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PUNK icon Elvis Costello didn't blink when I said his new CD, The Delivery Man, was my top album of 2004.
For the singer reckons it's one of his best ever records.
For an artist who's written such classic songs as Watching The Detectives and I Still Have That Other Girl that's something.
'The Delivery Man is probably the best group of songs I've ever had for playing live,' said Elvis, when I met him after his great Barrowland gig.
'It started five years ago as a short story then evolved into a bunch of songs featuring three women - Vivian, Ivy and Geraldine - from the text.
'Sometimes it's difficult for me to write in first person. So I invent characters.'
Elvis also released a classical album, Il Sogno, on the same day, which reached No.1 in the US. The prolific star also makes a cameo appearance in the new Cole Porter bio-pic, De-lovely.
'That was fun,' said Elvis, 'I had my hair slicked back and wore a big white coat. I felt more like Herman Goering. It's not a look I'll be adopting on stage.'
Elvis has worked with Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach and his songs have been covered by greats such as Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for The Scarlet Tide on the movie Cold Mountain.
'Going to the Oscars was like a trip to the circus,' said Elvis. 'I'd not gone to many awards ceremonies since being nominated for a Grammy in 1978.
'When I lost out to Boogie Oogie Oogie by A Taste Of Honey it jaundiced my view of them.
'But I met my wife, jazz singer Diana Krall, a few years ago at the Grammys. It was a life changing experience.'
Elvis added: 'I was surprised when The Scarlet Tide was nominated because the song is used on the film's end titles.
'Most people are out in the cinema car park before it comes on. So I've no idea how it got nominated.
'But the aftershow party was a gas. Scarlett Johanssen came up and started talking as if she's known me for years.'
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