Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#309 in the Series) is Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Punch the Clock. Elvis Costello is one busy guy, and with over 30 studio albums (and counting!) it’s hard to pick just one, especially when every one seems to have its own feel. Punch the Clock is one of those albums that people either love or hate, and for good reasons either way. It was roundly described as “uneven,” and although that may be, there are a few compelling reasons to give it another listen. One for me is personal, and that is its issue in 1983 was in my “formidable” years of music, and later in college I think I wore the...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#296 in the Series) is the debut from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It’s a pretty simple premise.  Write some straight-forward, catchy pop rock and roll tunes and then hire a few great musicians.  Make them your backing band.  Then make it even better, allow them enough room to grow with you so they become band mates and stay with you for the long haul.  There it is boys and girls. Now go for it. As if it was all that easy, huh. Tom Petty showcased some of his best writing here.  I really do not believe he ever wrote a better song than “American Girl.” I was recently looking at the chronology...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True. The live Elvis’ debut release. I remember when it came out and ‘XRT jumped on it. Great song followed by great song. Little did I know that he’d be putting out great music with unmatched variety to this day. His backing band on ‘My Aim is True’ was an unheard of band called ‘Clover.’ They went on to become, ‘The News’ as in Huey Lewis and….’ They should have suck with Elvis. There are many memorable moments here. “Angel’s Want To Wear My Red Shoes, Mystery Dance, Radio Sweetheart, Alison, Less Than Zero and Watching the Detectives.” It’s hard to find many better debut albums. Elvis...