The Delivery Man - Elvis Costello
The Delivery Man Image
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

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  • Summary: Elvis has returned to the land of rock--or at least, country-flavored rock, as he's joined on several tracks by Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris. It's his second disc to feature (and first to credit) his new backing band, The Impostors, who look an awful lot like his former backing band, The Attractions, save for the addition of bassist Davey Faragher.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Mojo
    100
    Songs terrific, band sensational, and -- big plus -- Costello's voice late-developing way beyond that pinched whine into an instrument of substance and character. [Oct 2004, p.97]
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  2. Blender
    80
    It's Costello at his most emotionally direct. [Oct 2004, p.118]
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  3. Uncut
    60
    A strong and lusty country-punk album placing him in Tom Waits or Neil Young territory. [Nov 2004, p.104]
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  4. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    30
    [It] doesn’t help in pinpointing the moment Costello veered into self-parody, but it does catalogue nearly everything that’s become impossible to take about him.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. ShawnJ
    9
    There are a couple of tunes that put me to sleep, but I can't stop listening to the others.
  2. JoeyM
    9
    The last Costello album that I enjoyed as much as this one was "Painted from Memory," his collaboration with Bacharach. I have enjoyed his work the most in the last two decades when he has focused on pushing his own limits. I felt that the last couple of turns with the Attractations were forced "returns to form" with a couple of good songs and I didn't much care for "North" at all. This collection, on the other hand, has some of his finest lyrics, bravest musical turns and sharpest delivery in recent memory. Well worth a listen!… Expand
  3. ClaraC
    8
    Listening to this album feels like returning to King of America, Blood & Chocolate -- even a little bit of Imperial Bedroom. I don't love every cut, but mostly I've been seduced by Elvis' voice, songwriting and especially lyrics, in a way that I haven't been since those classics came out.… Expand
  4. MS
    4
    Well, even this die hard fan found the album almost continuously tedious. And although EC has such a destinctive voice, I also sometimes think that he is, as his band are called, an imposter.… Expand

See all 7 User Reviews

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