|
ELVIS COSTELLO
Momofuku
(Helicon)
Elvis Costello must have an Ever Ready battery implanted in his left frontal lobe. More than 30 years since he burst into our musical consciousness with My Aim is True, the British icon still sounds energized on his new album Momofuku, named after Momofuku Ando, the inventor of world's first instant noodles. Of course, he's got a lot more arsenal to employ than in the days of the machinegun fire of This Year's Model. But with the kindred spirits of the Imposters, the latest incarnation of his longtime backing band the Attractions, he sounds as much at ease recalling the bristling edgy pop of albums like Trust and Blood & Chocolate as he does performing his more reflective, eclectic material. The 1-2-3 punch of the opening "No Hiding Place," "American Gangster Time" and "Turpentine" present all of Costello's best early qualities - punchy music highlighted by Steve Nieve's spiky organ, heavenly melodies and smart, pun-filled lyrics. Momofuku shies away from the rootsy, country influences of the last excellent Imposters album, The Delivery Man, with only the soulful "Flutter & Wow" and country-tinged "Song With Rose" (written with Roseanne Cash) sounding like they would fit that element. Costello's tendency to explore too many styles muddles things up a little on the cocktail jazz of "Harry Worth" and the English dance-hall sound of "Mr. Feathers." But the album rebounds in its final third, featuring classy standouts "My Three Sons," "Pardon Me, Madam, My Name is Eve" and the triumphantly trashy "Go Away." It's always tempting to call any new Elvis Costello album as accomplished as this a return to form, but then again, he's never really lost it.
|
