Continuing my look at 2004, first by counting down my own top ten albums of that year.
#6 – Elvis Costello – The Delivery Man
Like Ron Sexsmith, Elvis Costello is an artist who has put out so many albums it’s hard to keep up. He has released 13 albums in this century alone, none of which I’d number among his very best.
But that run of albums does include some solid work, including the country rock song cycle The Delivery Man.
This record started as a concept album about a mysterious man and his relationships with three different women. Guest vocalists Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris feature prominently on several songs, giving voice to those characters.
The narrative aspect fell apart somewhere between concept and execution, and The Delivery Man doesn’t end up telling much of a cohesive story. What it does do is offer up some excellent songs, veering between heavier blues rock and Americana balladry. The album has a few throwaway tracks (such as lead single ‘Monkey To Man’) but much of it is quite good.
I always like Costello’s forays into country, especially when tinged with his typical off-kilter sensibility and adventurous musical choices. The Delivery Man is no King of America, but it has its share of rootsy thrills.
The accused will rise to be torn in two
Guilty of nothing but loving you
This is the judgement
And I’m willing to plead
Now you don’t want me
Hoping this torment will cease
Will I be released?
[Verse 2]
There’ll be lies, there’ll be tears
A jury of your peers with the pitiful look of experience
Hand down the judgement
And if I’ve done wrong
And loved you too long
Stand up and just testify
How can you deny it?
[Bridge]
Objection overruled
I wait for my reprieve
With the trust of the deceived
The wisdom of the fooled
[Verse 3]
Is this sorrowful face too heavy for his head?
‘Cause he bowed it as something hung over him
It was the judgement
And he falls to his knees
Have mercy on me
He clings to the hem of her gown
She says, “Just take him down”
Just take him down
Just take him down
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree that this is one of EC’s better albums in the 21st century, and also agree that neither this nor any other album released since 2000 is as great as his output in the 80s.