for soul as it was for Elvis Costellos desire to distance himself from an unfortunate verbal faux pas where he insulted Ray Charles in an attempt to get Stephen Stills goat. Either way, it resulted in a 20-song blue-eyed soul tour de force, where Costello doesnt just want to prove his love, he wants to prove his knowledge. So, he tries everything, starting with Motown and Northern soul, then touching on smooth uptown ballads and gritty Southern soul, even finding common ground between the two by recasting Sam & Daves "I Cant Stand Up (For Falling Down)" as a careening stomper. Whats remarkable is that this approach dovetails with the pop carnival essayed by Armed Forces, standing as a full-fledged Costello record instead of a genre exercise. As it furiously flits through 20 songs, Costellos cynicisms, rage, humor, and misanthropic sensibility gel remarkably well. Some songs may not quite hit their targets, but thats part of the albums charm -- it moves so fast that its lesser songs rush by on the way to such full-fledged masterpieces as "New Amsterdam," "High Fidelity," and "Riot Act." Get Happy!! bursts with energy and invention, standing as a testament to how Costello, the pop encyclopedia, can reinvent the past in his own image. [The Japanese edition includes bonus material.] | ||
 | Album: 3 of 14 Title: Trust Released: 1981-01-23 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:07:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Clubland (03:43) 2 Lover’s Walk (02:18) 3 You’ll Never Be a Man (02:58) 4 Pretty Words (03:12) 5 Strict Time (02:41) 6 Luxembourg (02:29) 7 Watch Your Step (03:00) 8 New Lace Sleeves (03:47) 9 From a Whisper to a Scream (02:57) 10 Different Finger (01:59) 11 White Knuckles (03:50) 12 Shot With His Own Gun (03:34) 13 Fish ’n’ Chip Paper (02:59) 14 Big Sister’s Clothes (02:20) 15 Black Sails in the Sunset (02:58) 16 Big Sister (02:20) 17 Sad About Girls (02:51) 18 Twenty-five to Twelve (04:03) 19 Love for Sale (03:06) 20 Weeper’s Dream (01:07) 21 Gloomy Sunday (03:15) 22 Boy With a Problem (02:33) 23 Seconds of Pleasure (03:19) |
| Trust : Allmusic album Review : Following the frenzied pop-soul of Get Happy!!, Elvis Costello & the Attractions quickly returned to the studio and recorded Trust, their most ambitious and eclectic album to date. As if he were proving his stylistic diversity and sophistication after the concentrated genre experiment of Get Happy!!, Costello assembled Trust as a stylistic tour de force, packing the record with a wild array of material. "Clubland" has jazzy flourishes, "Lovers Walk" rolls to a Bo Diddley beat, "Luxembourg" is rockabilly redux, "Watch Your Step" is soul-pop, "From a Whisper to a Scream" rocks as hard as anything since This Years Model, "Shot with His Own Gun" is Tin Pan Alley pop, "Different Finger" is the first country song he put on an official album, and thats not even counting highlights like "New Lace Sleeves" and "White Knuckles," which essentially stick to Costellos signature pop, but offer more complex arrangements and musicianship than before. In fact, both "complexity" and "sophistication" are keywords to the success of Trust -- without delving into the minutely textured arrangements that would dominate his next pop album, Imperial Bedroom -- Costello & the Attractions demonstrate their musical skill and savvy by essentially sticking to the direct sound of their four-piece band. In the process, they recorded, arguably, their most impressive album, one that demonstrates all sides of Costellos songwriting and performing personality without succumbing to pretentiousness. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 14 Title: Almost Blue Released: 1981-10-23 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:03:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)? (01:38) 2 Sweet Dreams (03:00) 3 Success (02:41) 4 I’m Your Toy (03:23) 5 Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down (02:09) 6 Brown to Blue (02:38) 7 Good Year for the Roses (03:08) 8 Sittin’ and Thinkin’ (03:01) 9 Colour of the Blues (02:21) 10 Too Far Gone (03:27) 11 Honey Hush (02:15) 12 How Much I Lied (02:56) 13 He’s Got You (live, The Mean Machine, Aberdeen) (04:07) 14 Cry, Cry, Cry (live, The Mean Machine, Aberdeen) (02:45) 15 There Won’t Be Anymore (live, The Mean Machine, Aberdeen) (02:24) 16 Sittin’ and Thinkin’ (live, The Mean Machine, Aberdeen) (02:55) 17 Honey Hush (live, The Mean Machine, Aberdeen) (02:32) 18 Psycho (live, The Palomino Club, North Hollywood) (03:37) 19 Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven (01:58) 20 Darling, You Know I Wouldn’t Lie (02:37) 21 My Shoes Are Walking Back to You (02:04) 22 Tears Before Bedtime (02:27) 23 I’m Your Toy (live, The Royal Albert Hall) (03:47) |
| Almost Blue : Allmusic album Review : Elvis Costellos "country record" is usually written off as a vanity project, but Almost Blue is quite a bit more than that. Its one of the most entertaining cover records in rock & roll, simply because of its enthusiasm. The album begins with a roaring version of Hank Williams "Why Dont You Love Me" and doesnt stop. Costello sings with conviction on the tear-jerking ballads, as well as on barn burners like "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down." Its clear that Costello knows this music, and its also clear who he learned it from: Gram Parsons. Costello covers Parsons "Hot Burrito No. 1" and "How Much I Lied," and all of the music on Almost Blue recalls Parsons taste for hardcore honky tonk and weepy ballads. Its to Costellos credit that he made a record relying on emotion to pay tribute. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 14 Title: Imperial Bedroom Released: 1982-07-02 Tracks: 38 Duration: 2:00:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Beyond Belief (02:34) 2 Tears Before Bedtime (03:03) 3 Shabby Doll (04:49) 4 The Long Honeymoon (04:16) 5 Man Out of Time (05:27) 6 Almost Blue (02:50) 7 …And in Every Home (03:24) 8 The Loved Ones (02:48) 9 Human Hands (02:43) 10 Kid About It (02:45) 11 Little Savage (02:37) 12 Boy With a Problem (02:13) 13 Pidgin English (03:59) 14 You Little Fool (03:11) 15 Town Cryer (04:15) 1 The Land of Give and Take (early version of Beyond Belief) (03:05) 2 Tears Before Bedtime (alternate version) (03:03) 3 Man out of Time (alternate version) (03:43) 4 Human Hands (alternate version) (02:44) 5 Kid About It (alternate version) (03:18) 6 Little Savage (alternate version) (03:07) 7 You Little Fool (alternate version) (02:59) 8 Town Cryer (fast version) (02:15) 9 Little Goody Two Shoes (alternate version) (03:10) 10 The Town Where Time Stood Still (alternate version) (02:57) 11 …And in Every Home (rehearsal) (03:12) 12 I Turn Around (02:10) 13 From Head to Toe (02:35) 14 The World of Broken Hearts (03:03) 15 Night Time (02:55) 16 Really Mystified (02:05) 17 The Stamping Ground (03:10) 18 Shabby Doll (demo) (04:21) 19 Man Out of Time (demo) (03:27) 20 You Little Fool (demo) (03:11) 21 Town Cryer (demo) (03:03) 22 Seconds of Pleasure (demo) (03:19) 23 Imperial Bedroom (02:48) |
| Imperial Bedroom : Allmusic album Review : Having gotten country out of his system with Almost Blue, Elvis Costello returned to pop music with Imperial Bedroom -- and it was pop in the classic, Tin Pan Alley sense. Costello chose to hire Geoff Emerick, who engineered all of the Beatles most ambitious records, to produce Imperial Bedroom, which indicates what it sounds like -- its traditional pop with a post-Sgt. Pepper production. Essentially, the songs on Imperial Bedroom are an extension of Costellos jazz and pop infatuations on Trust. Costellos music is complex and intricate, yet it flows so smoothly, its easy to miss the bitter, brutal lyrics. The interweaving layers of "Beyond Belief" and the whirlwind intro are the most overtly dark sounds on the record, with most of the album given over to the orchestrated, melancholy torch songs and pop singles. Never once do Costello & the Attractions deliver a rock & roll song -- the album is all about sonic detail, from the accordion on "The Long Honeymoon" to the lilting strings on "Town Cryer." Of course, the detail and the ornate arrangements immediately peg Imperial Bedroom as Costellos most ambitious album, but that doesnt mean its his absolute masterpiece. Imperial Bedroom remains one of Costellos essential records because it is the culmination of his ambitions and desires -- its where he proves that he can play with the big boys, both as a songwriter and a record-maker. It may not have been a commercial blockbuster, but it certainly earned the respect of legions of musicians and critics who would have previously disdained such a punk rocker. And, perhaps, thats also the reason that he abandoned this immaculately crafted style of work on his next album, Punch the Clock. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 14 Title: Punch the Clock Released: 1983-08-05 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:07:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Let Them All Talk (03:06) 2 Everyday I Write the Book (03:53) 3 The Greatest Thing (03:04) 4 The Element Within Her (02:52) 5 Love Went Mad (03:12) 6 Shipbuilding (04:53) 7 TKO (Boxing Day) (03:28) 8 Charm School (03:55) 9 The Invisible Man (03:04) 10 Mouth Almighty (03:05) 11 King of Thieves (03:45) 12 Pills and Soap (03:42) 13 The World and His Wife (03:32) 14 Heathen Town (03:10) 15 The Flirting Kind (03:00) 16 Walking on Thin Ice (03:52) 17 Town Where Time Stood Still (03:32) 18 Shatterproof (02:19) 19 The World and His Wife (live) (03:13) 20 Everyday I Write the Book (live) (02:21) |
| Punch the Clock : Allmusic album Review : Perhaps frustrated by the lack of commercial success Imperial Bedroom encountered, Elvis Costello enlisted British hitmakers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley to produce its follow-up, Punch the Clock. The difference between the two records is immediately noticeable. Punch the Clock has a slick, glossy surface, complete with layered synthesizers, horns, studio effects, and the backup vocals of Afrodiziak. The approach isnt necessarily a misguided one, since Costello is as much a pop musician as he is a singer/songwriter and many of the best moments on the record -- "Everyday I Write the Book," "Let Them All Talk" -- work well as shiny pop singles. However, the problem with Punch the Clock is that Costello is entering a fallow songwriting period; it is his least consistent set of original songs to date. The best moments, the antiwar ballad "Shipbuilding" and the eerie pseudo-rap "Pills and Soap," are as articulate and effective as any of his past work, but frequently Costello falls short of meeting his standards, particularly when hes trying to write a song in the style of his older songs. Nevertheless, the sheen of the Langer and Winstanley production makes Punch the Clock a pleasurable listen. Costellos uneven writing means that only portions of the album are memorable. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 14 Title: Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers Released: 1984 Tracks: 20 Duration: 52:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Clean Money (02:01) 2 Girls Talk (01:56) 3 Talking in the Dark (01:58) 4 Radio Sweetheart (02:26) 5 Big Tears (03:10) 6 Crawling to the USA (02:53) 7 Just a Memory (02:17) 8 Watching the Detectives (03:47) 9 Stranger in the House (03:02) 10 Clowntime Is Over (03:46) 11 Getting Mighty Crowded (02:10) 12 Hoover Factory (01:47) 13 Tiny Steps (02:43) 14 What’s So Funny ’Bout Peace Love and Understanding (03:34) 15 Dr. Luther’s Assistant (03:30) 16 Radio Radio (03:07) 17 Black and White World (01:50) 18 Wednesday Week (02:04) 19 My Funny Valentine (01:29) 20 Ghost Train (03:06) |
| Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers : Allmusic album Review : This album is the British equivalent of the U.S. B-side and non-album track release Taking Liberties, down to a similar song ordering. Three of these songs, "Clowntime Is Over," "Black and White World," and "Clean Money" (later revised and retitled "Love for Tender") appear in greatly altered versions on Get Happy!! Other numbers, such as the country tune "Stranger in the House," the Motown-sounding song "Getting Mighty Crowded," and the Tin Pan Alley-style number "Just a Memory," anticipate the style experiments of his subsequent albums. Given Elvis Costellos stunningly great songwriting talents, this rarities platter is better than the primary album releases by most bands. This is an excellent record, highly recommended if Taking Liberties is not available. Other review sources state that this albums arrangements are different from those of Taking Liberties, but this reviewer hears no difference here. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 14 Title: Goodbye Cruel World Released: 1984-06-18 Tracks: 13 Duration: 44:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Only Flame in Town (04:02) 2 Home Truth (03:13) 3 Room With No Number (04:13) 4 Inch by Inch (02:29) 5 Worthless Thing (03:04) 6 Love Field (03:28) 7 I Wanna Be Loved (04:47) 8 The Comedians (02:35) 9 Joe Porterhouse (03:29) 10 Sour Milk‐Cow Blues (02:50) 11 The Great Unknown (03:00) 12 The Deportees Club (02:54) 13 Peace in Our Time (04:07) |
| Goodbye Cruel World : Allmusic album Review : During the making of Goodbye Cruel World, Elvis Costello was undergoing a multitude of personal problems, including a divorce, that resulted in a number of poor production decisions and ill-conceived, unformed songs. Like Punch the Clock, Goodbye Cruel World was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, the top British hitmakers of the 80s. Consequently, most of the record suffers from a stiff, synthesized production that instantly dates the record. In some cases -- like the duet with Daryl Hall, "The Only Flame in Town," and the cover of the lost Hi R&B gem "I Wanna Be Loved" -- the songs benefit from the shiny, streamlined production but it obscures the merits of the finest songs on the album. "Room with No Number," "The Comedians," "Sour Milk-Cow Blues," and "Peace in Our Time" all cry out for a simple, stripped-down presentation, but theyre weighted down with stylized sounds and trendy synthesizers; however, once the sound of the album settles in, the strength of these songs is apparent. The remainder of Goodbye Cruel World isnt as memorable, primarily because Costellos uninspired vocals and the Attractions muted performances fail to make the weaker songs musically compelling. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 14 Title: The Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions Released: 1985 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:04:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Alison (03:22) 2 Watching the Detectives (03:41) 3 (What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? (03:32) 4 Oliver’s Army (02:58) 5 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (02:45) 6 Pump It Up (03:17) 7 Accidents Will Happen (03:00) 8 Radio Radio (03:06) 9 I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (02:06) 10 Good Year for the Roses (03:08) 11 Almost Blue (02:50) 12 Beyond Belief (02:34) 13 Man Out of Time (05:27) 14 Clubland (03:43) 15 Watch Your Step (03:00) 16 Shipbuilding (04:53) 17 I Wanna Be Loved (03:50) 18 Everyday I Write the Book (03:47) 19 The Only Flame in Town (03:32) |
| The Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions : Allmusic album Review : Covering nearly all of Elvis Costellos hits prior to 1985, this album picks songs off of My Aim Is True, Imperial Bedroom, Trust, This Years Model, Armed Forces, Get Happy!!, and a couple others. For those that simply want a taste of Costello, this album is probably the best-fitted for any reasonable purpose. All of the necessary songs are included. If more is desired, the individual albums might be something worthwhile to look into. As is though, this album is much more straightforward and better-organized than many of the other compilations of Costellos work available. The only real detractor for this compilation is the lack of Costellos later works, many of which might certainly be worthwhile -- for this, perhaps Extreme Honey might be in order, covering the period after his Columbia years. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 14 Title: Blood & Chocolate Released: 1986-09-15 Tracks: 26 Duration: 1:36:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Uncomplicated (03:27) 2 I Hope You’re Happy Now (03:07) 3 Tokyo Storm Warning (06:24) 4 Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head (05:07) 5 I Want You (06:42) 6 Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind? (02:08) 7 Blue Chair (03:41) 8 Battered Old Bird (05:51) 9 Crimes of Paris (04:19) 10 Poor Napoleon (03:23) 11 Next Time Round (03:36) 1 Leave My Kitten Alone (03:25) 2 New Rhythm Method (02:30) 3 Forgive Her Anything (new version) (03:51) 4 Crimes of Paris (Electric version) (04:37) 5 Uncomplicated (alternate version) (03:06) 6 Battered Old Bird (alternate version) (04:24) 7 Seven Day Weekend (feat. Jimmy Cliff) (02:39) 8 Blue Chair (single version) (03:41) 9 Baby’s Got a Brand New Hairdo (03:25) 10 American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight version) (03:35) 11 All These Things (03:04) 12 Pouring Water on a Drowning Man (02:34) 13 Running Out of Fools (02:35) 14 Tell Me Right Now (03:06) 15 Lonely Blue Boy (02:04) |
| Blood & Chocolate : Allmusic album Review : Elvis Costello returned to the Attractions as quickly as he abandoned them, hiring the band and old producer Nick Lowe to record Blood & Chocolate, his second record in the span of one year. Where King of America was a stripped-down roots rock affair, Blood & Chocolate is a return to the harder rock of This Years Model. Occasionally, there are hints of country and folk, but the majority of the album is straight-ahead rock & roll: the opener, "Uncomplicated," only has two chords. The main difference between the reunion and the Attractions earlier work is the tone -- This Years Model was tense and out of control, whereas Blood & Chocolate is controlled viciousness. "Tokyo Storm Warning," "I Hope Youre Happy Now," and "I Want You" are the nastiest songs he has ever recorded, both lyrically and musically -- Costello snarls the lyrics and the Attractions bash out the chords. Blood & Chocolate doesnt retain that high level of energy throughout the record, however, and loses momentum toward the end of the album. Still, its a lively and frequently compelling reunion, even if it is a rather mean-spirited one. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 14 Title: 2½ Years Released: 1993-10-12 Tracks: 75 Duration: 3:44:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Welcome to the Working Week (01:23) 2 Miracle Man (03:33) 3 No Dancing (02:43) 4 Blame It on Cain (02:49) 5 Alison (03:24) 6 Sneaky Feelings (02:12) 7 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (02:49) 8 Less Than Zero (03:15) 9 Mystery Dance (01:38) 10 Pay It Back (02:35) 11 I’m Not Angry (03:01) 12 Waiting for the End of the World (03:26) 13 Watching the Detectives (03:57) 14 Radio Sweetheart (02:28) 15 Stranger in the House (03:06) 16 Imagination (Is a Powerful Deceiver) (03:40) 17 Mystery Dance (Honky Tonk demo) (02:19) 18 Cheap Reward (Honky Tonk demo) (02:18) 19 Jump Up (Honky Tonk demo) (02:08) 20 Wave a White Flag (Honky Tonk demo) (01:55) 21 Blame It on Cain (Honky Tonk demo) (03:32) 22 Poison Moon (Honky Tonk demo) (01:55) 1 No Action (02:01) 2 This Year’s Girl (03:22) 3 The Beat (03:47) 4 Pump It Up (03:15) 5 Little Triggers (02:42) 6 You Belong to Me (02:22) 7 Hand in Hand (02:34) 8 (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea (03:08) 9 Lip Service (02:38) 10 Living in Paradise (03:48) 11 Lipstick Vogue (03:33) 12 Night Rally (02:46) 13 Radio, Radio (03:06) 14 Big Tears (03:15) 15 Crawling to the USA (03:01) 16 Running Out of Angels (02:04) 17 Greenshirt (02:21) 18 Big Boys (02:58) 1 Accidents Will Happen (03:00) 2 Senior Service (02:17) 3 Oliver’s Army (02:58) 4 Big Boys (02:55) 5 Green Shirt (02:42) 6 Party Girl (03:21) 7 Goon Squad (03:14) 8 Busy Bodies (03:34) 9 Sunday’s Best (03:22) 10 Moods for Moderns (02:48) 11 Chemistry Class (02:55) 12 Two Little Hitlers (03:11) 13 (Whats So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding? (03:31) 14 My Funny Valentine (01:29) 15 Tiny Steps (02:43) 16 Clean Money (01:59) 17 Talking in the Dark (01:57) 18 Wednesday Week (02:01) 19 Accidents Will Happen (live) (03:06) 20 Alison (live) (03:07) 21 Watching the Detectives (live) (06:08) 1 Mystery Dance (02:19) 2 Waiting for the End of the World (03:53) 3 Welcome to the Working Week (01:19) 4 Less Than Zero (04:08) 5 The Beat (03:34) 6 Lip Service (02:26) 7 (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea (03:56) 8 Little Triggers (02:48) 9 Radio, Radio (02:34) 10 Lipstick Vogue (04:47) 11 Watching the Detectives (05:49) 12 Miracle Man / Band Introduction (04:08) 13 You Belong to Me (02:32) 14 Pump It Up (04:43) |
| 2½ Years : Allmusic album Review : Rykodisc launched its Elvis Costello reissue series with 2½ Years, a box set featuring his first three albums together with the previously promotional-only Live at the El Mocambo, which is only available in the box. Costello fans know the studio albums by heart and will be pleased by the remastering and bonus tracks, while the highly sought-after Live at the El Mocambo proves that in addition to being an extremely talented songwriter, Costello was a hell of a rocker. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 14 Title: The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions Released: 1994-10-25 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:17:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Alison (03:22) 2 Watching the Detectives (03:46) 3 (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea (03:10) 4 Pump It Up (03:14) 5 Radio Radio (03:06) 6 (What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (03:34) 7 Oliver’s Army (02:58) 8 Accidents Will Happen (03:00) 9 I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (02:06) 10 New Amsterdam (02:14) 11 High Fidelity (02:28) 12 Clubland (03:43) 13 Watch Your Step (03:00) 14 Good Year for the Roses (03:08) 15 Beyond Belief (02:34) 16 Man Out of Time (05:27) 17 Everyday I Write the Book (03:53) 18 Shipbuilding (04:53) 19 Love Field (03:28) 20 Brilliant Mistake (03:44) 21 Indoor Fireworks (04:10) 22 I Want You (06:42) |
| The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions : Allmusic album Review : This definitive collection offers the most penetrating single-disc overview available of Elvis Costellos work with the Attractions. Costellos early albums changed the face of pop music by harnessing punks energy to a leaner, more incisive aesthetic that included pop hooks, virtually inventing new wave in the process. While the Attractions didnt appear until Costellos second album, his debuts moving, unsentimental ballad "Alison" nevertheless remains one of his most loved songs. The sound tightened up when the Attractions appeared, as evidenced by the angular, reggae-influenced "(I Dont Want to Go To) Chelsea" and the anthem of the disillusioned "Pump It Up." Costello moved further afield in the following years, from the lush, almost baroque pop of Armed Forces "Accidents Will Happen" to the heartbreaking ballad "Good Year for the Roses" from his country album Almost Blue. True to Costellos jittery, neurotic image, things close out on an obsessive note with "I Want You," an unsettling tale of uncontrolled desire. The depth of Costellos oeuvre is too vast to be captured on one disc, but this one comes mighty close. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 14 Title: All This Useless Beauty Released: 1996-05-13 Tracks: 29 Duration: 1:56:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Other End of the Telescope (04:06) 2 Little Atoms (03:58) 3 All This Useless Beauty (04:39) 4 Complicated Shadows (04:43) 5 Why Can’t a Man Stand Alone? (03:14) 6 Distorted Angel (04:31) 7 Shallow Grave (02:07) 8 Poor Fractured Atlas (04:02) 9 Starting to Come to Me (02:43) 10 You Bowed Down (04:55) 11 It’s Time (06:00) 12 I Want to Vanish (03:16) 1 Almost Ideal Eyes (04:22) 2 My Dark Life (06:25) 3 That Day Is Done (05:11) 4 What Do I Do Now? (04:29) 5 The Bridge I Burned (05:23) 6 It’s Time (demo) (04:00) 7 Complicated Shadows (demo) (02:27) 8 You Bowed Down (demo) (04:21) 9 Mistress and Maid (demo) (02:20) 10 Distorted Angel (demo) (02:33) 11 World’s Greatest Optimist (demo) (02:34) 12 The Only Flame in Town (demo) (04:14) 13 The Comedians (demo) (03:09) 14 The Days Take Care of Everything (demo) (04:00) 15 Hidden Shame (demo) (03:59) 16 Why Can’t a Man Stand Alone (demo) (03:01) 17 Distorted Angel (Tricky remix) (05:35) |
| All This Useless Beauty : Allmusic album Review : Following his second covers album, Kojak Variety, Elvis Costello set out to assemble a collection of songs he had written for other artists but never recorded himself -- sort of a reverse covers album. As it turned out, that idea was only used as a launching pad -- the resulting album, All This Useless Beauty, is a mixture of nine old and three new songs. Given its origins, its surprising that the record holds together as well as it does. The main strength of All This Useless Beauty is the quality of the individual songs -- each song can stand on its own as an individual entity, as the music is as sharp as the lyrics. Although the music is certainly eclectic, its accessible, which wasnt the case with Mighty Like a Rose. Furthermore, the production is more textured and punchier than Mitchell Frooms botched job on Brutal Youth. All This Useless Beauty doesnt quite add up to a major statement, but the simple pleasures it offers makes it one of the more rewarding records of the latter part of Costellos career. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 14 Title: Live at Hollywood High Released: 2010-01-12 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:12:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Accidents Will Happen (03:29) 2 Mystery Dance (02:02) 3 Lip Service (02:44) 4 Living in Paradise (03:31) 5 Goon Squad (03:59) 6 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (02:40) 7 Party Girl (02:56) 8 (I Dont Want to Go to) Chelsea (04:40) 9 This Years Girl (03:46) 10 No Action (02:08) 11 Stranger in the House (04:09) 12 The Beat (03:36) 13 Alison (03:05) 14 Lipstick Vogue (04:18) 15 Watching the Detectives (05:59) 16 You Belong to Me (02:38) 17 Radio, Radio (02:28) 18 Pump It Up (04:30) 19 Waiting for the End of the World (04:32) 20 Miracle Man (05:05) |
| Live at Hollywood High : Allmusic album Review : Originally released as a four-song bonus EP with the U.K. edition of Armed Forces, then excerpted with an additional six songs on Rhino’s double-disc expansion of said album in 2002, Live at Hollywood High received a full-blown reissue in 2010, almost 32 years after the June 4, 1978 concert from Elvis Costello & the Attractions. As the second installment of the Costello Show archival series, Live at Hollywood High isn’t as legendary as Live at the El Mocambo, which had the benefit of once being one of Elvis Costello’s rarest records, but it’s a better show, or at least a better indication of the Attractions at their absolute peak. Apart from the dramatic opening reading of “Accidents Will Happen,” featuring only Elvis and pianist Steve Nieve, every performance here is significantly revved up from the album versions, a change evident on all the My Aim Is True material -- including a reworked arrangement of “Stranger in the House” stripped of its country influence -- and the entire set has the momentum of a locomotive, twitchily pausing at “Alison” before crashing to a conclusion with a tremendous sequence of “You Belong to Me,” “Radio, Radio,” “Pump It Up,” “Waiting for the End of the World,” and “Miracle Man.” Moreso than This Year’s Model, this is the purest rock & roll record in Costello’s catalog: there’s passion and abandon in the Attractions noisy revelry, not to mention some seriously heated fun. | ||