Spike (1989)

Spike (1989)

Following a bare-knuckled label fight and myriad personal anxieties regarding the direction of his career, Costello came out swinging with both fists on the outstanding Spike, an exciting amalgam of pure pop, blue-eyed soul, and theatrical experimentation that became his best-selling record in years. The hit, abetted by MTV and college radio, was “Veronica” – a gorgeous three-minute lament concerning an old lady facing the terrible rigors of dementia. Other highlights include the self-effacing, Van Morrison-influenced “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror” and the lacerating Andrew Lloyd Webber pisstake “God’s Comic.” Not all of the material is platinum-grade on Spike, but there is enough happening to acknowledge that the genius in question is still in residence.