National Ransom - Elvis Costello
National Ransom Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

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

User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 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. American Songwriter
    Nov 4, 2010
    80
    Over the course of 16 tracks, Costello flexes his stylistic muscles and exercises that famously acerbic wit.
  3. NOW Magazine
    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. 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.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
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.… Collapse

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Rumours [35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Fleetwood Mac
    Metascore: 99
  2. Sunbather - Deafheaven
    Metascore: 97
  3. Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 - Miles Davis Quintet
    Metascore: 92
  4. Jama Ko - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
    Metascore: 90
  5. Southeastern - Jason Isbell
    Metascore: 90
  6. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
    Metascore: 89
  7. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
    Metascore: 88
  8. Your Turn - Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
    Metascore: 88
  9. The Graceless Age - John Murry
    Metascore: 88
  10. Minute by Minute - The James Hunter Six
    Metascore: 88
  11. M B V - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 87
  12. Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper
    Metascore: 87
  13. Yeezus - Kanye West
    Metascore: 87
  14. Beautiful Africa - Rokia Traoré
    Metascore: 87
  15. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
    Metascore: 87
  16. LSXX [Last Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition] - The Breeders
    Metascore: 87
  17. Annie Up - Pistol Annies
    Metascore: 87
  18. Without a Net - Wayne Shorter
    Metascore: 86
  19. Once I Was an Eagle - Laura Marling
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »