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| Deluxe Edition |
release date: Sep. 21, 2004
format: digital (21 x File, FLAC - Deluxe)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Dennis Herring and Elvis Costello
label: Lost Highway Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Button My Lip" - 2. "Country Darkness" - 3. "There's a Story in Your Voice" (with Lucinda Williams) - 5. "Bedlam" - 7. "Monkey to Man" - 8. "Nothing Clings Like Ivy" - 10. "Heart Shaped Bruise" (live with Emmylou Harris) - 12. "Needle Time"
19th studio album by Elvis Costello following the quiet solo album North (2004) is his first studio album with new material to be credited Elvis Costello & The Imposters, although, the backing band also backed him on When I Was Cruel (2002) and on the compilation album Cruel Smile (2002).
The album is made on the primarily country music label Lost Highway Records and recorded in four different locations in the "deep" South with the majority recorded in Oxford, Mississippi, some in Minnesota, Nashville and live in the studio in Los Angeles, which in many ways already indicate an album consisting of songs with focus on country with a mix of country rock, alt. country and singer / songwriter material. Aside from The Imposters: Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher, the album also feature Emmylou Harris on three songs (tracks #8, #10 & #14), guitarist of the Doobie Brothers, John McFee on two songs (tracks #2 & #10) and Lucinda Williams on track #3. Apparently, both Nieve and Thomas wanted to make the album with their old backing band - which would include bassist Bruce Thomas, but Costello were specific that he would no longer make music with that Thomas, and instead Dave Farragher makes the backing trio a new constellation.
The Deluxe Edition contains 7 bonus tracks (in 2-cd format) similar to the bonus disc "Delta-Verité - The Clarksdale Sessions", seven tracks recorded live in the studio using antique microphones, tube amplifiers and old recording equipment.
At a first listen, it may be an odd experience, but as always with Costello you need to adjust to his intentions, and his ideas about the music. He very seldom reproduces the sound and the style on a follow-up album, so you really have to keep an open mind to what he's on to next, and with this I felt taken on the wrong foot, and then upon listening again immediately accepted it 'cause you never know where he's going on his releases, and mostly, it's never bad or mediocre 'cause he's so full of ideas and musicality - and then he simply loves so many styles, which may make it appear as a mish-mash - but it never is just that. Here he incorporates the traditional American country music that he also explored on Almost Blue (1981). Back in the days, I sort of enjoyed his '81 album, which was more in the style with original country (as executed by Hank Williams and the like), and that of course could've been experienced in arrangements close to the original sources, but that's not the case on this one. This is not entirely a country record, although that style takes up the majority of tracks, but it's often in a combo with folk and or jazz elements, which altogether makes it a more diverse experience. Costello makes use of his talent for song structure and lyrical content, and he uses his strong vocal register - not to be confused with range, 'cause it's narrow and highly characteristic but always delivered with a strong passion that resonates through and through. And speaking of his ability to throw himself over new styles, he had been working on the music for Aterballetto Dance Company of Reggio Emilia [Italy] back in 2000 simultaneously while writing and composing music for classical artist Anne Sophie Otter (which was released as For the Stars in 2001], and written several songs for his new [20 year-old younger] partner Diana Krall for her 2004 album The Girl in the Other Room (re. Apr. 2004). With the album Il Sogno (togeher with London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas), he also re-arranged the ballet music songs for a music album, released on the same day as The Delivery Man.
The songs here reflect a happy and content Costello, who privately has moved in with American jazz and soft rock vocalist and pianist Diana Krall. The two married in 2003, and it's evident that Costello finds himself in a better position than perhaps ever before. He sings with warmth and passion and without the usual wry use of sarcasm and irony that has been key elements on many former albums. Instead, he narrates about real emotions and he delivers with energy and artistry as a matured storyteller. Yes, several songs are heavily inspired by others - Tom Waits seems like an obvious source to more than one song, but Costello is that musical chameleon who absorbs and reconstructs in new ways, and that's how he has made a long-lasting career.
I like it - it's definitely a grower.
[ allmusic.com, Blender, Rolling Stone, The Guardian 4 / 5, Uncut, Q Magazine 3 / 5, 👎Mojo 5 / 5 stars ]
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| Standard cover |
