Under-appreciated. Album came to my attention via bearded performance on SNL.
5
By 'tisawonderfullife
The Other Side of Summer, After the Fall, So Like Candy, Playboy to a Man, Sweet Pear, Broken.
2 more paul mccartney colaborations
3
By ralph929
so like candy & playboy to a man are 2 more songs elvis wrote with paul mccartney
that alone makes this cd a must have!
I must be missing something...
5
By Jorid Nygard
I've listened to several Elvis Costello albums, including his early works, which are said to be his best, and for the life of me I can't figure out what makes this album worse. Every review I've read has called this Costello's least accessible album, but I was able to enjoy this on the first listen.
Some of the tracks have some unusual sounds throughout ("Invasion Hit Parade", "Hurry Down Doomsday"), and there is a consistent murk that lasts through almost all the songs, but it's more of a part of the music than a hinderance. "After the Fall" is one of the most haunting things Costello ever wrote and "The Other Side of Summer" ranks among one of the catchiest rants he ever recorded.
It seems that people take issue with this album because it isn't what they've come to expect from Costello, but this album proves that to be a good thing.
Underrated
4
By gooberjam
I'm an Elvis completist and I've always felt that this was a really beautiful and underrated record. Couldn't Call it Unexpected #4 is perhaps my favorite EC song ever. This record is dark and bitter, but don't we all have days where that is our soundtrack?
An Aside
3
By Chief Ten Dogs
I fell in love when I was 17 years old. My first date was at the DLG commons at UCSB. On the TV in the distance was the SNL performance of Elvis Costello's "So Like Candy". He was at a stage in his career when he was looking beat & bohemian. The date went so well that I bought the album. I would say that "So Like Candy" and the little known ballad "After the Fall" are the best songs that EC has ever performed. The album is weak but these two tracks are beyond impressive.
Well There Are Worse Things You Could Listen To
2
By Marmaluk
This album has a few highs and whole lot of mediocrity. Its not Costello's worst album but its far from his best. One thing I love about Costello is his clear control of different musical styles but on "Mighty Like A Rose" it seems he doesn't even know where he is going. Its not great but there are worse things you could listen to.
Underrated Gem
4
By nftchcks
This is one of my favorite Costello albums. It took (and still takes) a beating from critics, but I’ve never understood why. While not in the same league as, say, This Year’s Model or My Aim Is True, it’s a solid disc that has aged quite well. Almost every song has one or more gorgeous melodies (check out “All Grown Up” or “Couldn’t Call It Unexpected No. 4”), and as for the lyrics, well, it’s a Costello album, so of course they are amazing. The production is much like that of Spike - lush and complex - but the songs here are overall a bit more consistent. There are no outright classics like “Veronica” or “Let Him Dangle” (although “Georgie and Her Rival” is every bit as good as the former and one of the best pop songs Costello has ever written), but there is also no filler (although the weakest cut, “Broken,” comes close). Most of the tunes take a while to sink in, so this album requires repeated listens, but any listener with refined taste will be rewarded.
Mighty Indeed
5
By SteelDog42
This album is quintessential Elvis Costello. With it's eclectic styling, brilliant melodies, and thoughtful lyrics one can get a taste of what his entire body of work is like. Yes... it's a sampling platter of Elvis Costello. Songs like 'Sweet Pear', 'All Grown Up', and 'Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4' are in my estimation true standouts. And if the song 'So Like Candy' isn't worth buying the album simply on it's own... then I don't know what!
Mighty Like A Rose
4
By spanky247
"Wasn't it a millionaire who said imagine no possessions" is a line that sums up the angry young man pop brilliance that never seems to wane from any Elvis production. This release finds him without the attractions and really getting a handle on his new found autonomy. Pop hooks, ballads, symphonies, and biting lyrics are just the tip of the iceberg on this often overlooked gem. It takes a little work to really get into it, I owned it for three months before I really began to enjoy it, but it was worth the wait.
