Elvis Costello & The Attractions - This Year's Model (1978) {2008, Deluxe Edition, Remastered}

For those keeping score, Universal's 2008 Deluxe Edition of This Year's Model is the third expanded reissue of Elvis Costello's classic 1978 album. Like its 2002 predecessor from Rhino, Universal's expanded edition is a double-disc set, sharing many, but not all, of the same bonus material from that previously released package. Rhino shuffled off all the bonus tracks to a separate second disc running 12 tracks, whereas Universal adds ten tracks to the 13-track album on the first disc, then presents a full concert – recorded on February 28, 1978, at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. – on the second disc. Of those 12 tracks from the 2002 edition, three of them have been excised – excellent Capital Radio versions of "You Belong to Me" and "Radio, Radio" plus a BBC version of "Stranger in the House" – while "Tiny Steps," which was included on the 2002 Rhino expansion of Armed Forces, was added. All in all, a fair trade – quite frankly, the three songs aren't missed as much as Costello's terrific liner notes; without them, the packaging of this Deluxe Edition feels a bit bare-bones – and the concert on the second disc, while not as memorably unhinged as the legendary Live at the El Mocambo recorded less than a week after this gig, is still invigorating and worthwhile listening for hardcore Costello fans. Of course, the question is whether those hardcore fans are willing to purchase this album for the fourth or fifth time just to hear a good concert, as all the really essential bonus material was on both the Rhino disc and the previous Ryko/Demon reissue of the '90s. Those who have the budget and inclination will surely be pleased by this set, but any fans who decide to sit this out either on matters of budget or principal can rest assured that they're not missing something monumental.

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music