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My Aim Is True | 
 enlarge | Artist: Elvis Costello
Label: Hip-O Records
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $9.97
You Save: $4.01 (29%)
New (49) Used (17) from $7.44
Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 4524
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 000863502
UPC: 602517260863
EAN: 6025172608636
ASIN: B000OHZJKA
Release Date: May 1, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Welcome To The Working Week | | • | Miracle Man | | • | No Dancing | | • | Blame It On Cain | | • | Alison | | • | Sneaky Feelings | | • | (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes | | • | Less Than Zero | | • | Mystery Dance | | • | Pay It Back | | • | I'm Not Angry | | • | Waiting For The End Of The World | | • | Watching The Detectives |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential recording
Elvis Costello kicked off his debut album with a formal device that would also serve his next two long-players well: the first thing you hear is his voice. That opening phrase--"Now that your picture's in the paper..."--was more than sneakily, if not intentionally, appropriate, since Costello was quickly declared the second coming. It's become de rigueur to dis the pub-rock backing of U.S. band Clover, but their work here is satisfactorily edgy; guitarist John McFee makes some of the arrangements with his wailingly articulate fills. --Rickey Wright
Album Description
Special 20bit K2 Japanese limited edition issue of the album classic in a deluxe, miniaturized LP sleeve replica of the original vinyl album artwork.
Album Details
Special 20bit K2 Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
Angry, clever young man. November 11, 2008
Back in 1977, it must have taken exactly 1:23 min to realize that Elvis Costello was a serious case and would be around for a long time.
Welcome To The Working Week bursts in with so much nerve and confidence that you want to go back to check it again. But Miracle Man is equally as good. As most of this album is. This geeky Liverpudlian with Buddy Holly glasses delivers american rock and roll with punk attitude and a lot more chords than you would expect. Fast and angry but clever. The backing band is competent but it's Costello's sneering vocals and song-writing skills that make the difference. Costello sounds like an urban Springsteen - the same passion without the good-heart.
My Aim Is True is still one of Costello's best albums, but as someone wrote "the best was yet to come". I'll save the 5 stars for the next ones.
This release comes in a nice digipack with a small booklet containing little more than lyrics.
an impressive debut ..... but the best was yet to come July 5, 2008
Music writers in 1977 hailed the appearance of this record as the introduction of a major new songwriting talent. Indeed, EC demonstrates here an astonishingly precocious ability to combine sophistication and popular sensibility with both personal ("Alison") and sociological ("Less than Zero") themes.
Of course the musicianship is considered the primary flaw of the album (it's not worth getting bent out of shape over 'remastering' - I've heard these songs for thirty years and they have always sounded weak and tinny in any format). It's very easy to mock 'Clover''s performance as either lazy or incompetent but in the interest of fair play I would like to propose that they were a victim of the disease of 'mellow', i.e. a perception that popular music success in the 1970's required the suppression of both tempo and volume. As all EC fans know, immediately after this release he began the formation of The Attractions, a band that was most definitely NOT mellow and in fact created some of the most energetic and exciting sounds in rock music history (I can't possibly imagine what "Pump it Up" would sound like if Clover attempted it).
If you are new to EC's music I would put this fifth on the list to purchase behind 'This Year's Model', 'Armed Forces', 'Get Happy' and 'Imperial Bedroom'.
 Still True May 14, 2008
Elvis Costello burst onto the music scene with one of the smartest and sharpest albums in history. The songs are all short (most under 3 minutes long) and shot at you in a machine gun burst. Despite their length, they pack a punch. Mr. Costello writes some of the most acerbic and astute lyrics in rock. On the surface, many of the songs like "No Dancing", "Blame It On Cain", "Less Than Zero" & "Waiting For The End Of The World", seem to be condeming in nature, but underneath they are looking for answers. He was lumped into the punk music scene, but that was more for his angry, I don't give a damn attitude than his music. Unlike the unpolished, raw music of most punk rockers like The Sex Pistols & The Damned, his music is tight and melodic. Also unlike most punks, he showed he could write an actual love song. "Alison" is one of the prettiest songs you'll ever hear.
My Aim Is True April 9, 2008
Elvis Costello-My Aim Is True *****
My Aim Is True is the fantastic debut album from one of the worlds greatest musicians, Elvis Costello. Coming around with the second wave of British punk (technically making him new wave) Costello had the attitude, intensity, and lyrical power to pretty much destroy everything that was around on the airwaves at the time.
Costello's lyrical prowess is the main driving force on the album. From beautiful ballads like 'Alison' to the paranoid 'Watching The Detectives' Costello's ability as a writer shines through. The punk energy and guitar shines through on the albums rocking opener 'Welcome To The Working Week.' But the albums best track may come in the form of an ill fated British attempt at reggae. 'Less Than Zero' is just that, and is easily the strongest song on the album and one of Costello's best songs ever for that matter.
As far as new wave goes My Aim Is True is the best. Not a weak track from start to finish. Costello would release two more popular albums before abandoning his fame for cult success, which you have to admire and scratch your head at the same time. My Aim Is True is Costello in top form and he would never top it, not even with This Years Model of Imperial Bedroom.
 TRULY AWFUL-HERE'S MY STORY September 9, 2007
9 out of 16 found this review helpful
Up until recently, I had no Elvis in my collection. He's one of my 2nd tier artists, but I do like him. I've just been holding off for all the other stuff I really, really want. As soon as I saw these new 'originals' come out, the first thing I did was go out and buy the Rhino issues with all the bonus tracks as I assume they would dissappear in favor of these. Good move on my part. I really liked all the other stuff you got and they sounded all great. I bought Armed Forces, Get Happy, and Years' Model. I had held off on Aim is True, mostly because I was not nearly as impressed with the bonus tracks as I was on the others. Also, geez, this album has got to be the most over played since Dark Side of the Moon. Needless to say I was thrilled when I found, the ALL NEW - NOT YET ON AMAZON - DELUXE ISSUE OF AIM IS TRUE. It contains extra outtakes not found on the Rhino issue, plus an entire 2nd disk of a 1977 live show and soundcheck. However, it did not contain the 'honky tonk' demos that are on the Rhino issue. Now, keep in mind that this deluxe issue is put out by the same company that put out this new 'original' as they call it, HIP-O/UNIVERSAL so I assume it sounds the same as the deluxe issue. I still have not heard the Rhino issue of this, however I had no problems at all with the sound of the other 3 CDs. This Hip-O issue is just awful. There is a lot of high-midrange/treble distortion in the recording. The demos on the Deluxe issue also have it which suggests something wrong. Add to this Watching the Detectives is particularly butchered as it suffers from that awful imbalence between the loud and quiet parts you get with bad mastering sometimes. The instruments and vocals all sound like they are in the background and the loud parts, like when it goes '...And They Shoot Shoot Shoot...' just jumps out at you real loud. It sucks something bad. However, the good news is that the bouus disk on this new deluxe issue has the entire LP live, except I'm Not Angry. And - get this - the sound quality on the live stuff is far superior to the studio stuff, which tells you there is something wrong with this recroding. Keep in mind I am assuming this 'original' sounds the same as my deluxe issue of this, as Hip-0 put out both. I sampled here and yes, I hear the mid-range distortion, even thru cheap head phones. I couldn't get a sample of the Rhino issue, but I assume it's far superior to this. I wonder if all the CDs in this series sound this bad. If so, I assume it's going to be a long time before we see a decent issue unless Rhino comes to rescue. I am very seriously even considering buying the Rhino issue, even with all the duplication (although I would get the Honky Tonk' demos) just to have a decent recording of this LP. Or maybe I'll just listen to it live from now on on the bonus disk. Stay away from this issue. Get the Rhino. Buy the new deluxe only for the bonus live show. Only pay rock bottom.
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