10 Greatest Debut Albums Of The 1970s
6. My Aim Is True - Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello is an artist who is almost defined by his contradictions. The man had a fantastic knack for creating rock tunes, but the actual lyrics behind them were something much more poignant than a typical party track. Even his flirtations with pub rock left many fans perplexed as to just who Costello was trying to be.
Regardless of genre, My Aim Is True is one of the most beautiful records of the 70's, with Costello's biting lyrics only combated by some of the most unhinged instrumentation of his career. Costello admitted to obsessively listening to the Clash while making this record, and that pure blast of energy shines through on songs like "Welcome to the Working Week" and "Less Then Zero."
At the same time, there are songs like "Alison," a gorgeous ballad which brings all of the more manic playing back down to Earth. Rather than just staying in one lane, Costello knew that it was more fun to try on different musical genres and see what he could get away. One minute you'll be bobbing your head to the riffs, and then Elvis will rip your heart out of your chest with his tender moments. The combinations might not make sense all the time, but you wouldn't want to change a thing.