First of all, this is a more subjective list than most. And let's start with something very subjective. I tried long and hard to like Spike, and I failed. It was the first real dent in Costello's armor and put me on my heels… Many people love it…
Spike (1989) – The problem here wasn't the extended double CD, which is better, it is the original, that sinks sputtering with "God's Comic". A terrible, terribly overwritten track that is the weakest link right in the middle of the album . "Veronica", El's most successful single to date, doesn't help in the slightest. It is too composerly, too self righteous, too testing the waters as a serious composer. McCartney's presence didn't help at all. Grade: C+
Mighty Like A Rose (1991) And this was worse but not unexpected. He looks like Jerry Garcia on the cover and except for one of his second tier classics, "The Other Side Of Summer", and one in which his new found strings and all constructs actually works, "Harpies Bizarre", this is a disaster Personal nadir? "Sweet Pear" – Grade: C-
When I Was Cruel (2002) – When his audience got just too sick of composerly, Costello has always been able to return to his signature organ pounding, angry young man songs. He did it on Blood And Chocolate and he did it with Brutal Youth. But third time out and it didn't work at all. The worst moment was when he derailed "Episodes Of Blonde". Or maybe the song the Bangles covered – Grade: D
National Ransom (2010) – Most of the time, even at his worst, there will be a handful of songs that Costello can hang his head on. If we are left trying to excuse this overplayed disaster, a take on the 2009 Recession, with "Five Little Words", it is gonna be a long century. A complete abomination – Grade: D
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