I put "(Platy)" after all the albums in the above list...my first real listen to King of America revealed that I probably fucking love that album. And I'm ready to give this guy a real shot...any additions or subtractions, Jorge?

I would probably subtract "Painted From Memory" and add "Get Happy". Or just download my mix!

Glad to hear you're checking him out. Would love to hear your impressions as you make your way through the discography.

I've also "*"ed the records that got the best reviews on Allmusic:

My Aim is True
This Years Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy
Trust
Almost Blue
Imperial Bedroom
King of America
Painted

I've already listened to the first 3 on this list numerous times throughout the past 6-8 months...and while I've enjoyed them and caught myself singing some of their songs, none of them have "hit" me yet. KoA sounded like exactly what I'm looking for; I also think I'm going to give Trust and Get Happy some listenings to based on what I've read about them.

The first three albums are excellent (This Years Model is on my shortlist of perfect 10's) but parts of them sound dated and, in my opinion, they're a much better showcase for the Attractions' fantastic playing (albums 2 and 3, at least--they hadn't signed on yet at the time of album 1) than they are for Elvis's songwriting, which is fine but underdeveloped. From a songwriting standpoint, Get Happy!!! is a huge leap forward--plus you've still got the Attractions firing on all cylinders, so you really can't go wrong. What a marvelous album.

Brutal Youth (1994) might be one to try, too--it's rockier and poppier than King of America, but like KOA it covers a broad range with very few ingredients and manages to hold up remarkably well over 15 tracks.

Elvis rules. Keep at him.

Yeah...while I listen to a ton of dated music, it's music that sounds dated from the late 70s into the 80s that I have a much harder time latching onto. And KoA put all of that datedness aside and I loved the rootsy feel of it even though it was still very much in line with my previous Costello experiences.

His newest one, National Ransom, is also fantastic--a high watermark in his late career (the only other one I'd put in the same tier is North, but that's not really an 'introductory' album unless you're already into jazz and pop standards), and probably in his top ten overall. Sometimes trying to dig into an artist by way of his most current work affords a connection that the back catalog doesn't.

I can vouch for Jorge's mix. If you like his sound, I'd imagine the mix is a pretty good jumping off point. I'm still warming up to him but I find myself listening to the mix more and more frequently.

I'm not a mix person at all...I absolutely love proper albums.

Btw Imperial Bedroom be good...this and King of America are the first ones to catch me.

And I think The Juliet Letters suggestion might have been a bit premature for such a newb.

Oh, I love proper albums too. A well crafted introductory mix can go a long way, though.

Yeah, agreed. I attach to Juliet Letters the same caveat as I attached to North above, just substituting the genre of music.

I've started making my way through Platy's collection. I really need a 'sit down with lyrics' listen which will probably be the second time through

I'm already on my way, for some reason I can't get over the feeling that an amazing record can do more than a list of their best or most representative songs...hopefully within a year or so I'll have tackled another one of the great canons in music, and there aren't all that many.

I remember when I used to pigeonhole my musical experiences too, friend.

As long as I really try not to pigeonhole artists.

A well crafted mixtape is a great tool for avoiding that sort of thing.

Spenno once told me you'd never listen to my collection with much attention 'cause he put something together for you once and you never followed through. Prove him wrong.

Haha...I do have The Jam's Greatest Hits on my iPod, as well as compilations by BB King and Muddy Waters that I've listened to. In other words: I'm trying.

Ironically I had a CCR greatest hits CD that I listened to with at least a small regularity...got all their albums, and now never listen to them.

Gods' Die, listen to this.

Pretty good...is it just acoustic and vocals on the record?