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Editorial Reviews
2010 album from the veteran British singer/songwriter. National Ransom was recorded in a total of eleven days at Sound Emporium, Nashville and Village Recorders, Los Angeles and was produced by T Bone Burnett and engineered and mixed by Michael Piersante at Electromagetic, Los Angeles. All of these songs are newly composed by Costello with the exception of "I Lost You," co-written with Jim Lauderdale and "All These Strangers," for which Costello and T Bone Burnett collaborated on the lyrics. Costello and Burnett also provide the lyrics for "My Lovely Jezebel," a Leon Russell Rock 'n' Roll tune . All members of the Imposters and Sugarcanes appear on the album along with guests Vince Gill, Marc Ribot, Buddy Miller and Leon Russell.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Kil Roi
Format:Audio CD
"National Ransom," the latest release from Elvis Costello, is musically tasteful and lyrically sophisticated. In short, Elvis really assembled this one well.
A Whitman's Sampler of styles, "National Ransom" takes the listener on a sonic trip: edgy rock, New Orleans jazz, acoustic jazz, country, ballads, blues ... even a detour back to the "Attractions" days. Yes, for all you longtime Elvis fans, "Alison" could be slipped onto this disc and would blend in.
But it doesn't stop there. From the country churns ("That's Not the Part of Him You're Leaving" and "I Lost You") to the Victrola waltzes ala Leon Redbone ("You Hung the Moon") Elvis' voice hasn't sounded better.
Like acoustic guitar? "A Slow Drag With Josephine" is spot on, complete with mandolins and whistling -- echoes of Ry Cooder.
"Jimmie Standing in the Rain" -- a melancholy night in the French Quarter.
"Bullets For the New-Born King" -- Which is more poetic? The lyrics or the silky acoustic guitar. You decide.
"National Ransom" is a monster step up from Elvis' previous album, "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane," which housed a lot of mediocre and forgettable tunes.
Meandering cleverly through the various genres, "National Ransom" is Elvis at what is perhaps his creative peak.
A Whitman's Sampler of styles, "National Ransom" takes the listener on a sonic trip: edgy rock, New Orleans jazz, acoustic jazz, country, ballads, blues ... even a detour back to the "Attractions" days. Yes, for all you longtime Elvis fans, "Alison" could be slipped onto this disc and would blend in.
But it doesn't stop there. From the country churns ("That's Not the Part of Him You're Leaving" and "I Lost You") to the Victrola waltzes ala Leon Redbone ("You Hung the Moon") Elvis' voice hasn't sounded better.
Like acoustic guitar? "A Slow Drag With Josephine" is spot on, complete with mandolins and whistling -- echoes of Ry Cooder.
"Jimmie Standing in the Rain" -- a melancholy night in the French Quarter.
"Bullets For the New-Born King" -- Which is more poetic? The lyrics or the silky acoustic guitar. You decide.
"National Ransom" is a monster step up from Elvis' previous album, "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane," which housed a lot of mediocre and forgettable tunes.
Meandering cleverly through the various genres, "National Ransom" is Elvis at what is perhaps his creative peak.
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barnburning, compelling, tuneful...Elvis at the Top of his creative prowess!
November 2, 2010
Format:Audio CD
Elvis Costello has a lot of different sides, a lot of different interests. When a new release comes out, you gotta wonder what you are going to get--will it be straight ahead rockers with a dash of humor? Will it be sophistipop with elaborate arrangements ala Burt Bacharach? Will he collaborate with a string quartet on one of the most ambitious albums by a rock musician ever? Will he re-interpret classic pop tunes with an opera Diva? Will he give us smoky jazz? I love all the possibilities, and bought this sound unheard. I have to say, wow, it is all and none of those things, and it is great!
Elvis digs deep into all of his past work--his lyrics are sophisticated, humorous, touching. He shines on his melodies--catchy yet not obvious. INstrumentation is tight, and it feels like he has lived these songs for a while. Instrumentation is straightforward, but feels very full and well orchestrated.
As I listened to the album, I could feel some influence from the southern US--pickers, some jazzy chord changes, even a little dixie jazz feel in places.
Listen, if you like Elvis Costello, if you are one of the faithful who has stuck by him in all his many incarnations, then this is a no-brainer. Buy it now. If you are a relapsed fan, this is a great place to jump back in--the album is approachable, beautiful, fun, and artistically impressive. If you've never listened to Elvis Costello before, you've got a great set of treats to pick up. You're going to want to pick up some of his older albums as well, but this is a fantastic into to the quirky, fascinating, multigenre spanning talent of Elvis.
Get it. I can't wait to buy another copy to give away!
Elvis digs deep into all of his past work--his lyrics are sophisticated, humorous, touching. He shines on his melodies--catchy yet not obvious. INstrumentation is tight, and it feels like he has lived these songs for a while. Instrumentation is straightforward, but feels very full and well orchestrated.
As I listened to the album, I could feel some influence from the southern US--pickers, some jazzy chord changes, even a little dixie jazz feel in places.
Listen, if you like Elvis Costello, if you are one of the faithful who has stuck by him in all his many incarnations, then this is a no-brainer. Buy it now. If you are a relapsed fan, this is a great place to jump back in--the album is approachable, beautiful, fun, and artistically impressive. If you've never listened to Elvis Costello before, you've got a great set of treats to pick up. You're going to want to pick up some of his older albums as well, but this is a fantastic into to the quirky, fascinating, multigenre spanning talent of Elvis.
Get it. I can't wait to buy another copy to give away!
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Elvis Costello's new CD "National Ransom" is produced by T-Bone Burnet and sees him traipsing through Blues, Rock, Jazz and even Country. Backed by his regular touring band The Imposters, as well as a few guests like Vince Gill and Leon Russell. The rocking Blues title track opens the album, followed by the Ragtime "Jimmie Standing In The Rain" which tells the story of a failed music-hall singer getting drenched in the rain at a Lancashire train station.
Each of the album's 16 tracks is special so I'll just pick on a few to highlight. The woozy enthralling "Stations Of The Cross", "A Slow Drag With Josephine" is acoustic Folk, "Five Small Words" is bouncy Country with quivering guitars, "Church Underground" is Bluesy Pop (with snarling vocals and guitars), the slow shuffling Jazzy "You Hung The Moon", the Folk/Blues "Dr. Watson, I Presume", the acoustic "One Bell Ringing", and the vaudeville "A Voice In The Dark".
"National Ransom" is like a well stocked jukebox which ticks all the right boxes.
Each of the album's 16 tracks is special so I'll just pick on a few to highlight. The woozy enthralling "Stations Of The Cross", "A Slow Drag With Josephine" is acoustic Folk, "Five Small Words" is bouncy Country with quivering guitars, "Church Underground" is Bluesy Pop (with snarling vocals and guitars), the slow shuffling Jazzy "You Hung The Moon", the Folk/Blues "Dr. Watson, I Presume", the acoustic "One Bell Ringing", and the vaudeville "A Voice In The Dark".
"National Ransom" is like a well stocked jukebox which ticks all the right boxes.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great as always
Long time Elvis Costello fan and like a lot of folks I wish he was strumming the tunes like he did in the 70s yes he's slowed down but this is a great album. Read more
Published 5 months ago by W. Wood
4.0 out of 5 stars
worthwhile album
Well, this is yet another pretty darn good Costello album. It won't rank among my very favorite EC studio albums, but there are some wonderful songs to be found on here, all spiced... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Donald E. Gilliland
5.0 out of 5 stars
National Ransome
This is one of the best offerings in a very long time from Elvis. It starts strong with the title song and continues to drop pleasant surprises of hooks and poetry as we walk... Read more
Published 16 months ago by D. Carlisle
1.0 out of 5 stars
ZZZZZZZZZZ Elvis has Left the Building again...
there was a time when I would wait with bated breath for a new EC album to come out now I dread it. seems the last fully realized EC album was brutal Youth. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Joseph Caravella
1.0 out of 5 stars
National Disgrace
Yet another collection of drivel purchased only by die-hard fans still stuck in the '80's. Elvis has become little more than a smart aleck with a guitar, and those are a dime a... Read more
Published 23 months ago by J. Mathys
4.0 out of 5 stars
He is a genius!
National Ransom is an exceptional record. The variety of songs and styles...the stories and the sadness...the comedy and elation. Read more
Published on May 24, 2011 by D. R. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't love everything he does, but I love this!
Since this is now the the third time I'm buying this CD (I gave the other two copies away to friends and said "listen to this! this is a great CD! Read more
Published on May 18, 2011 by Bradley D Turock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of the best
This is his best album,ever. I have every one of his albums, and this is equal to, or surpasses everything he has done.
Published on February 24, 2011 by michael tupper
4.0 out of 5 stars
Boffo
The ballads are definitely over the top. My favorites are "Slow Drag with Josephine" and the haunting "You Hung the Moon". Read more
Published on January 19, 2011 by D. Wilson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Tepid and Boring !!!
I was hoping against hope that Elvis would put out another pretty good album like Momofuku. After listening to this not one song remained in my head - no catchy hooks or melodies... Read more
Published on January 11, 2011 by Vinyl Spin
