This release comes with exciting news, as a UK tour has been recently announced via Elvis Costello’s Twitter, as seen below:

Catch Elvis Costello & The Imposters, as well as Charlie Sexton, on tour in the UK next year! Tickets on sale this Friday.
Pre-order ‘The Boy Named If’ on any format from Elvis's official UK store to get exclusive pre-sale access to his 2022 UK tour. https://t.co/dSujiEdq5Y pic.twitter.com/E1Y5IwJuFm

— Elvis Costello (@ElvisCostello) December 6, 2021

The June tour will compromise of 14 dates ranging from Glasgow to Swansea and will see Texas native, Charlie Sexton, in the support slot for each show.

This latest single combines the energy and soul of Costellos usual style, combining the energy of punk with hints of new wave and modern tendencies. Costello is renowned for his songwriting and artistry, even earning his place in the Grammy’s Hall Of Fame and receiving an OBE in 2019. This track is no exception to his songwriting talents, with lyrics such as “Ran my hand in the rhythm along the ballroom wall” seizing listeners and wrenching them through the sonic landscape of the enthusiastic instrumentals. Costello has a talent for songwriting that offers no flaws, yet his lyricism always has that quick, scribbled on a napkin, naturalism to it. Not to mention the ever eclectic visuals that centre the captivating music video.

Costello himself has described the track as “a blurred gaze, a drink too much, an accidental punch and a kiss goodnight all in the tumult of a dancehall.” Perfectly summarising the feverish narrative that encases the track. This energy seeps further into the instrumentals of the track as well, with Costello’s distinctive vocal delivery being effortlessly homogenised with chattering guitars, poppy keys and over-reverberating drums, courtesy of band members Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Dave Faragher. ‘Farewell OK’ seems to hold nuances of cheesy 70s rock, but in the most harmonically pleasing way.

Fans expressed their feelings towards the track and upcoming album in comments under the music video, with one individual stating “Fabulous song, so happy to hear it again before purchasing this fantastic new album” and another writing “E.C. is the best songwriter of our time. I can’t wait until my vinyl copy of “The Boy Named If” arrives later this month upon release.”

Elvis Costello is one of Britain’s most influential music icons. Beginning his music career in the early 70s, he continues to revolutionise his sound and pen the most complicated feelings and stories into each of his lyrics. As he releases his first album in two years many fans are highly anticipating this new soundtrack and upcoming shows.

Tour Dates are as follows:

05/06/2022-Dome- Brighton
07/06- Royal Concert Hall- Glasgow
08/06- O2 City Hall- Newcastle
10/06 – Philharmonic- Liverpool
11/06-  Opera House- Manchester
13/06- Symphony Hall- Birmingham
14/06- De Montfort Hall- Leceister
16/06- New Theatre- Oxford
17/06-  The Forum- Bath
19/06- Guildhall- Portsmouth
20/06- Swansea Arena- Swansea
22/06- Regent Theatre- Ipswich
23/06- Eventim Apollo- London

Tickets can be purchased here.

You can also preserve the upcoming The Boy Named If album here.

Image Credits go to Mark Seliger.

The London-born singer-songwriter’s newest single which has a relaxed almost laid-back feel to it whilst also bringing in heavy and introspective thoughts as he told Rolling Stone, it’s the “account of someone who has long-courted theatrical darkness, only for its violence and cruelty to become all too real. In its wake, a bereft couple learn to love again.” The video is available to view below and on all streaming platforms.

In addition to this release, Costello also shared a new video for his song “Magnificent Hurt,” the lead track with a rather bizarre music video featuring marionette figures made by Tony Sinnett, who conceived the idea along with Costello himself. The Animation is then done by Arlo McFurlow with artwork by Eamon Singer, and the video was edited by Elliot Thomas. You can view the full video below.

The forthcoming album which will feature both singles is the group’s fourth and has been described as an upbeat affair which the singer stated to Spin: “I started The Boy Named If with just an electric guitar, some sharps and flats, high heels and lowdowns, with five songs in bright major keys,”  and then “carried on to write a whole new record for the Imposters to play.”

Costello has been releasing albums somewhat frequently since the start of the pandemic, beginning with Hey Clockface in October of 2020.  Then this March, he put out an EP featuring new versions of six songs from that album sung in French which included various artists such as Iggy Pop. Also in September, he released Spanish Model, a Spanish-language version of his 1978 album This Year’s Model featuring famous Latin music artists.