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National Ransom - Elvis Costello
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Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

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  • Summary: Costello's second album with producer T-Bone Burnett is both reminiscent of his earlier work and experimental in sound, with a foray into finger-picking country and eclectic folk-rock tunes.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. All Music Guide
    Nov 5, 2010
    90
    The album winds up with trace echoes of all eras of Costello, but that's only a reflection of how National Ransom is a masterwork in the traditional sense: he's summoned all his skills to deliver an album that summarizes his world view.
  2. Paste Magazine
    Nov 2, 2010
    84
    More than anything, National Ransom reveals that Costello is still a powerhouse writer.
  3. musicOMH.com
    Nov 9, 2010
    60
    Perhaps National Ransom is less a randomly selected almanac, and more a series of vignettes that could potentially have relevance to any particular time and space. Costello is, inventively, trying to make musical antiquarianism a radical pursuit.

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. germangirl
    7
    Nice album from Elvis Costello, recorded in 11 days between L.A and Nashville with T Bone Burnett. Mostly of the songs have been played already on concerts (4 are new) , but for me still a "must have" this album. my favourite song is " five small words". It is hard to say, which genre the album goes, but like Elvis said to Music Critic 'National Ransom' Is Not a Bluegrass Record! enjoy.… Expand
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