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Elvis Costello - Spike

Mark Cooper, Q, March 1989

ELVIS COSTELLO'S LAST two albums were released back in 1986. Despite their excellence, the combination of King Of America and Blood & Chocolate suggested that while Elvis still had the songs, he was no longer sure where he stood. While Costello spent the mid-'80s playing with his identity and exploring various musical styles, he was in danger of becoming merely familiar. The tigerish irritant of My Aim Is True was becoming a good old boy, universally admired and yet with his teeth blunted by approval.

Total word count of piece: 513

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