Costello

The Rag Tree: A novel of Ireland
$17.99
The Rag Tree lights up the page like a cinematic gem, with cliff-hangers unfolding like a classic thriller. The story is by turns a heart-rending romance and an unlikely hero's journey. Comrades are not the people they appear to be. Loyalties are supplanted by decades-old allegiances. Traditions from centuries past influence every waking moment. The folksy charm and mysticism of the Irish countryside crash against the explosiveness of war. Costello's crisp narrative creates historical perspective and fascinating characters. In names and places - Cait, Mattie Joe, Kevin O'Felan, Bamford Cross -- I can hear those Irish accents. A lilt and rhythm envelop every word from a voice that is musical and self-assured. Brimming with forces from the spirit world, Ireland is the perfect setting for this mix of political unrest, religious factions, faeries, leprechauns, clurichauns and pookas. These elements meld with the rise of the Celtic Tiger to construct a formula for non-stop intrigue.

- Chiquita Mullins Lee, playwright, Pierce to the Soul, poet non-fiction and fiction writer

Momofuku
$13.98
The jury, which was probably never out, is officially in: Steve Nieve is the most simpatico keyboardist that Elvis Costello has ever played with, and Pete Thomas is the drummer with the best fit.

Momofuku, Costello's 2008 release, proves that over and over again. From the opening crash-tastic "No Hiding Place," in which Elvis and Pete hit the same relentless beat over and over again to Steve's organ stylings on "American Gangster Time" the album at once has a tightness that only players who know each other very very well can achieve. And those are only the first two songs.

Throughout the album, Costello's writing is also topnotch--his wordplay is excellent as always, and his melodies are strong. It's also refreshing to see that he's not embracing a certain form of music (as he's done in the past), or striving to reconstruct sounds from his past (which he's also done on occasion). Elvis Costello and the Attractions were at their best from 78-86, when they played together so much that they grew as a band. Elvis Costello and the Imposters (the Attractions minus Bruce Thomas plus Davy Farragher on bass) is clearly hitting it's stride as a band on Momofuku. Each song has that tightness that doesn't come off as contrived, or worked for...which in a way also makes it sound loose in the best way.

(For example, on "Flutter and Wow," in the middle of the song, Elvis shouts 'To the bridge!' and the band follows him seamlessly. It's a great moment on an album full of great moments.)

However, this isn't This Year's Model II, or Blood & Chocolate Redux. It's Elvis Costello as he is now, with twenty-plus years of playing and influences between him and those sessions. It's very much an album of 2008, and it's fully integrated throughout. The rockers sit comfortable next to the ballads which sit comfortably next to the occasional folky song; none of which seem incongruous next to the noisy experimentation of "Stella Hurt."

Momofuku is, in many ways, a synthesis of all that's kept Elvis Costello among the greats for years, and that's due not just to the writer, but to the Imposters, who have an identity all their own. I couldn't recommend this more highly.

Elvis Costello: Spectacle: Season 1 (4pc) (Ac3)
$49.95
This series as broadcast on Sundance Channel is an outstanding Master class on music itself. The broad range of the discussions, histories and looks at the real personalities of the artists being interviewed are truly amazing and highly entertaining as well as informative. We've watched every episode and throughly enjoyed them. What "In the Actor's Studio" does for that craft, this series does for music. Along with the promise of additional footage that was cut to make the show fit into the broadcast timeframe, we are looking forward to receiving this into our collection.

The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years [DIGIPACK]
$13.98
Undeniably great music, but energy literally peters out to slow, maudlin that about pitched me into catatonia. Perhaps I prefer only first 5 years.