Angry, angst-ridden, and really really good. Still sounds fresh after all this time.

Best track: (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea

Still strikes me as a legitimately hip record, in a good way. It feels fresh and relevant.

No sophmore slump here. Elvis sounds just as exciting and the lyrics are just as good as they were on the first album.

I dismissed Elvis Costello as a wuss that bohemian girls liked, but nobody else would, until I dated a super-hot bohemian girl who insisted I give him a fair try. Was it my hormones or my brain that convinced me I was wrong? I'd say it was somewhere in my gut. This album should win anyone over.

Solid record full of enjoyable content. I might be part of the minority that thinks "Armed Services" is a better album, but it is simply so much more diverse, while continuing the high level of content, so I give that album the edge.

Best Tracks: Little triggers, No action.

Elvis Costello is the kind of punk music i can listen to and thoroughly enjoy. He brings the punk attitude while rocking out with literate lyrics. He's also able to change styles, not limited to the "punk rock musical aesthetic", as on display during the synth moments of "the best" or the funky bass/synth arrangement in "pump it up" (where i hear both girl talk and escape club). Nice use of crisp instrumentation in "hand in hand". This guy's pretty flexible as i hear artists from animal collective to huey lewis and the news in his songs. Very good punk-ish send-out "radio, radio".

Lip Service is classic...with many others...plus he was caught in a love quadruple with bebe buell,stiv bator and steven tyler...no wonder he hated chelsea...

I love "Pump it up" the best also, but I really like the way the album opens with "no action"another great song from this great album..it really sets the tone for the album.