It is my pleasure to introduce you to my absolute favorite live album of the decade. Elvis Costello really brings the house down with the Metropole Orkest in his 2005 live album release, My Flame Burns Blue. It consists of Costello’s recordings from the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2004.

The first song, Hora Decubitis, really sets the mood with the repeated addage, “I say it once, and I’ll say it again. Life is a beautiful thing.” If you make it through this album and you don’t feel the same way, you have no soul.

I am not personally much of a jazz connoisseur. I listen to jazz and enjoy it, but I’m not well educated on the craft. However, something about mixing Costello’s vocals with a full jazz orchestra is the most amazing combination in the world since peanut butter and jelly. Costello also shows that he has the chops to sing vocal jazz, and adds a swing to many of his famous and favorite songs.

My favorite song on the album is Almost Ideal Eyes. “You find liberal is an insult now and care is what you pay for, be sure of what you wish for now be careful what you pray for, when you look into those almost ideal eyes.” I remember listening to this song for the first time and instantly thinking about all of the women I’ve met that fall in this category. To this day the words stay in my mind as I meet new women and enter new relationships. I love when you can relate to a song on such a personal level as this one.

Not much else to say about this album except that it’s very beautiful, emotional and it rocks. If you haven’t heard this one yet, you’re really missing out. Check it out and download it on Amazon.