It’s been almost exactly one year since the release of North, Elvis Costello’s soul searching piano jazz album. I had the rare opportunity to see him play the Ryman Auditorium and meet him face to face in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this year. After listening to his music for the better part of 18 years, I’d practicly expected him to be a superhero. I’ve followed him from sub-punk to country, from operatic to lounge and back again to sub punk when he released “When I Was Cruel”. Sometimes I’ve not been able to follow along imediately but, I’ve always found the genius in his work eventually. I’m really happy to say that “The Delivery Man” doesn’t come with a steep learning curve.
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A little bit country, and a little bit rock ‘n roll is the easiest way to describe this new release. The first few songs follow the tradition of King Of America much closer than any other work with the Imposters. EC does Alterna-country better than just about anyone, producing a distinctively Nashville twang that even the old time Printers Alley elite couldn’t deny. Smooth, sweet, emo country with EC’s heady lyrics. Lyle Lovett wishes he could write so well.
In some minor dramatic mood swings the album switches from country to rock in a sexy heartbeat. “Bedlam” rocks out with intensity much like the tracks on “Cruel” did. Big drums, near screaming vocals and a slick little bass line to tie it all together. “Bedlam” is another ina long string of tracks you can point to when your unable to put into words just what an Elvis Costello song is. It’s _that_.
Following “Bedlam” is the title track. A slow heavily vocal track that drips with emotion. Neat vocal riffs over smooth drum heavy jazz. Again showing that Costello’s voice is aging like a fine scotch, developing depth and layers that boost the heady emotion by orders of magnitude.
If I had to get personal, I’d say the new marriage to Diana Krall has done Elvis a world of good. He seems to have re-gained a great deal of focus over the last two years and it shows beautifully. He truly seems to be on top of the world. Successful in so many genres, re-married to the very talented and foxy Canadian, and touring to only the best boutique venues in the world. Order in his home life is reaping massive rewards in his craft, as The Delivery Man is sure to stand with a respectable posture among a long line of albums near impossible to best.
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