Blogcritics: Comments on The Delivery Man, just another outstanding Elvis Costello album

Comment by Al Barger

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 13:43:59 EDT

I'd say that When I Was Cruel had a somewhat stronger set of melodies than The Delivery Man, or perhaps even Blood and Chocolate. They're quite good, but WIWC is all that. I can understand what Tom's saying about Lucinda Williams. Whole albums of her voice can get old, but just as a guest vocalist this was just the right little measure of schtick to top off "There's a Story in Your Voice."

Comment by Distorted Angel

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 12:02:18 EDT

Totally agree with you, Tom, with regard to B&C, which is consistently in my top three favorite EC albums (the list is fluid, I admit). The one thing that throws me off about Lucinda Williams' duet with Elvis is that she kinda sounds like a guy.

Comment by Tom Johnson

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 11:57:21 EDT

I too like it more than Cruel (and I really like that one,) but less than Blood And Chocolate, which is one of my favorites. I have noticed that what I don't like as much about the album tends to resemble Cruel's sound, like the title track and a few others. And file me under "strongly dislikes Lucinda Williams' voice." Man, that just drags a great song down. I don't care how many critics lap at her feet, her delivery sounds like drunken cowgirl schtick to me. Atrocious.

Comment by Distorted Angel

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 11:25:58 EDT

I've been listening to this since last Tuesday (preparatory to writing my own review), and I find your placement of it in Elvis's catalog interesting. I think it's much better than When I Was Cruel, and I like that album. I agree with you completely that there's much to like here, and much to be revealed. And "Bedlam" and "Needle Time" certainly do kick ass. Have you given Il Sogno a listen yet, Al?

Comment by SFC Ski

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 10:53:09 EDT

I have been listening to "Trust for the last 3 days as my commuting music, I think it may have been EC's last really good unpretentious rock album. THanks for the reveiw, maybe EC will find his way back into my rotation.