Music's rich pageant

Costello, Burnett are all over the place on compelling new CDs

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Monday, May 19, 2008

Shorefire Media

Elvis Costello

Big Hassle Publicity

T Bone Burnett

Elvis Costello and the Imposters

Momofuku

Lost Highway Records

Grade: B+

This oddly named record (a tribute to the inventor of instant noodles) is a sampler of all of Elvis Costello's strengths throughout his career, alternately elegant and abrasive, rocking and smooth. Originally released just on vinyl, Costello has now relented - the CD is in stores.

It's an ear-catching mix of styles and detours. Momofuku opens with No Hiding Place, a song so classically Costello it could fit neatly on Armed Forces. The closer, Go Away, is another classic Costello groove. Song With Rose is a literal title, as he co-wrote it with Roseanne Cash. Jenny Lewis sings harmony through much of the album, a perfect foil for Costello; she's also part of the "supergroup" of background singers who sweeten several songs.

Costello's work has from time to time been deeply personal, reflecting his own transgressions and triumphs. He has a couple here that rival his best. Turpentine is a confession, hinting at bad behavior and unpaid sins. And My Three Sons is a tribute to his children, including young twins and his grown son Matthew from a previous marriage.

Mr. Feathers pushes a little too hard trying to be offbeat and obscure, one of a couple of missteps on the disc. Overall, however, Momofuku is a full, rich Costello experience, with songs that are going to sound great on tour this summer.

T Bone Burnett

Tooth of Crime

Nonesuch Records

Grade: A-

It's finally here: Tooth of Crime, the Sam Shepard/T Bone Burnett collaboration that fans thought they might never hear.

In the mid-'90s, Burnett put songs to Shepard's 1972 play script, but no soundtrack was released. And this still isn't it.

With songs not included in the play, a complete rerecording and a decade of studio tinkering, Tooth of Crime probably doesn't much resemble the work that preceded it.

Good luck looking for a story line, but it's not needed. It's a strong set of songs, each working perfectly on its own.

To show you how old this is, Dope Island features a delicious vocal by Burnett's ex, Sam Phillips, and Kill Zone was co-written by the late Roy Orbison.

And Burnett has been tinkering with both sound and lyrics in the ensuing decade, with references to MySpace, black ops, Halo and more current topics.

As on his great 2006 album The True False Identity, Burnett takes a Tom Waits-like tone, creating soundscapes on songs like Telepresence rather than a standard backing band.

Kill Zone was released in a different version on Burnett's greatest-hits package two years ago; this updated take is better, with Burnett singing about pain and grief to a lovely, lush backing track.

Sweet Lullaby ends the album with a folk-influenced treatment reminiscent of his recent production work with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

Overall, it's a rich time for Burnett fans, with new music and new projects among the best work he's done.

Other new CDs

* Three Doors Down: Three Doors Down

* Flobots: Fight With Tools

* Scarlett Johansson: Anywhere I Lay My Head

NEXT WEEK

* John Hiatt: Same Old Man

* Cyndi Lauper: Bring Ya to the Brink

* Al Green: Lay It Down