National Ransom - Elvis Costello
National Ransom Image
Metascore

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.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. 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. 80
    Over the course of 16 tracks, Costello flexes his stylistic muscles and exercises that famously acerbic wit.
  3. Nov 11, 2010
    80
    You'd be hard pressed to find an album as varied as Elvis Costello's National Ransom (his 26th, give or take).
  4. 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.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. 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. Collapse