Rocking good sound

Elvis Costello and The Imposters revive their spark with an out-and-out rock n’ roll smash hit record called The Boy Named If

Declan Patrick McManus, better known as Elvis Costello, is closing in on 70 and yet when you listen to him in this record he sounds just like his 30-year-old self. This is Costello’s 32nd studio album, and blessed with various genres under his belt, he may be one of the most diverse artises in the business. In this record, he has embraced his 1970s rock n’ roll sound.

Costello’s collaborators, The Imposters have also not aged. The album boasts of songs  like Forewell, OK. The album proceeds to take listeners through the rigamarole of headbanging reverie. With tracks like Penelope Halfpenny and The difference, they maintain the rhythmic habits of a true rock n’ roll album. The fingerprints of audio engineer Sebastian Krys lay bare through this record as Costello and Krys had to work with audio files collected from the band members due to the pandemic. 

The band’s finger on the pulse of the genre is impeccable throughout the 13-song session. The album also has its moments of delicacy with songs like My most beautiful mistake, Magnificent hurt and Trick out the truth. The lineup of The Imposters stands out, too. Steve Nieve’s playfulness on keys, Dave Faragher’s strong bass lines and backing vocals shine bright and Pete Thomas’ drums pack a punch. The album is subliminal and reinvigorates the listener’s interest in the Costello of yore  — the Ray-Ban clad, punk-era debutant who made a special space for himself in the songbook of the world.

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