Disapointing experience
The River in Reverse
I bought this album without listening it up front. It was a major dispointment when I heard the first song. I thought that my amplifier was broke. The sound of the album is as if it comes out of a very small box; it's very flat. All the other tracks sound the same. It's unbelievable that today, while millions of people are downloading illegal tracks from the internet with lousy mp3 quality, some artists still don't know that real music lovers like to buy their albums and expect to get a great sound for their money. Costello and Toussaint should be ashamed about this production.

An interesting pairing, but it's just not what it could have been.

An interesting labor of love, THE RIVER IN REVERSE turns out to be a solid collaboration of styles without any significant surprises. Playing to the strengths of both artists, this collection of songs from both Costello and Toussaint has all the requisite sounds: slow haunting horns, jazz and blues tempos throughout, and heartfelt vocals from Costello making for a pretty, but ultimately, forgettable effort. After listening to this a number of times, I've yet to find a song that sticks with me after I walk away. The true collaborations between the two, like "International Echo" and "Six-Fingered Man" add some spice to the mix, but the overall effect is just, "This is OK," and I guess my high expectations for this going in didn't help. I was hoping this would meeting would bring out the best in both, but there is no sense of challenge here, just mutual respect, and that doesn't necessarily lead to the most exciting mixture of styles. THE RIVER IN REVERSE is a worthy effort, but not one that will get a lot of play on my system in the future.

Don't Overlook The CD/DVD Combo
Yes indeed! So you're thinking about getting this great collaboration that came out in 2006 on CD, which is a wonderful thing to be thinking about, as most of the other reviewers here will attest to. But hey, please don't forget to look in the next bin at THE EXACT SAME TITLE IN THE CD/DVD COMBO PACKAGE (ASIN: B000FBH476) AND IT'S FOR THE *EXACT SAME PRICE*!! What was that? Well SOMEBODY you know must have a DVD player, and they can invite you over for dinner! It's worth it on so many levels, just to see them starting the project in LA, see them at Sunset Sound breaking out the ever-so-soulful song "What Do You Want The Girl To Do" (not on the CD), see them talking about actually going to The Big Easy soon after Katrina and debating whether it's a good idea or not since it could be seriously discouraged by the authorities, not to mention real upsetting for Allen Toussaint (having just lost his house and possessions there), see them flying coach from LA to NO, and then see them pick up the sessions again at a studio right there in the Crescent City! The material from the CD comes to life ten-fold, and the city by (and still in) the river welcomes them with open arms! As Toussaint says at one point "There will always be a New Orleans, and now.. there will be a Very New Orleans!" It's a joy to watch.

So to re-cap: the CD's great, 4 stars. But don't forget to look one shelf over at the CD/DVD combo, an easy 5 star package. And at zero extra dollars, it's a no-brainer!

More than easy listening from the Big Easy!
Elvis Costello teams up with legendary New Orleans jazz pianist Alain Toussant for a collection of beautiful songs with a quiet dignity beneath the riffs. A portion of the profits go to help New Orleans musicians who were Hurricane Katrina victims. But I never knew Big Easy jass could be so thoughtful and sophisticated.

4 1/2 stars.
my, mr costello is certainly prolific in the recording studio. yet another album. and hooray, i say. the man rarely, rarely lets one down. this time out he is paired with new orleans great allen toussaint. together they have crafted an extremely fun recording. rock, blues, and funky soul ring out here. mr toussaint's piano playing is filled with infectious enthusiasm and mr costello's vocals are filled with emotion. that costello voice, to me, is stunning. it's ablility to express different moods and a variety of emotions can hardly be bettered in rock music. his songwriting has always gotten attention, but i feel his singing has not recieved the full appreciation from critics that it deserves. anyway, this is a fantastic piece of work. selected by "no depression" magazine as the 4th best album of 2006, don't miss it.