Editing This Year's Model (section)

{{Short description|1978 studio album by Elvis Costello}}
{{For|the Imperials album|This Year's Model (Imperials album){{!}}''This Year's Model'' (Imperials album)}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = This Year's Model
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Elvis Costello]]{{efn|The Attractions did not receive a sleeve credit on the original release but were credited on the LP labels.{{sfn|St. Michael|1986|loc=chap. 3}}<ref name="1978 liner notes" /> Later reissues are credited to Elvis Costello and the Attractions.<ref name="punknews.org" />}}
| cover        = Elvis-Costello-This-Years-Model.jpg
| border       = yes
| alt          = A young man wearing glasses and a suit-and-tie behind a camera on a tripod against a brown background
| caption      = Original UK cover.{{efn|The UK sleeve was [[printing registration|off-centre]] and featured a printer colour bar on the right.{{sfn|Hinton|1999|loc=chap. 3}} Later reissues feature a properly aligned sleeve.{{sfn|Hinton|1999|p=434}}}} The original US and Swedish covers use slightly different shots.
| released     = {{start date|1978|03|17|df=yes}}
| recorded     = December 1977 – January 1978
| studio       = [[Eden Studios (recording facility)|Eden]] (London)
| genre        = 
*[[New wave music|New wave]]
*[[power pop]]
*[[punk rock]]
*[[pop rock]]
* [[garage rock]]
| length       = {{duration|m=35|s=14}}
| label        = 
*[[Radar Records|Radar]]
*[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| producer     = [[Nick Lowe]]
| chronology   = [[Elvis Costello]]
| prev_title   = [[My Aim Is True]]
| prev_year    = 1977
| next_title   = [[Armed Forces (album)|Armed Forces]]
| next_year    = 1979
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = This Year's Model
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea]]
 | single1date = 3 March 1978
 | single2     = [[Pump It Up (Elvis Costello song)|Pump It Up]]
 | single2date = June 1978
 | single3     = [[This Year's Girl (song)|This Year's Girl]]
 | single3date = 1978 (US)
}}
}}

'''''This Year's Model''''' is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter [[Elvis Costello]], released on 17{{nbsp}}March 1978 through [[Radar Records]]. After being backed by [[Clover (band)|Clover]] for his debut album ''[[My Aim Is True]]'' (1977), Costello formed [[the Attractions]]—keyboardist [[Steve Nieve]], bassist [[Bruce Thomas (musician)|Bruce Thomas]] and drummer [[Pete Thomas (drummer)|Pete Thomas]] (no relation)—as his permanent backing band. Recording sessions took place at London's [[Eden Studios (recording facility)|Eden Studios]] in eleven days between late{{nbsp}}1977 and early{{nbsp}}1978. [[Nick Lowe]] returned as producer, and [[Roger Béchirian]] acted as [[Audio engineer|engineer]]. Most of the songs were written prior to the sessions, and debuted live during the latter half of 1977.

Embracing [[New wave music|new wave]], [[power pop]] and [[punk rock]], the songs draw from bands such as [[the Rolling Stones]] and [[the Beatles]]. The lyrics explore subjects such as technologies of mass control and failing relationships, but in a manner that some reviewers found [[Misogyny|misogynistic]]. Echoing the lyrics of some of the tracks, the cover artwork, designed by the English graphic artist [[Barney Bubbles]], shows Costello behind a camera on a tripod, emphasising his role as an observer.

The accompanying singles "[[(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea]]" and "[[Pump It Up (Elvis Costello song)|Pump It Up]]" were commercially successful and the album reached number four on the [[UK Albums Chart]]. The American LP was released in May{{nbsp}}1978 through [[Columbia Records]]. Substituting "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" for "[[Radio Radio]]", it reached number 30 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'s}} [[Billboard 200|Top LPs & Tape]] chart. ''This Year's Model'' also received critical acclaim; reviewers highlighted strong songwriting and performances, while also admiring Costello and the band as artists. The album appeared on year-end lists in both the UK and the US.

In later decades, ''This Year's Model'' has been acclaimed as one of Costello's best works, some critics commenting on its influence on punk and new wave. It has appeared on several lists of the greatest albums of all time and has been reissued multiple times with bonus tracks. In 2021, Costello spearheaded a new version of the album titled ''Spanish Model'', which featured songs from ''This Year's Model'' sung in Spanish by Latin artists over the Attractions' original backing tracks. It received favourable reviews and charted on several ''Billboard'' charts.