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My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True Audio CD

A fair review of the Elvis Costello "My Aim Is True" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Elvis Costello reviews here, or go back to the Elvis Costello tabs.

Band: Elvis Costello
Title: My Aim Is True
Rating:

Release Date: 1993-10-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Welcome to the Working Week 2: Miracle Man 3: No Dancing 4: Blame It on Cain 5: Alison 6: Sneaky Feelings 7: (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes 8: Less Than Zero 9: Mystery Dance 10: Pay It Back 11: I'm Not Angry 12: Waiting for the End of the World 13: Watching the Detectives 14: Radio Sweetheart [*] 15: Stranger in the House [*] 16: Imagination (Is a Powerful Deceiver) [*] 17: Mystery Dance [*] 18: Cheap Reward [*] 19: Jump Up [*] 20: Wave a White Flag [*] 21: Blame It on Cain [*] 22: Poison Moon [*]

elvis costello cd
SOOO PROFESSIONAL
THEY ARE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN THIS BUSINESS !!!!. WAS OVERJOYED WITH THIS SELLER!! I THINK THEY SAID IT WOULD ARRIVE IN A WEEK
AND I RECEIVED MY CD IN MINT CONDITION 2 DAYS LATER .

Great debut but Elvis would do better...
This was of course the album that introduced us to Mr. I haven't heard much Costello, but based on what I've heard I can certainly say his first three albums were his peak. McManus, and it's quite good, one of Elvis' best. But I think the next two (This Year's Model and Armed Forces) are a ton better - there's a bit of generic punkabilly (albeit with much more interesting lyrics than most punk or rockabilly artists ever churned out) like Welcome to the Working Week, Miracle Man, No Dancing and Pay It Back. Now there are also several of his better songs. Watching the Detectives is pure reggae, predating both the Clash and the Police (Two good bands who would also delve into reggae) by a year. And I love it. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes is another one of those songs most fans know, for good reason too: pub-rock doesn't get much better. The frenzied, innuendo-packed Mystery Dance and I'm Not Angry are also both punkabilly, but they're also far better than any of the generic stuff, two of my personal favorites (I especially like I'm Not Angry's lyric "There's no such thing as original sin"). I think Less Than Zero is a tad overrated, but the lyrics are genius.
Then we get to my personal favorite song, not only on the album, but of Costello's broad catalogue. I think it's safe to say that Allison is his most beloved song, and with good reason. The ambiguity of the lyrics - is this just a breakup song? Is it about murder? Possible suicide, maybe? - is played out perfectly. The chorus of "Allison. . . I know this world is killing you/Allison. . . my aim is true" continues to muddy the waters. Now I like my lyrics ambiguous (I am a Dylan fan, after all), and it's safe to say that's part of what makes this my favorite Costello song. That's not all though: Costello is if anything an underrated melodicist, and he pens a perfect one here. Even his vocals, which I normally find quite limited, suit the song perfectly.
So a fine debut album, full of the promise that would later flower on the next two albums, but in spot s he sounds like he's just copying that other famous Elvis (not that there's anything wrong with that). And Clover's nowhere near the Attractions. While it's safe to say that This Year's Model is the place to start, My Aim is True is one to get too.

Simply Awesome
It is simply awesome. There is just not another way to describe this album. It is a tremendous breath of fresh air,bursting with energetic life, and some of the most creative and original songwriting imaginable. This introduces the world to one of its most distinct voices and artists: the inimitable Elvis Costello. Every track is a gem and will catch you likely the first time around; relistens are always rewarding though, and thus even though the album will become an instant favorite it will not grow old and stale after a short time. When every track is so vital it becomes impossible to name highlights. . . the whole album is excellent and every track worthy of 5 stars. .

the birth of the cool
With heavy radio rotation of songs such as (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (which I made sure to get not long afterward), Alison, and Watching the Detectives, as well as Welcome to the Working Week, Mystery Dance, and Radio Sweetheart, Elvis was suddenly all over the FM dial, and we heard tell of concerts in which the 'angry young man' named Declan McManus spit on his audiences and told them off. When I was a senior in high school, Elvis Costello came out with My Aim is True, and it totally blew us all away with its cynical, on-the-money lyrics and terrific pop hooks. A real regret was not getting to see him play live the first time he toured here, which I didn't have the opportunity to do 'til 1983, and a couple of times thereafter - always excellent shows, I might add (alas, no spitting). I have such specific memories of riding in a car singing Watching the Detectives and listening to these tunes while crossing the Long Island Sound by ferry on a trip to Shelter Island in New York on an early summer morning, Elvis' music the indelibly-etched soundtrack to that period that will forever play in my mind. Since this LP, Elvis has gone on, as we all know, to explore and master many genres of music, but - even given his wonderful subsequent work with Burt Bacharach - none hold as much power and meaning for me, even twenty five plus years on, as this LP does. Long live this King!! .

One of the top 10 albums ever produced.
Every track is superb. There is very few albums that compare to this masterpiece. One of the top 10 albums ever produced. Intelligent and quick witted lyrics, addictive melodies and clean pure energy, this album has it all.

The funny thing is I could issue a similar endorsement for E. C. 's next two albums as well. 1977's My Aim Is True, 1978's This Years Model & 1979's Armed Forces, may very well be the best three consecutive albums ever released by any one artist.

Other artists have had larger impacts on our history and influences to or culture (Beatles, Stones & that other Elvis) But for musical excellence Elvis Costello is second to none.

You can see a complete list of all Elvis Costello discography, or go back to the Elvis Costello tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.