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How does Elvis Costello sound so fresh after so long? It seems to help to have his band the Imposters (3/4 Attractions) with him and to keep it simple. It would be unfair to characterise this album as a return to new wave but this seems to apply quite well to 'American Gangster Time' which is almost like a 'This Years Model' Attractions session with Steve Nieve really going for it on a Vox Continental Organ. On other tracks the American influence shines through as Elvis creates straight spikey rock with some brilliant backing vocals from his 'friends'. This album is fun, I'm just hoping it has the depth to keep growing like his best stuff. Buy this and if you haven't got the other two Imposters releases 'The Delivery Man' and 'The River In Reverse' these are also well worth the money.


Rating: 3 out of 5

This may not be the return to Vintage Costello that older fans have been waiting for, but it's not far off. It's definitely his best album since Blood & Chocolate (although any Costello release always has something to recommend it). Significantly on this one he seems to be having FUN. Bashed out over a week in February our Elvis seems to be rejuvanated by having the kids round (both his new twin boys and the musical scamps who gatecrash his party), which include Jenny Lewis and her beau Johnathan Rice as well drummer Peter Thomas's drumming daughter Tennessee.

Right from the word go Costello is in prime in-your-face form with No Hiding Place and particularly American Gangster Time (this one especially features a classic Steve Nieve '60's organ line that'll send you right back to Pump It Up). Over the following 10 tracks Costello moves from rockers, to country ballads to a touchingly autobiographical My Three Sons and finally to Go Away with a 96 Tears-like organ track that you'll be trying to get out of your head long after you've heard it.

On Drum and Bone he declares himself "a limited, primitive kind of man" and to some extent that's refected in the music here - tracks that make you want to stomp and sway rather than sit and ponder. Lyrically though he's as astute as ever. "I'd rather go blind for speaking my mind" he says on American Gangster Time and so he does time after time.

Off the pop radar for some time now Momofuku probably won't change this, but for those of us in the know it's a time for celebration - Elvis is in the building.

Rating: 5 out of 5

I have listened to Costello's music for what seems like for ever and have enjoyed the varied styles of music that he has recorded. His different interests in a variety of music have been like a journey - a musical education for his fans. I have enjoyed them all, save for 'For the Stars', although even that had some intersting stuff on it. Despite enjoying all the diverse style's of music then, it's his rock/pop records that hold my real attention. Therefore when I heard Momofuku for the first time, I was chuffed to say the least.

Momofuku has great songs, great lyrics, a great band and a great sound. On first listening it reminded me of Blood and Chocolate, but on repeated listenings as the songs come into there own I have realised that it is a very different record to that one and is quite a unique album for him. American Gangster Time as other reviewers have pointed out does remind you of early Costello and for me Mr. Feathers and Harry Worth remind me of songs that could perhaps sit comfortably on Spike. Mr. Feathers equally reminds me of 60's era Kinks in the sound and in the phrasing - could just be me though. Mr Feather's is one of my personal favourites at the moment along with Stella Hurt and Go Away, which are both pounding guitar driven songs, which make you go back to them again and again.

My Three sons is possibly the most direct and personal song I have heard Costello sing. The obvious love he feels for his three sons in this song comes through but doesn't sound cringy in the slightest. The weakest song for me is Song with Rose, but it's no where near a bad song, it just doesn't have the punch that the other tracks do - yet anyway.

A great album that many people, more than just fans of Costello, should own. Ideally this should be viewed as one of the great albums of 2008, but sadly it will probably be overlooked for some commercial drivel.

Rating: 5 out of 5

God, don't they sound like they're having a ball on this one!? And it simply all adds to the natural feel of the whole thing - not forced or pretentious. Once again Costello makes a fresh sounding record with some stonking tunes and spot on backing vocals. Effective fuzzy production too! Great to see he hasn't lost his gift for lyric writing - intelligent and incisve words are such a rarity in the rock/pop world. I hope he takes this one on tour 'cos as usual the recordings are brilliant but the live shows just blow you away. And to think all this was just written and recorded in a week - how does he bloody do it? His aim remains true!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like so many others, I am a huge EC fan who has found it difficult to swallow some of his meanderings, but this new one again is good but not great. I disagree with the reviewer who says "My three sons" about his - ahem - three sons - is not cringy. I think it is. I bless the day you came into this world or words to that effect - corny yuk. And shouting "To the bridge" in the middle of the song is inexcusable. James Brown he is not.
Some of the lyrics sound contrived, as his lyrics often do. Sometimes he gets away with it, sometimes he doesn't. Some good stuff here, some filler, I quite like it, hence 3 stars. Maybe it'll grow on me as other albums of his have, like "Imperial Bedroom" or "Blood and chocolate" but it's not an immediate grabber like, say, "King of America" or "All this useless beauty" or "Brutal Youth" or "Mighty Like A Rose", all masterpieces in their own way. And it's much better than "Punch the clock" or "Goodbye Cruel World". He's still one of the best live acts out there though...

Rating: 3 out of 5