Comments on: The Over/Under: Elvis Costello

By: Pink Floyd Steve

Pink Floyd Steve — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:38:43 +0000

You must be joking!! If anything, Elvis Costello Is underrated!! He has so much great music! You’re absolutely nuts!!

By: gvl

gvl — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:26:41 +0000

After reading these over a long period of time, I’ve finally gotten the feel for the concept of the “Over/Under”. The author isn’t saying that the overrated songs are overrated compared to the work of other songwriters/artists – they are weighting the songs against the author’s own catalog. They aren’t saying that “Allison”, “Pump It Up” and “Accidents Will Happen” are overrated in general – just that they get more attention then they deserve when compared to some of Elvis’ better songs. Sure, “Pump It Up” is a great song and it’s fun to sing along and pound the steering wheel when it comes on, but is it better then “No Action”? Does it deserve more attention then say, “I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea”? Some will say yes, some will say no.

As far as underrated goes, there’s a long list. Everybody has favorite EC songs that aren’t “hits”. Some of my personal favorites – “Less Than Zero”, “Miracle Man”, “Crawling To The USA”, “Tiny Steps” and “Riot Act”.

By: Rick Reed

Rick Reed — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:20:39 +0000

Elvis is beyond this type of critique. How can these songs be considered over-rated? I think he puts his best into all of his songs. You might not like a song or think it got too much air play, but they are all great songs. Elvis is a true music man, and an ambassador for American musical traditions, and one of the greatest song writers of our age. I just hope he keeps writing and playing great tunes for at least another 30 years.

By: Tony Baloney

Tony Baloney — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:02:51 +0000

I Want You has to be the creepiest, most uplifting, and soul destroying song ever.

By: Dave Wave

Dave Wave — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:07:47 +0000

What a fool. I’d like to say that most of Elvis’ 90s and 2000s records are excellent. This fool says “Mighty Like a Rose” is lame?! The Alan Toussaint record is so-so, as is “North,” but “Delivery Man” and “When I Was Cruel” are great. I love his show on Sundance Channel. Elvis Costello’s 32-year career of vital, wonderful music is unparalled. Sure, he never wrote songs like the Beatles and Stones in their 60s heyday, but he simply is as good as Lennon/McCartney combined.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:38:14 +0000

Are those the actual lyrics to “Accidents Will Happen”? I always heard the lines as:

Oh I just don’t know where to begin
Though he says he’ll wait forever
It’s now or never
But she keeps him hanging on
The silly champion

By: Christo

Christo — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:17:51 +0000

I can agree with Imperial Bedroom being overrated. Some critics went wild about it, but to me it’s not one of his best albums.
As most underrated – or maybe just over-looked – I’d definitely say Blood & Chocolate.

By: claudepate.com » School of Seven Bells, Doves, Neko Case, Baby Anteater

claudepate.com » School of Seven Bells, Doves, Neko Case, Baby Anteater — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:10:41 +0000

[...] COSTELLO: Magnet considers his five most overrated and underrated songs, with streaming [...]

By: Jimmy Howell

Jimmy Howell — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:09:15 +0000

Elvis can only be compared to himself. If you are discussing his work, you can only compare his successful with his own less successful. The breadth, longevity, quantity, and, yes, quality, of his work in the years since My Aim Is True (1977) stands with a handful of great contemporaries, including Dylan, Springsteen, Byrne, Gabriel, Waits, and Bowie. In examining his risktaking career, “successful” vs “disappointing” might apply, but over or underrated has absolutely no meaning when talking about Elvis Costello.

By: Sally

Sally — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:03:23 +0000

Dear Emily Tartanella: this is a provocative article, challenging long-established opinions of Costello’s work. That’s great. However, you misquoted the lyrics of “Accidents Will Happen” in your critique. This diminishes your argument about the song.