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Elvis Costello And his band The Imposters have just released the second single from their upcoming album entitled The Boy Named If. The album is due to be released on January 22, 2022. The song entitled “Paint The Red Rose Blue,” defines that traditional Elvis Costello sound that merges the genre of country music, rock music and a sort of alternative standard style sound. Really the best way to describe the song is that it just sounds like an Elvis Costello song. The man has one of the most distinctive voices in rock and roll. It’s also probably one of the most underrated. Elvis Costello has a deep reasonace and fine tremolo with such perfect pitch. Ever since his stunning album with Burt Bacharach in which his voice shined as bright as it ever did have we really taken notice of Elvis Costello’s singing talents. Nonetheless, his music had always outshined his vocals because of his outstanding writing abilities
Those writing talents prove themselves once again on his new single The Boy Named If. The song’s melody and chord changes very much echo the county music genre, yet there is that Elvis Costello alternative sound that resonate through the entire piece. The song is fueled by a somber but spirited drum groove laid out by long time Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas. Rounding out the Imposters on the recording are Elvis Costello’s right hand man Steve Nieve on keyboards and Davey Faragher on bass.
We would love to write that “Paint The Red Rose Blue,” is a beautiful uplifting song, but it’s not. It’s a sad tale of a couple having to deal with a tragic loss and hoping to find something to believe in again . It’s a tough listen because of the subject matter.Yet it’s an important listen in the middle of a pandemic where there has been so much loss. There is ambiguity in the lyrics leaving it open to interpretation like all great art does.
Elvis Costello has described his new album The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories), as being a record about coming of age, yet when that point of maturity happens could be over a fifty years period. Everyone grows up at a different time in their life. Some may actually take fifty years to get there, some my never.
Elvis Costello has released thirty two studio albums since his first release in 1977 entitled My Aim Is True. Over the years he has released those albums with his bands Attractions, The Costello Show, and the Imposters. Elvis Costello has also collaborated on albums with some of the biggest and most important songwriters in pop music history including Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney. Elvis Costello remains one of the most prolific songwriters in classic rock history.
Elvis Costello And The Imposters Release New Single article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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