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Call it the noble experiment, a merging of rock's former angry young man with a classical form.
Depending on your taste, The Juliet Letters is either a triumph, a disaster or, worse, merely interesting.
Let's just say these talents have created an interesting success. Mr. Costello, tabbed by critics as the Cole Porter of rock, hasn't lost his bite or sense of humor.
Take, for example, the opening line to "Swine":
"You're a swine and that's an insult to the pig.
Or, "Don't Send Any Money":
"A twister or dupe will bamboozle or hoodwink you
I can't say any more it would only confuse you
The wine that they offer will go to your head
And you'll start to see double in fishes and bread.
For the most part, his words merge well with the quartet's (Michael Thomas, Ian Belton, Paul Cassidy and Jacqueline Thomas) two violins, viola and cello.
Several songs have the complexities of true classical compositions, while others come across as Broadway show tunes. Still, a few have the makings of a rock 'n' roll song waiting to bust through the strings, including "Jacksons, Monk and Rowe."
If this all sounds eclectic and confusing, it isn't. The Juliet Letters, inspired by a news item about an academic who had begun answering letters addressed to "Juliet Capulet," is a creative burst for Mr. Costello as well as the wonderful Brodsky Quartet.
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