Costello’s auspicious debut immediately signals the arrival of a major-league talent – loaded up with classics like the caustic stomp of “Miracle Man,” the Byrds-like “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes,” and malevolent noir of “Watching The Detectives.” As a songwriter he seems to have appeared fully formed – trotting out brilliantly literate tunes filled with aphorisms and quoting a wide range of musical influences ranging from roots music to reggae. In reality, Costello had been honing his craft and steadily improving for years before My Aim Is True, as documented on the excellent bonus tracks available on the reissue, but the effect at the time was that of a weirdly named genius stepping forward out of anonymity to blusteringly announce that he was the future. One of rock music’s great opening salvos.