Elvis Costello

[E.H. Ruddock]

Never knew he was American

[Kevin Davis]

I'm really loving The Boy Named If -- I'm finding myself obsessively playing it more than any other new EC album since National Ransom (and I've liked all of them). The only down spots for me come early on, interestingly enough -- "Penelope Halfpenny" (kind of grating) and "The Difference" (a song that just doesn't quite hang together for me). Apart from that I think it's a perfect album. The run of songs from "What If I Can't Give You Anything But Love" to "Trick Out the Truth" is a gauntlet of triumphant songwriting!

[liebzz]

Penelope Halfpenny sounds very different from the rest of the album, as if it were recorded and mastered completely separate from everything else. There’s this warm worn in feeling I get from the rest of the songs, and Penelope Halfpenny feels almost cold and tinny in comparison. Can’t exactly put my finger on it.

[Jorge]

I'm pretty sure there's a bit of vocal pitch-shifting going on in the verse vocals of "Penelope"; I wonder if that has anything to do with it? Also the end of the chorus reminds me of the ending to the chorus of "Pony Street".

Yeah, it's a great album. Crazy that it was recorded completely remotely, it does have a live-band feel. And Davey's especially good in this

[Kevin Davis]

And Davey's especially good in this

I love the bassline for "Farewell, OK" -- it makes me think of something off Get Happy, "Five Gears in Reverse" or "Beaten to the Punch" maybe?

There is also more of Steve's vintage "new wave organ" sound (not sure what the exact effect is) on this album than any since...probably the Attractions' original run! There are a lot of those little throwback elements on this record, and there is definitely a pleasure factor to it. And yet it still feels like a new EC album, with all the strengths of his later efforts -- sharper songcraft, Davey's backup vocals, etc.

[Jorge]

And EC sounds great, too. Better than in the old days

[evenslow]

this rules!!

I really need to catch up on this thread. so much has happened.

amazing this guy is still killing it at this age.

[evenslow]

I wish evenslow still posted here

well this was nice to read.

[evenslow]

as for rankings, it's damn near impossible at this point. i suppose i'll just point out the handful of albums i would want to listen to *right now* if asked.

Brutal Youth
Trust (just based on "New Lace Sleeves" alone - good manners and bad breath get you nowhere)
When I Was Cruel
Momofuku
The Delivery Man

I'm a big fan of his latter day "rockers." And Brutal Youth is just so insanely melodic and underrated. "This is Hell" and "Kinder Murder" and "You Tripped at Every Step." Right up there with McCartney.

[evenslow]

Get Happy!! was my #1 for a long time, but I do feel like I'm slightly outgrowing it. From the early stuff, there's a reason why This Year's Model lasts, and that reason is mostly Pete Thomas kicking everyone's ass up and down the stage on Chelsea and No Action and Lipstick Vogue. Attractions playing together perfectly. Perfect record.

[evenslow]

And, randomly, there are days when I think "Under Lime" is the greatest thing he ever recorded.

[evenslow]

I'm surprised everyone is kinda lukewarm on Armed Forces.

Senior Service!
Oliver's Army!
Green Shirt!
Party Girl!

Come on, guys!

[evenslow]

Also, for posterity, the first EC record I bought and got into *in real time* was Brutal Youth.

I knew the greatest hits by heart at that point, but never did a true deep dive. Brutal Youth is what made me do that.

Then I went ahead and made the holy trip to Mecca of albums 1-5.

[evenslow]

My (much) older sister's favorite artist is Elvis Costello. She was my intro. When I was a very little kid, I used to sing along to "Blue Chair." Great song.

[evenslow]

Another song with "blue" in the title that rules harder than most other songs is "My Little Blue Window."

[Jorge]

Also, for posterity, the first EC record I bought and got into *in real time* was Brutal Youth.

This is the EC album The Boy Named If reminds me most of, in sound and spirit

And thematically too, come to think of it

[Jorge]

I'm a sucker for melodic bits like that ascending vocal in the "My Most Beautiful Mistake" pre-chorus (pops up for the first time at 0:28). It reminds me of the chorus to "Party Girl"

[evenslow]

I'm a sucker for melodic bits like that ascending vocal in the "My Most Beautiful Mistake" pre-chorus (pops up for the first time at 0:28). It reminds me of the chorus to "Party Girl"

totally!

[evenslow]

so far, my favorite one-two is What If I Can't Give You Anything But Love into Paint the Red Rose Blue. Hitting on all cylinders there.

[Higgs]

This thread is an awesome love in. I need to check out some further EC methinks.