Goodbye Cluel World Reviews
All-Music Guide (Stephen Thomas Erlewine)
During the making of Goodbye Cruel World, Costello was undergoing a
multitude of personal problems, including a divorce, that resulted in a number
of poor production decisions and ill-conceived, unformed songs. Like Punch
The Clock, Goodbye Cruel World was produced by Clive Langer and
Alan Winstanley, the top British hit makers of the '80s. Consequently, most of
the record suffers from a stiff, synthesized production that instantly dates
the record. In some cases -- like the duet with Daryl Hall, The Only Flame
In Town, and the cover of the lost Hi R&B gem I Wanna Be Loved --
the songs benefit from the shiny, streamlined production but it obscures the
merits of the finest songs on the album. Room With No Number, The
Comedians, Sour Milk-Cow Blues, and Peace In Our Time all
cry out for a simple, stripped-down presentation, but they're weighted down
with stylized sounds and trendy synthesizers; however, once the sound of the
album settles in, the strength of these songs is apparent. The remainder of
Goodbye Cruel World isn't as memorable, primarily because Costello's
uninspired vocals and The Attractions' muted performances fail to make the
weaker songs musically compelling.