search for something...

search for something you might like...

Let's Hear It For The Boy Elvis spends time with a Boy with a Problem

Let's Hear It For The Boy

Elvis spends time with a Boy with a Problem

by Jay Lewis, Reviews Editor
first published: January, 2022

approximate reading time: minutes

A Boy Named If reaffirms why we first got so excited about Elvis

Elvis Costello and the Imposters
The Boy Name If
(Capitol)

This really shouldn't be happening! Artists of a certain (how shall we say) vintage, should not be releasing one of their finest albums at this advanced stage of their career. But there are exceptions to rules 'Time and Out Of Mind', 'American Recordings' 'The Next Day' and 'Blackstar' and, over the last five years, the albums of Elvis Costello...

After finishing his weighty memoir ‘Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink'( 2016), Costello finally made his return to making new music (for someone so prolific, the five years since 'Wise Up Ghost' felt huge), pieced together the exhaustive (sixty track!) version of 'Armed Forces' (1979) and, most absurd of all, took his vocals off 'This Years Model' (1978) and replaced them with a cast of well known Hispanic singers for last years ridiculously good 'Spanish Model'.

Maybe it's the time spent revisiting those visceral early recordings that has reminded Costello of the directness of both his young self and the urgency of his band (two-thirds of which are still present), and that spirit has spilled into his remarkable run of recent albums.

Although 'Look Here' (2018) frequently felt like a close relative of the melancholy drama of his 1998 Burt Bacharach collaboration 'Painted From Memory' (there were three Bacharach co-writes on 'Look Here'), 'Hey Clockface' (2020) was just the right blend of raging guitar pop, mournful ballads, and, here's the surprise, spoken word ruminations. It could be his finest release this century if it wasn't for the fact that 'The Boy Names If' may well overshadow it.

Costello's promise that 'The Boy Named If' would be full of '...urgent, immediate songs with bright melodies' is delivered on with the breathless opener Farewell OK. The frantic pace is set by drummer Pete Thomas (an amazing workout for a 67-year-old) as Costello welcomes us with one of his rawest vocals in a very long time. There's a whiff of his own cover of Little Richard's 'Bama Lama Bama Loo' (from 'Kojak Variety' - his album of covers) in there too.

The title track is closest to the pounding menace of 'Blood and Chocolates'and EC can be so damn sinister at times!(By the way, the character of 'IF' is the imaginary friend that underpins the album's themes the uneasy shift from boyhood to adulthood (Costello had admitted that can take decades to arrive at). There is always space for more of his songs of inner turmoil.

The Boy seems to have some emotional baggage. The bluesy What If I Can't Give You Anything But Love?' is the part preparation for the end of an affair, whilst admissions of wrong in the post-relationship 'Paint the Rose Blue' ('...now she and I share unspeakable pain...' ) is a moment of remorse and reflection. Best of all is the single 'Magnificent Hurt' (the clue, as they say, is in the title), the eternal dilemmas, pleasure, and pain, the Imposters sounding as close to their former incarnation. The classic formula revisited.


Costello watchers have been known to wrongly announce the arrival of one of the artists' best records (I can dig out Q Magazine's bizarre five-star response to the over-saturated mess of 'Mighty Like a Rose' as an example). But this really feels like one of the records that reaffirms why we first got so excited about Elvis.

The Boy Done Good

Jay Lewis
Reviews Editor

Jay Lewis is a Birmingham based poet. He's also a music, movie and arts obsessive. Jay's encyclopedic knowledge of 80s/90s Arts films is a debt to his embedded status in the Triangle Arts Centre trenches back then.


about Jay Lewis »»

Pete Williams web banner

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Pete Williams, outsideleft night out
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone