Elvis Costello

TheOwlMag on Elvis Costello

Artist: Elvis Costello Album: Momofuku Label: Lost Highway Rating: Buy it >>

In some ways, Momofuku (named after the inventor of instant ramen noodles) is a throwback, with The Imposters helping Costello serve up some rockers that recall the good old days of the late ’70s. Standout tracks “American Gangster Time” and “Go Away” are driven by strong rhythms, catchy melodies and Steve Nieve’s trademark synthesizer sound. While none of the other tracks on the album reach the same energy level, several mid-tempo songs prove almost equally compelling. These include “No Hiding Place,” “Pardon Me Madam, My Name is Eve,” and “Turpentine,” which makes especially good use of the album’s backing-vocals “supergroup” comprising Jenny Lewis, Johnathan Rice and others.

Overall, Momofuku is surprisingly diverse, with selections ranging from “Song With Rose,” a rollicking, fully orchestrated duet with Lewis, to the wistful ballad “My Three Sons” and Costello’s turn as lounge crooner on “Harry Worth” and “Mr. Feathers.” Not all of Costello’s experiments work; the love ballad “Flutter and Wow” is borderline cringe-inducing, and a couple of other tracks prove impossible to remember even after several listens. However, the album’s stronger material makes it worth a listen by all fans of Costello’s work, including those who insist upon the superiority of his early albums.

- Review submitted by Kiri Oliver.

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Buzz Bands LA on Elvis Costello

[Weekend 1 of Coachella is history — we now resume or regularly scheduled programming:] Big night for Coachella bands gigging in between the festival's two weekends. And a legend stops by too: ► Elvis Costello & the Imposters bring their Spectacular Spinning Songbook Tour — fans are invited onstage to spin a huge wheel to help determine the setlist — to the Wiltern Theatre. Also: more here