It was four years before Costello released another solo album — 2008’s Momofuku. He did put out an album with Allen Toussaint in the middle there, but I haven’t heard it enough to feature it here. I’ve been meaning to give it a listen but haven’t gotten around to it.
Momofuku was as spontaneous a recording as Costello has yet put out. Far from the high concepts and meticulous production of previous albums, this one happened almost by accident. Costello was recording some songs with Jenny Lewis for her album Acid Tongue when he got the bug to lay down some tracks of his own. So he quickly wrote a new batch of songs and recorded them with Lewis on backing vocals and her session players, which included members of his band The Imposters.
Ironically, considering how carefully Costello labors over his albums, this hurried afterthought emerges as one of his very finest works. The songcraft is superb and there’s a sense of fun and energy in the recording that’s missing from the more studied approach of When I Was Cruel or Brutal Youth. Songs such as ‘Turpentine,’ ‘Stella Hurt,’ ‘Song for Rose,’ ‘Flutter and Wow’ and ‘Go Away’ are as engaging and interesting as anything he’s written in years.
Today’s song, ‘No Hiding Place,’ deals with the voyeurism and anonymous bullying that runs rampant in the Internet age. Costello must have spent some time reading the message boards because he seems particularly peeved, especially in this tough-guy stanza: “Walk up to me and say what you said. Let’s see how brave you are when I’m about this far.”
This song concludes my three-week trip down Elvis Costello lane. It’s been a fun exercise, revisiting songs and albums I’ve left alone for too long. And in a testament to Costello’s musical stamina, he has a new album due out in just a couple of months… so stay tuned.
When everything will be free
There won’t be any cute secrets
Let alone any novelty
You can say anything you want to
In your fetching cloak of anonymity
Are you feeling out of breath now?
In your desperate pursuit of infamy
Two lovers rocking up and down
In an elevator
15 minutes later
They’ll make a killing in the market
They knew how to work it
On that close circuit
My, my, it’s a terrible disgrace
You’ll find these days that there’s
No hiding place
How proud are you
You have the knack
You’re howling in a vacuum
Whatever I said about you
I didn’t say it behind your back
I paid for my immortal sins
I know the enemy within you
As it seems these days
There is no hiding place
Next time someone wants to hurt you
Or set alight your effigy
Don’t call on me to help you out
Don’t come crying to me sympathy
You stay there with your daubs
And scratches
While I summon up the red machine
I’ll be handing someone matches
And carrying a can of kerosene
Walk up to me
And say what you said
Let’s see how brave you are
When I’m about this far
You sit in judgment and bitch
Well, baby that’s rich
You’re nothing but a snitch
My, my, it’s a terrible disgrace
You’ll find these days that there’s
No hiding place
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree that this is another great album from Costello. And, whiel I like today’s pick a great deal, my favorites are Harry Worth, Flutter and Wow, and Druim and Bone.
Meanwhile, although Alex will undoubtedly be relieved to see these Elvis weeks come to end, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. And I too can’t wait to get the new album!
I like all of those better than this one, too, but this was the only one available on You Tube. Fortunately the whole album is strong enough to feature.