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Elvis Costello - Spike Audio CD

A fair review of the Elvis Costello "Spike" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Elvis Costello reviews here, or go back to the Elvis Costello tabs.

Elvis Costello Band: Elvis Costello
Title: Spike
Rating:
Release Date: 2009-09-22
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: ...This Town... 2: Let Him Dangle 3: Deep Dark Truthful Mirror - Elvis Costello, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 4: Veronica 5: God's Comic 6: Chewing Gum - Elvis Costello, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 7: Tramp the Dirt Down 8: Stalin Malone - Elvis Costello, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 9: Satellite 10: Pads, Paws and Claws 11: Baby Plays Around 12: Miss MacBeth - Elvis Costello, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 13: Any King's Shilling 14: Coal-Train Robberies 15: Last Boat Leaving

Elvis fans should have it
I always wondered why it didn't make a bigger splash. This is a pretty darn good recording. I guess when the single is about an older lady experiencing Alzheimer's disease, that is to be expected. I'd would encourage an Elvis fan to get it. It's a pretty ambitious album and it's wonderfully varied in style. One thing that I really like about Spike is that for an 80's recording, it doesn't sound dated at all. It's stood up to time very well.

"God's Comic" is a classic as far as I'm concerned and I don't think any of the other reviewers even mentioned it. My other faves are "Stalin Malone" and "Chewing Gum", but the album is strong overall. .


Best rock record ever featuring a Sousaphone
In the dozen years since its original release, my appreciation of "Spike" has not diminished in the least. I remember being completely bowled over when this album came out, to the point that I wedged "Veronica" onto the radio station playlist I worked for at the time and giving copies of the CD to a whole mess of people on my Holiday Gift list that year.

Stylistically (and from the liner notes, geographically) all over the map, it holds together almost on the sheer force of the songwriting. Freed from Sony/CBS, he embarked on a record that was easily as ambitious as "Imperial Bedroom," but this time with a greater cast of players. "This Town," the disc's opener, featured Paul McCartney playing a trademark propulsive bass line and Roger McGuinn on his 12 String Rickenbacker. It kicks the album off with a bitter rant worthy of the trinity of Elvis' first three albums and a classic put down line "You're nobody till everybody in this town thinks you're a ba. . . rd. "

But that kind of bitterness is nothing compared to "Tramp The Dirt Down," quite simply the angriest, harshest anti-Thatcher rant ever laid to tape. It is also, oddly enough, set to a gorgeous arrangement that includes Irish fiddles, pipes and a bouzouki. It may also be the saddest song EC has ever recorded. "God's Comic," in comparison, is almost cinematic in its scope and nearly as marvelously arranged. "God's Comic" is as wickedly sly in its humor as "Tramp The Dirt Down" is critically indicting.

Oh yes, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band made "Spike" field such marvelous curves in "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror," "Stalin Malone," and the aforementioned referenced Sousaphone on "Chewing Gum. " New Orleans piano legend Allen Toussaint's playing on "Mirror" is one of the many of "Spike's" instrumental highlights.

Of the six CD's Elvis recorded for the WB, "Spike" was the best. Rhino's addition of a cleaned up mix makes it indispensable. This belongs in your library. .


Best rock record ever featuring a Sousaphone
In the dozen years since its original release, my appreciation of "Spike" has not diminished in the least. I remember being completely bowled over when this album came out, to the point that I wedged "Veronica" onto the radio station playlist I worked for at the time and giving copies of the CD to a whole mess of people on my Holiday Gift list that year.

Stylistically (and from the liner notes, geographically) all over the map, it holds together almost on the sheer force of the songwriting. Freed from Sony/CBS, he embarked on a record that was easily as ambitious as "Imperial Bedroom," but this time with a greater cast of players. "This Town," the disc's opener, featured Paul McCartney playing a trademark propulsive bass line and Roger McGuinn on his 12 String Rickenbacker. It kicks the album off with a bitter rant worthy of the trinity of Elvis' first three albums and a classic put down line "You're nobody till everybody in this town thinks you're a ba. . . rd. "

But that kind of bitterness is nothing compared to "Tramp The Dirt Down," quite simply the angriest, harshest anti-Thatcher rant ever laid to tape. It is also, oddly enough, set to a gorgeous arrangement that includes Irish fiddles, pipes and a bouzouki. It may also be the saddest song EC has ever recorded. "God's Comic," in comparison, is almost cinematic in its scope and nearly as marvelously arranged. "God's Comic" is as wickedly sly in its humor as "Tramp The Dirt Down" is critically indicting.

Oh yes, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band made "Spike" field such marvelous curves in "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror," "Stalin Malone," and the aforementioned referenced Sousaphone on "Chewing Gum. " New Orleans piano legend Allen Toussaint's playing on "Mirror" is one of the many of "Spike's" instrumental highlights.

Of the six CD's Elvis recorded for the WB, "Spike" was the best. Rhino's addition of a cleaned up mix makes it indispensable. This belongs in your library. .


took some time
I was used to the ease & magic of Armed Forces and My Aim is True, and Spike just didn't seem as cohesive & enjoyable. I have to admit, i was thrown back by this album at first listen. But after multiple listens I can really appreciate the more challenging nature of this album. With each subsequent listen the hidden pop web of each song emerges louder & louder. .


best song: "tramp the dirt down"
Some of the performances on here aren't his best; they were better at the live shows from this tour(the Attractions are missed). I have always thought this album was underrated.
But it has some of his best songwriting. And the Margaret Thatcher epic (Tramp. . . ")is unspeakably beautiful.


You can see a complete list of all Elvis Costello discography, or go back to the Elvis Costello tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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