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All Music Guide Review:
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
It's hard not to be a little disappointed that Rhino's 2001 double-disc expanded edition of Elvis Costello's My Aim Is True doesn't contain all that much different material from Rykodisc/Demon's 1993 reissue, which contained nine bonus tracks, all included on the second bonus disc of this set. That means there are only four tracks not on that collection, two of which any die-hard fan certainly has -- the version of "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" from the Live Stiffs record, and "Less Than Zero (Dallas Version)" from Live at the El Mocambo. Though these are nice to have along with the rest of the previously released nine bonus tracks, it's hard not to believe that the album could have had more rarities included, especially since there are such gems as a version of "Third Rate Romance" and other Flip City demos floating around on bootleg. However, the two other discoveries are absolutely terrific -- early versions of "Living in Paradise" and a shambling, distorted "No Action" previously thought lost (Costello said as much in his liners to the 1993 disc). Then there's the package itself, which illustrates how shoddy the first reissue was. Costello contributes extensive, entertaining liner notes, filled with little-heard stories and asides; there are full lyrics for every song, including the demos; there are plenty of delightful, rare photos and memorabilia, including the advertisements and the classic promotional dartboard with Costello's face. On top of that, the sequencing of the bonus material here flows better than on the Rykodisc/Demon issue, so the choice is clear -- despite the initial disappointment, this is clearly the best version of My Aim Is True.
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Elvis Costello was as much a pub rocker as he was a punk rocker and nowhere is that more evident than on his debut, My Aim Is True. It's not just that Clover, a San Franciscan rock outfit led by Huey Lewis (absent here), back him here, not the Attractions; it's that his sensibility is borrowed from the pile-driving rock & roll and folksy introspection of pub rockers like Brinsley Schwarz, adding touches of cult singer/songwriters like Randy Newman and David Ackles. Then, there's the infusion of pure nastiness and cynical humor, which is pure Costello. That blend of classicist sensibilities and cleverness make this collection of shiny roots rock a punk record -- it informs his nervy performances and his prickly songs. Of all classic punk debuts, this remains perhaps the most idiosyncratic because it's not cathartic in sound, only in spirit. Which, of course, meant that it could play to a broader audience, and Linda Ronstadt did indeed cover the standout ballad "Alison." Still, there's no mistaking this for anything other than a punk record, and it's a terrific one at that, since even if he buries his singer/songwriter inclinations, they shine through as brightly as his cheerfully mean humor and immense musical skill; he sounds as comfortable with a '50s knockoff like "No Dancing" as he does on the reggae-inflected "Less Than Zero." Costello went on to more ambitious territory fairly quickly, but My Aim Is True is a phenomenal debut, capturing a songwriter and musician whose words were as rich and clever as his music. [Ryko/Demon's 1993 reissue contained several bonus tracks, including the country B-sides "Radio Sweetheart" and "Stranger in the House," plus demos of his first group, Flip City.]
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