Momofuku

Elvis Costello

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2008)
• Original Release Date: May 6, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Lost Highway
• ASIN: B0016KHAY2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,268 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
ABSO-MOMOFUKU-LY by Elvis Costello

It was Jenny's idea for Pete to play alongside his daughter, Tennessee, who plays drums in The Like and the line-up was completed by Ms. Lewis' beau, Johnathan Rice on guitar and vocals and their pal, "Farmer" Dave Scher on pedal steel and vocals with Jason Lader manning the controls.

So, I went down to Los Angeles for the day and we cut a couple of versions of a song Rice had written for Jenny's record plus two songs of mine, one of which I wrote on the eve of the session. Some rock and roll music is better if you don't think too hard on it.

In the absence of a full-time keyboard player, "Farmer" Dave and I split the organ duties, on an old Acetone. I especially liked the vocal harmonies that Jenny, Rice, Davey and "Farmer" Dave cooked up for "Drum & Bone".

Ms. Lewis sang the entire harmony part of "Go Away" in the vocal booth with me, while the band played in the studio, lead by Rice's guitar part and the drumming of Thomas, Peré et Fille. That was Take Two. Then we went home...

I'd been telling people that I was done with recording and believed it myself. This record date reminded me that it wasn't making music in the studio that made me miserable but the nonsense that predictably follows in what we laughingly call the "music business". So I decided to change it and my mind. That's what I do.

We booked Sound City Studio in Van Nuys for six days of February and cut the eight new songs that I had written in the weeks following Jenny's January session.

We also recorded "Song With Rose", the lyrics of which I wrote with Rosanne Cash and "Pardon Me, Madam, My Name Is Eve" a title that was given to me by Loretta Lynn, while we were writing some songs together, late last year. I had first played these two songs an autumnal tour, opening up for Bob Dylan, although I think they sound a little different now.

I called Steve Nieve in from Paris and asked our friend, David Hildalgo to add little guitar to "Flutter & Wow". He also played viola and then added Hildalguera to "My Three Sons".

The Imposters and I recorded a number of songs as a quartet, including "American Gangster Time", "Mr. Feathers" and "Pardon Me, Madam, My Name Is Eve" and "Harry Worth" which is not actually about the beloved English television funnyman but a true story nonetheless.

Jenny, Rice, "Farmer" Dave and their pal, the guitarist, Jonathan Wilson came back in for a couple more days and to add their voices to the new songs. We had a ball making up the parts for the vocal "supergroup" to which everyone contributed.

The live band for "Turpentine" and "Song For Rose" got up to nonet. That was a fine old noise.

Product Description
By now, some of you may have heard rumour of an album called "Momofuku" and wonder what this record is...

The absence of much advance notice or information might seem a little strange and perverse but the record was made so quickly that I didn't even tell myself about it for a couple weeks.

So, what can I tell you about "Momofuku"?

Well, obviously the title is a tribute to Momofuku Ando, the inventor of the Cup Noodle. Like so many things in this world of wonders, all we had to do to make this record was add water.

Now, I understand that there is also a fancy eatery in New York City that has made the same connection with Ando-San. So, just in case anybody is inclined to mistake our record for something edible, we've added a disclaimer to the record jacket. I like saying, "record jacket" again.

This record actually came about because of an invitation I received from Jenny Lewis to sing on her upcoming record. Davey Faragher had been playing bass on some of the sessions, so it didn't seem like too much of a stretch to call Pete Thomas to complete the Imposters' rhythm section.

Jason Lader not only recorded and mixed the record; he also managed to document the sessions with his camera.

Every record has its own method. This was the one for these songs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ABSO-MOMOFUKULY, May 6, 2008

By	K. H. Orton (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Even if he spat in a bucket, there are some EC fans out there who will always proclaim "he's done it again!"

Dedicated fan that I am, the past 20+ years have revealed an aim more haphazard than true. But its been quite a spell since EC rolled up his sleeves & got his fingers dirty with some good old fashioned Rock & Roll. Which is why Momofuku is so refreshing. Recorded in a couple of weeks last Feburary the intention was to release this first & foremost on vinyl. Sides I & II & all. "A big middle finger to shallow download culture". Kudos Elvis.

No Place To Hide is a strong kick off & its almost as if The Attractions have reunited after 10 years---sans Bruce Thomas ofcourse. The lyric, "whatever I said, it was never behind your back" pretty much sums up what must be Costello's most straightforward album in years. American Gangster Time keeps the ball up in the air propelled by Steve Neive's pulsing organ. Its great to hear him blow off some steam for a change---rather than being regulated to tickling the pretty ivories.

Turpentine, Stella Hurt & Go Away all have the same reckless abandon missing since Blood & Chocolate. Elsewhere Harry Worth touches on Tropicana territory while, the quirky charms of Mr. Feathers can't help but bring Sgt. Pepper's to mind.

To these ears, Drum & Bone comes off like a spliced up mix of Complicated Shadows & Monkey To A Man. Catchy as it is, My Three Sons has to be one of the most unapologetically sentimental ballads Costello has penned to date. And where lyrically Flutter & Wow may not quite live up to its title & melody, the likes of Song With Rose & My Name Is Eve are top notch.

So is this Costello's best since Blood & Chocolate? Brutal Youth? Useless Beauty? When I Was Cruel? For my money the answer is Cruel and I know I'll be coming back to this more than I have to the likes of Delivery Man.

In print,Costello has of late bemoaned the point of ever recording again. Lucky for fans, he's never been one to listen to his own press.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elvis 2008 -- meets Elvis 1978., April 25, 2008

By	A Fan (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Momofuku [Vinyl] (Vinyl)

In a way, Elvis answers the fan question "why can't he make albums like he used to?" In typical Elvis fashion, he does (a nostalgic vinyl release with classic early-Attractions organ and rhythm tracks) and he doesn't (there's a lot of the dabbling Elvis interspersed among the tracks -- country, soul, even a bit of Tropicalia). Standouts are "Pardon Me Madam, My Name is Eve," a jilted spouse's plea to the other woman, as well as the opening/closing tracks "No Hiding Place" and "Go Away." As with any of the great Elvis albums, that list will likely change for me over time. Jenny Lewis adds vocals and harmonies that round out the tracks nicely. For the older fans referenced above, there are enough hummable bits and "classic" moments that stand up to much-repeated play. As with any of the "better" Costello albums, it took two or three plays before I could connect with the "vibe" of the record, but I suspect this will stay in heavy rotation with me for many weeks.

5 days later: True to my expectations I now cannot get "American Gangster Time" out of my head. Steve Nieve's almost percussive organ turns a great tune into an outstanding one.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Return, May 7, 2008

By	john hubner "hubner73" (Warsaw, IN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After several years of starts and stops, slight flirtations with the old, punchy guitar songs, Mr. Costello and his Imposters have created something worthy of their legacy. Momofuku is a return to the guitar/bass/organ/drum sound of the early Attractions days, albeit a slightly more pedestrian version. They're not 27 year old punks anymore. They're members of AARP!!! But then again, I'm not as young as I used to be. "No Hiding Place" is a great start to this album, full of punchy guitars and great backing vocals throughout. Costello sounds like he's enjoying himself. "American Ganster Time" keeps things going nicely, and Steve Nieve's organ sounds like it was pulled right from "This Year's Model"...and that's a good thing...other highlights are "Turpentine", "Harry Worth", "Drum and Bone"(and yes, it does have the "Monkey to Man" sound going), "Song With Rose", and the beautiful "My Three Sons". I haven't been all that crazy about his work as of late. Not that it's bad, and what he did with Allen Toussaint was very well done, but I've been waiting for a rock album from Elvis Costello for a long time. "When I Was Cruel" had it's moments, but felt kind of cold to me..."Momofuku" has that warm analog sound..the sound of musicians in a room playing together, enjoying what they do...may not be perfect, but it's a welcome return to the angsty days of yesteryear!! If you're an Elvis Costello fan, I recommend Momofuku!!