(Video and tour dates included) Homer Simpson once asked, “Has the whole world gone gay?” Well, no, but it seems the whole music industry has gone country. The latest to saddle up is Elvis Costello, with his new album, Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, released on June 2nd. Produced by T Bone Burnett in Nashville, Costello’s latest sound includes a dobro, fiddle, mandolin and accordion. But it still remains authentically Costello.

The music is fantastic – including an all-star cast of country and bluegrass legends Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, Jeff Taylor and Dennis Crouch. The album includes a couple of songs originally written for Mr. Johnny Cash, including “Hidden Shame.” There are also new, countrified renditions of previous songs, like “Complicated Shadows.” But true to style, Costello’s jarring, abrupt vocals permeate even the most country-sounding tunes, offering an odd mix of pop, punk and hayseed. While it’s a shift for London-born Costello, if you’re a fan, this one is sure to strike a chord. If you’re not a Costello fan, this probably won’t change your mind.

You can get small previews of each of the songs from the new album on Costello’s MySpace page.

Below is “Sulphur to Sugarcane” from Secret, Profane & Sugarcane.

Below that are Costello’s Summer 2009 tour dates.

Jun 9 2009	8:00P	Count Basie Theatre	Red Bank, New Jersey
Jun 10 2009	8:00P	Beacon Theatre	New York, New York
Jun 11 2009	8:00P	Wolf Trap Vienna	Wolf Trap Vienna
Jun 13 2009	8:00P	Bonnaroo Festival	Manchester, Tennessee
Jun 14 2009	8:00P	Booth Amphitheatre	Cary, North Carolina
Jun 16 2009	8:00P	Ryman Auditorium	Nashville, Tennessee
Jun 19 2009	8:00P	Telluride Festival	Telluride, Colorado
Aug 8 2009	8:00P	Summer Sonic Festival	Tokyo
Aug 9 2009	8:00P	Summer Sonic Festival	Osaka
Aug 15 2009	8:00P	Dear Valley Festival	Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug 17 2009	8:00P	Mountain Winery	Saratoga, California
Aug 19 2009	8:00P	Wente Vineyards	Livermore, California
Aug 21 2009	8:00P	Wells Fargo Center	Santa Rosa, California
Aug 22 2009	8:00P	Jacksonville	Jacksonville, Oregon
Aug 23 2009	8:00P	Chateau St. Michelle	Seattle, Washington
Aug 24 2009	8:00P	Malkin Bowl	Vancouver, British Columbia
Aug 26 2009	8:00P	Ravinia Festival	Highland Park, Illinois
Aug 27 2009	8:00P	Fraze Pavillion	Kettering, Ohio
Aug 28 2009	8:00P	Massey Hall	Toronto, Ontario
Aug 29 2009	8:00P	Chautauqua Institute	Chatauqua, New York
Sep 1 2009	8:00P	Long Center	Austin, Texas
Sep 2 2009	8:00P	Nokia Theatre	Dallas, Texas
Sep 3 2009	8:00P	Cains Ballroom	Tulsa, Oklahoma

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