Released on March 17th 1978 during the height of the punk rock movement, "This Year's Model" marked a departure from the more polished and commercial rock music that was popular at the time. The album featured Costello's distinctive blend of punk, new wave, and pub rock influences, which helped to define the sound of the post-punk era.
The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching the top 30 in the UK and the top 30 in the US, and cementing Costello's reputation as a talented and influential songwriter. The album's lead single "Pump It Up" became one of Costello's signature songs, and its energetic and aggressive sound helped to influence countless other punk and post-punk bands.
The album also marked the beginning of a prolific and influential career for Elvis Costello. Over the next few decades, he would release numerous critically acclaimed albums and collaborate with a wide range of artists from different genres, cementing his reputation as one of the most innovative and important figures in rock music history.