Elvis Costello and The Impostors – ‘The Delivery Man’ (Lost Highway) Released 07/02/2005

 

 

Costello has conjured up an album enriched in Southern American influences, such as the dark blues title track ‘The Delivery Man’, which according to his website was modified from a song originally written for Johnny Cash in 1986.  The album also features guest appearances from Emmylou Harris on 3 tracks including the beautifully crafted ballad ‘Nothing Clings Like Ivy’, and fellow Lost Highway artist Lucinda Williams on the country-rock duet ‘There’s a Story In Your Voice’, available as a download single.

 

The real gem on 'The Delivery Man' comes from a classic Costello-ballad ‘Either Side of The Same Town’, a tale of love and separation expressed by Costello’s excellent lyrical talent, he sings “All the promises we made are hollow, but there are still streets in this town, marked with your shadow�.

 

'The Delivery Man' does however attempt to combine this deep-rooted country flavour with Costello’s good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll stamp of approval – but for some reason it doesn’t feel right, and unfortunately adds an element of disjointedness to the album.  Opening track ‘Button My Lip’ and ‘Bedlham’ are classic examples, and would fit much more comfortably on Paul Weller’s Heavy Soul album.  Most out of place is 60’s-rock’n’roll swing tune ‘Monkey To Man’, which basically sounds like a crap Beatles session track that isn’t quite good enough to put on an album.

 

In terms of value for money though, it is a winner as it is released on a 2 disc deluxe edition.  The first disc contains a bonus video of ‘Bedlam’, recorded live in Memphis, and the second disc contains 7 tracks from ‘The Clarksdale Sessions’, with alternate arrangements of songs from 'The Delivery Man' plus 3 previously unrecorded songs including ‘The Dark End of the Street’, which is well worth a listen.

 

The Delivery Man, although at times leaks at the cracks, does offer a solid country dominated album that showcases yet another entity in Costello’s diverse musical portfolio.