Review of The Delivery Man
Guardian (London), 2004-09-17
- Alexis Petridis

Elvis Costello and the Imposters, The Delivery Man

(Lost Highway)

Alexis Petridis
Friday September 17, 2004
The Guardian

The Imposters are essentially Costello's most celebrated backing band, The Attractions, with bassist Davey Farragher replacing Bruce Thomas. Despite the dedication "to my wife", the resulting album is a far remove from last year's gooey North, which comes as something of a blessing: Costello is rarely at his best when he's love-struck. He certainly doesn't sound that way here. In fact, were it not for the dedication, you would fear for his marriage to Diana Krall, as he sets tales of sexual double dealing and domestic violence to a sound somewhere between the two albums he made in 1986: the Americana of King Of America meeting the over-amplified rawness of Blood and Chocolate.

Amid the distortion there are guest appearances from Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams, the latter entering into the album's spirit of bug-eyed abandon with considerable gusto on There's A Story In Your Voice.