0042. Elvis Costello
This Year's Model

Okay, I got to admit that I have a chip on my shoulder with this Elvis here and it's purely due to his slurs against Ray Charles and James Brown just after the release of this album (no, being drunk isn't an excuse). But since I know he's both apologized profusely as well as grown up a bit since then I'll also admit that I like This Year's Model.

This is an album full of melodious and lyrically good-to-great pop songs showing off Costello's feeling for what works. The style is like an amalgamation of all the small things that made 50's rock'n'roll work combined with the best of the new wave-elements. Tracks like (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, This Year's Girl and Hand In Hand shows off some real talent and it spills over on the other tracks too, so you might want to check it out.