Elvis Costello & The Attractions Almost Blue

This thoughtful and carefully wrought album of country covers swings and moves in unexpected ways. You get the musical sensibilities and persuasive vocals of an established British rock star breathing surprising (and often profound) new life into old classics by American greats like Hank Williams, Bob Wills and Merle Haggard. The hurt festers on George Jones’ “Good Year for the Roses”, the piano and pedal steel stings on Gram Parsons’ “I’m Your Toy” and the country-blues rumbles in the gut on Lou Willie Turner’s “Honey Hush”.