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Reviews: Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True

Reviews: 3

Review by breydon_music July 13, 2011 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
Wow! If you are a diehard Costello fan you will need no persuading of the merits of this record. If, like me, you think he started well, peaked with "Armed Forces", and then enjoyed another 30 years of fame making records whose length and quality went in opposite directions, largely untroubled by any sort of muse, you will still consider this one of the most precociously capable, nay inspired, singer songwriter debut albums in the history of the genre. This, like the Pretenders, made its debut on the pretence of being punk a la amateur hour. Of course it's nothing of the sort, and listening now to this simply astonishing transfer it's clear that the man, the band and the production were all 110% on song. If you bought a quality pop album made in 2011 that sounded as good as this you would be well pleased. Listening to track 11 you'd swear the man was backed by Dire Straits! Wallowing in the sound of this I was reminded how frustrating it was all those years ago when artists often put their most impressive tracks at ends of LP sides where the fi was lowest. This doesn't just sound a bit better than it has before, this wipes the floor. It has slam, bang, oof and urgh and all those other things that Ken Kessler and Batman talk about in abundance. The presentation is superb too, with both the U K and American covers on display, and "Watching the Detectives" (on the U S LP but not the original U K issue) added on at the end. Of course at the end of the day it's going to cost you the humungous Jap price so is it worth it? Well, it's only the price of one iffy seat if you saw the man at the O2 arena, and what you get will last you a lifetime and is a zillion times better than anything he would sing to you now (he should worry - most people would get nowhere near one album as good as this in a lifetime), so really it's a no brainer. Get out your plastic immediately!

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Review by analogue July 19, 2012 (4 of 4 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
In their haste to classify and categorize any music some critics and listeners simply apply a label and an album like this simply becomes a punk release. I am not a fan of punk but lo and behold.....this album is not merely punk. It is so much more and for those who might be curious about this disc.........its a real winner.

To say this Costello album is merely a punk release is doing a great disservice to the artist and band. Oh sure.there is a definite punk edge here but also that of rock, 50's rock grooves.jazz, blues and reggae. Whats not to like??

Through 13 tracks this 1977 album is very catchy, humorous and actually pretty brilliant and addictive. Most of us have heard Alison and watching the detective through the years but what I didn't know was how great this disc is musically.

The sound quality is outstanding on this shm sacd and the Japanese mastering tech did a terrific job even with the secondary tape source. Vocals are meaty, bass and drums rendered very powerfully and the lead guitar work is beautiful to hear.I just wish there were more lead solo's. The sound stage and presence are excellent as well. This is a very musical disc and it opened up considerably after about five plays.

I'm glad I took the chance on this shm sacd. Its a great album.

Highly recommended.

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Review by cordobaman December 23, 2014 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
I have the recent re-release UIGY9628 of "My Aim Is True". Purchased on a whim, I was only familiar with the two radio-played hits. Needed to add some punk to my collection.

I am very pleasantly surprised, this one is getting heavy rotation on the playlist. Not just because the music is really good; there is something about the real, raw sound.

At first I was scratching my head on why the vocals sounded fuzzy. The I realized, this was the intention. The look/feel of the album is 1950's on a punky twist, so the vocals sound as though he recorded with a Sure 55S microphone (like his namesake). I get it, it works. As a contrast, the percussion is quite clear, beautiful decay and shimmer as if they used soft-tipped sticks. And oh the guitar; classic, undistorted, Fender tone.

Great beat, "vintage" sound/flavor, catchy tunes. Winner!

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