366 of 1001 Albums: Elvis Costello's My Aim Is True

After hearing Elvis Costello's name for so long, I was curious about his music would sound. It was very different than I expected with the 50s rock n' rock vibe that was put in well with the 70s.  This album had a rough start though as Costello had a difficult time getting a label to pick it up, and on top of that when the album was released the backing band, The Clovers, weren't even credited due to some contract difficulties. Years later though this album has become a classic, and inducted into a few Hall of Fames.

Costello gets the album started off well with "Welcome to the Working Week". With such a topic usually greeted with not too much excitement he makes his song pop with the fun sounds of the 50s. When you do the 50s though it can be a difficult sound to modify to fit another sound but he does that well by mixing the pop and rock aspect of it.


After the first song I was really excited about listening to the rest of the album especially since I thought the list missed many more fun tunes from the 50s, and trimmed it down pretty low. The second song "Miracle Man" isn't as fun, but thankfully the album gets back to giving you hope with "No Dancing". Sometimes the sound runs together, but it's songs like this that do keep it popping every other song that you listen to on the album.

The album keeps with a good sound though, and these fun but sort of rebellious lyrics throughout the album. The next song that really stood out to me was "I'm Not Angry". It sort of had that same vibe as "No Dancing", and still captures the vibe of the 50s where much was being looked down upon as younger people sort of plodded their way into rebelling against it.

Elvis Costello has a lot of fun tunes that take a bit from the past, and mesh it with the current of the 70s to create something that still sounds like the time, and has relevant lyrics, but gets a lot of where it is inspired by as well. It's very unique as well, as much music like this just wasn't being played anymore. Costello also has a good voice that almost only feels meant to this style.

Rating 7 of 10.