Reviews:

Over the course of the decade preceding MOMOFUKU, the notoriously eclectic Elvis Costello made albums with everyone from jazz guitarist Bill Frisell to opera singer Anne-Sofie Von Otter, but with the inauguration of his band the Imposters (essentially the old Attractions with a new bassist) with 2002's WHEN I WAS CRUEL, it felt like a rock-&-roll rebirth for the old New Waver. His third Imposters album, MOMOFUKU, is the most expansive of the three, combining the gritty attack of its two predecessors with the knotty angularity of Costello's 1989 album, SPIKE.
MOMOFUKU is front-loaded with straight-ahead rockers ("No Hiding Place," "American Gangster Time") that recall Costello's glory days with the Attractions, but soon enough he begins shifting methods and modes. The piano-led "Mr. Feathers" betrays a strong Beatles/Kinks influence, while "Harry Worth" bares an exotic aura and a laid-back bossa-nova-meets-Bond-film flavor. A musical magpie at heart, Costello can dazzle with diversity and get back to his roots at the same time.

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.