Elvis Costello Interview

Some say that Elvis Costello, inducted in 2003, has mellowed with age. Viewed in relation to his early posture of defiance, perhaps this is true.  But as a songwriter it would be hard to argue that Costello has mellowed.  If anything, his recordings suggest that his pursuit of the next song remains more vigilant than ever. Settling down doesn’t seem to be an option.  Different from his peer group, which includes Bruce Springsteen, David Byrne, and Tom Petty, Costello has managed to create a musical territory that is defined by its own limitlessness. Moving easily between projects that involve rock and roll bands, collaborators such as Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, and Allen Toussaint, and orchestral accompaniment, he appears to be driven simple by the joy of making music rather than the expectations of his audience.  A songwriter with few peers, Costello’s approach promises that the next project will always be the one about which he’s most fired up—and that puts us, the listeners, in the best position possible.