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.

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.

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!!

Momofuku is undoubtedly the best effort by Mr Costello in years, and already one of my favorites of the year. Things start off with the knockout 1-2 punch of "No Hiding Place" and "American Gangster Time". Both show that age hasn't mellowed his angry and cynical side, but its a righteous anger against those who can "say anything you want to in your fetching cloak of anonymity" (see several below)or want to use and abuse their power. "Harry Worth", "Flutter and Wow", and "My Three Sons" are more sudbued but still powerful as he admonishes the troubled couple that "there are not many moments that capture your breath", or sings simple songs of love and fatherhood. Another standout is "Stella Hurt" based on a true story (Google Teddy Grace) of an obscure jazz musician--perhaps a commentary on the music industry's attitude towards artists. She is forgotten until an old record is found "abandoned in an attic, Stella is silent as the grave until a needle drags her through the static". "Pardon me Madam, My Name Is Eve" is a cautionary tale for the "other woman", as the jilted Eve remembers her time before being expelled from the garden. Throughout he is able to walk the difficult balance of maintaining his trademark sound, while expanding and varying things enough that it does not seem like just another record to make a buck or satisfy a contract. Indeed, everything is done with passion and commitment that comes through even in the digital age. My favorite by a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year (Sorry, Madonna).

Elvis Costello & The Imposters ****1/2

Easily his best since Blood & Chocolate. And for me personally, along with My Aim Is True, this has got to be my favorite Costello album. I have always applauded Costello's work, even his less than stellar work, because he was making the music he wanted to, and in my book that is commendable.

Momofuku is being held as his most accessible since "..." well that my be true but that is not what or what does not make this a good album. Songs like the killer 'Go Away' the lyrical fantastic of 'Pardon Me, Madam, My Name Is Eve' and the just under overly catchy 'Drum & Bone' which make this a fantastic record. But what took my by surprise was 'No Hiding Place.' I have debated and debated with myself for a while now, and I have at the moment decided that this is bar far and then some, that 'No Hiding Place' is the best thing Costello ever did. Yeah I said it, you didn't read that wrong. I don't even know how or want to describe it, it's so good.

Steve Neive, Pete Thomas, and Davey Faragher make up The Imposter's, Costello's current band, and let me tell you it is one of the best lineups the man has ever assembled. Kudos to the boys for making a great record, and then releasing it only on Vinyl first, truly a rock n' roll thing to do. Costello can sit a my lunch table any day.