This Year's Model

Album Notes & Community Reviews

On his first album with the backing band the Attractions, Elvis Costello embraced a raw and aggressive power-pop sound fueled by the group's taut, energetic performances. Nick Lowe's production captured this nervous energy with a live-in-the-studio feel, complementing cynical lyrics that explored failing relationships, voyeurism, and themes of mass control. Containing iconic tracks like "Pump It Up" and "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea," 'This Year's Model' is a landmark new wave album that solidified Costello's standing as one of the era's foremost songwriters.