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Superficially, this is as much an aesthete's plaything as an album like Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive. But Costello isn't playing country music dilettante — he's immersed himself in the genre, warts and all, with very modern production by Nashville kingpin Billy Sherrill offsetting traditional material, including Hank Williams' "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)," Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams" and Charlie Rich's "Sittin' and Thinkin'." I could have used a few original songs, but all in all, this is a lot more successful than Get Happy!, the Costello R&B collection.
On the other hand, Almost Blue doesn't begin to address Costello's problems in finding, and keeping, a significant American audience. Costello fans will delight in this set (although not as much, perhaps, as in a rock 'n' roll set) but he's not liable to convert anybody. Which places him in an unnecessary and counterproductive posture of retreat.
Like the other Elvis said, come back, baby, come back.
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