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| Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The River in Reverse
Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
Nick Marino
Grade: B+
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Whether inspired by Hurricane Katrina or just the good fortune of working with New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello sings his guts out on this surprisingly successful collaboration album. Good thing. This project could've been disastrous for both men if, for example, Costello had persuaded Toussaint to coo harmonies on "Alison."
But no such tragedy strikes. The veteran tunesmiths actually make a complementary pair. They share songwriting credits on five of the 13 songs here, with Toussaint taking sole credit on most of the rest — a shrewd move. Costello could use the structure; Toussaint could use the exposure. And they each have their own art to contribute. Costello dislodges the frog in his throat long enough to hit a gorgeous climactic note in the ballad "All These Things." Toussaint lays down piano lines that give the album some boogie-woogie bounce.
With horn arrangements, generous keyboard work and two genre-bending tunesmiths at the helm, the album's sound is difficult to categorize. But then again, so is plenty of New Orleans music. So let's call Reverse soulful pop music made by and for adults, a dignified rock album with plenty of rhythm and blues.
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