This Year's Model

Elvis Costello

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2007)
• Original Release Date: September 10, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Records
• ASIN: B000OHZJKK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,926 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. No Action

2. This Year's Girl

3. The Beat

4. Pump It Up

5. Little Triggers

6. You Belong To Me

7. Hand In Hand

8. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea

9. Lip Service

10. Living In Paradise

11. Lipstick Vogue

12. Night Rally

13. Radio, Radio

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

With his second album, Elvis Costello firmly established himself as one of rock's--not just punk/new wave's--premier singer-songwriters. Building on the promise of his '77 debut, My Aim Is True, Costello put together a backing touring trio, the Attractions (keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas, and drummer Pete Thomas), and their versatility helped Costello define himself as a punk-fuelled power-pop force. Sporting influences ranging from Bob Dylan (the stream-of-consciousness "Pump It Up") to Burt Bacharach (the Dusty Springfield-worthy "Little Triggers"), this '78-released collection also features such righteously angry anthems as the anti-conformist "This Year's Girl," and the anti-MOR classic, "Radio Radio." --Billy Altman

Product Description

Includes the bonus track Radio Reidio. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sound Quality, Costello's Best!, August 5, 2006

By	Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: This Year's Model (Audio CD)

It's easy to see why this is usually listed as among the best albums of the 70's. Coming off a very decent debut album, few could have been ready for this brilliant follow-up which reminds me a lot of Tom Petty's best work with the Heartbreakers. The musicianship and songwriting has improved greatly over the debut effort due no doubt to the more polished backing band that represents the Attractions as well as Costello himself imcreasing in confidence and maturing in ability. The sound quality of this remastered version is also brilliant and together with the wonderful mini-lp sleeve design which includes all the lyrics in English and Japanese as an insert make this the best version of this album that is out there at the moment. Highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great In Any Year, May 14, 2008

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This Year's Model was Elvis Costello's second album and his first with the Attractions. Mr. Costello embodied the angry attitude of punk rock, but unlike most punk bands who were unskilled musicians that thrived on high energy, he possessed a rapier pen and an ear for melody. The album opens with the fierce "No Action" that in fine punk form clocks in at less than two minutes. "This Year's Girl" is wry take on the fame machine. "The Beat" has a catchy organ riff and is about the tried and true subject of self-gratification. "Pump It Up" is a fiery track as is "Lip Service". "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" has a manic verve while "Little Triggers" slows things down. "Radio Radio" is the most famous off the album, but the album's best track is "Lipstick Vogue". The song has a thumping bass line that shuffles along until a frenzied close. This Year's Model gave further proof that Elvis Costello may well be the king.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the GREAT records of all time!, April 24, 2009

By	Gary M. Douglas "eansor" (Just east of Albuquerque New Mexico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Someone else may have mentioned this already, but if not, I think many have overlooked a most important component of the genesis and passion of this album. Let me see if memory serves...

As I recall, this album was indeed the boom following the lit fuse dynamite of the first album, but where did all the intensity come from? Very much like Frank Sinatra's masterpiece recording In the Wee Small Hours, which was born of a broken heart, This Year's Model was the result of the breakup of Elvis' love affair with famed international model Bebe Buell. The cover says it all and it's right there staring you in the face.

Frank nearly lost his mind over the breakup with Eva Gardner, the absolute one and only love of his life. The pain and misery he felt drove him to a level of intensity and passion in his delivery and arrangements never before heard from the Chairman of the Board.

Like Frank before him, Elvis too suffered deeply when Bebe chose her career over him - just listen to the words of Lipstick Vogue. Most of the album was a love lost song to Bebe. It stands out in my mind as truly one of the great albums to come out of the '80's and remains one of my very favorites.