Released 6 years ago this October
Hey Clockface
Elvis Costello · 2020
49 min · 14 tracks · new wave
A vibrant blend of eclectic styles, merging introspective lyrics with adventurous soundscapes and unexpected arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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No Flag Start here — This track stands out with its raw emotional delivery and poignant lyrics addressing feelings of disillusionment, embodying the album's introspective spirit.
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They’re Not Laughing at Me Now — By blending a catchy melody with sharp social commentary, this song encapsulates Costello's ability to engage listeners through both sound and substance.
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Radio Is Everything — The track serves as a powerful reflection on the role of media in society, using vivid imagery that resonates with contemporary concerns around communication.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases diverse arrangements and introspective lyrics but lacks a strong cohesive flow throughout its length.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a spoken word piece that sets an experimental tone, followed by tracks that shift between various tempos and styles.
- Several songs feature unconventional song structures, such as abrupt transitions and layered instrumentation that create a dense soundscape.
- The lyrics often employ vivid imagery and personal reflection, with multiple tracks featuring a conversational delivery that invites listener engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- vibrant reflections on modern life
- playful storytelling with sharp wit
- short tracks for quick engagement
- dynamic shifts in pacing
- thought-provoking lyrics for contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of lengthy epics
- prefer straightforward, repetitive sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Showcases continued vitality and creativity in Costello's later career.
- Career context
- Released on October 30, 2020, Hey Clockface marks Elvis Costello's first album since his 2018 release, Look Now. This album arrives during a prolific period in Costello's career, showcasing his continued evolution as an artist while embracing various influences and experimenting with different production styles.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe Jackson· Graham Parker· Squeeze
Tracklist
- 1 Revolution #49 2:41
- 2 No Flag Start here 3:56
- 3 They’re Not Laughing at Me Now 4:26
- 4 Newspaper Pane 4:10
- 5 I Do (Zula’s Song) 3:49
- 6 We Are All Cowards Now 3:36
- 7 Hey Clockface/How Can You Face Me? 2:56
- 8 The Whirlwind 3:17
- 9 Hetty O’Hara Confidential 4:14
- 10 The Last Confession of Vivian Whip 2:59
- 11 What Is It That I Need That I Don’t Already Have? 3:46
- 12 Radio Is Everything 4:25
- 13 I Can’t Say Her Name 2:57
- 14 Byline 2:40
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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