The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/19934
Costello lives the Americana dream with new album Elvis Costello has had a long and ac- complished career, releasing acclaimed albums over a 30-year span in diverse musical stylings including new wave, classical, jazz, rock and traditional pop. The last two years, and albums re- leased by Costello, have seen a shift to a more Americana side of the musical legend, which may be somewhat inter- esting to some consider- ing the fact Costello is British. He has definitely immersed himself in American music and culture over his career, but 2009’s “Secret, Profane & Sugarcane” and the recently released “National Ransom” Costello paints a timeless personal-yet-universal portrait of modern America with nostalgic brushes and paints. have seen an extra boost with produc- tion by Americana aficionado T Bone Burnett, the mastermind behind the “O Brother, Where At Thou?” soundtrack and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’s “Raising Sand,” both of which won Grammy awards for Album of the Year. “National Ransom” takes an interesting approach to be current and nostalgic at the same time. Costello’s brilliant storytelling, coupled with dynamic vocal performances and intricate arrangements, create the set- ting of timeless tales that are as relevant today as they may have happened 80 years ago. Burnett’s produc- tion paired with the album’s instrumenta- tion — often including slide guitars, fiddles and double basses —create a Depression-era backdrop and styling to the stories. Obviously, love and heartbreak is a timeless theme, and is especially present throughout the album. “Five Small Words” is a rockin’ country proclamation of a cheated and broken heart, crying out “Don't you love me anymore?” to a fading, lost love. Similar feelings are expressed in “I Lost You,” where the narrator is alone and defeated, reflecting on his missteps. Other songs on “National Ransom” tell stories of much darker and poignant tales of modern America. The gentle jazz balladry of “You Hung The Moon” depicts loved ones returning home from war deceased, where they are buried “shallow like tallow down in the abyss.” Costello softly croons, “The sea has no tide, since he was taken from my side.” “Church Underground” describes a young woman abused by the church, seeking solace in the spotlight of the stage. 12 O-Town Scene Nov. 18, 2010 An interesting track, “Jimmie Standing in the Rain,” uses vaudevillian clarinet to tell of a young man lost in the city, further proving “there’s no place for a half-cut cowboy in polite society.” A misconception of “National Ran- som” may be that Costello is overtly political and commenting on the recent economic recession, as the album’s title and artwork, featuring a fox escaping in fine clothing with a bag full of flam- ing money, may allude to upon quick glance. The album’s bookend tracks, “National Ransom” and “A Voice in the Dark,” are the only tracks to appear to take aim directly at Wall Street. During the title track, Costello wails the chorus about how the powers that be are “running wild, just like some childish tantrum,” while the rest of the nation is “work- ing every day, paying off the national ransom.” “A Voice in the Dark” examines how America got in the mess in the first place, with the fox on the cover acting as the song’s narrator, proclaiming: “My net is overflowing, and I suddenly seem to be all seeing and all knowing.” Ultimately, “National Ransom” may not be the social commentary album people are looking for, but Costello paints a timeless personal-yet-universal portrait of modern America with nos- talgic brushes and paints. Much of life and history is cyclical; the years may progress, but themes and tales repeat. _ Adam Sisenwein