January 21, 2022
Capitol
2xLP
As Elvis Costello carves his way into the 2020's, he remains one of the most compelling and prolific artists of any generation. At 67, with releases in seven decades, he continues to either tread new ground or tinker with the New Wave he made new when he debuted in '77. The Boy Named If undertakes the latter pursuit, reminiscent of a modernized My Aim Is True, buoyed by the wisdom of half-a century as an industry A-lister and impossibly taxed vocal chords. You can almost hear some Bob Dylan on its slower moments, be that from the delightful scratchiness in his voice or the grey in his beard. It's the rare type of record that sounds like it was made by a sexagenarian, without sacrificing fun. Maybe it's just the accumulation of all the fun he's had.