Elvis Costello - The Right Spectacle (DVD, 2005)

Since hitting the scene in the late 1970s, Elvis Costello (along with his band, The Attractions) has been both popular with knowledgeable music fans and enormously influential, and this collection brings together a treasure trove of material from the beloved, bespectacled, and extremely talented rock icon. The fascinating evolution of his brand of eclectic, geeky-yet-cool rock and bracingly intelligent lyrics is on full display here, as 27 of his music videos are arranged chronologically (from 1978 to 1994, when he made his last video for Warner). Costello's early videos are a bit rough around the edges, but the terrific songs always sustain them, and they provide a fascinating look at his less polished early persona. His later videos are often visually excellent in their own right; highlights are the lovely black-and-white "New Lace Sleeves," the odd and intense "I Wanna Be Loved," and "Veronica," which emphasizes the originally intended and often overlooked meaning behind one of Costello's most popular songs. Each video has optional commentary from the artist, who is alternately thoughtful and hilarious here (like many of us, Costello looks back at the clothing of the 1980s and winces). Always prolific and unusually generous with his material, Costello also includes 18 additional videos of rare live television performances. Taken all together, this collection is thorough enough to satisfy even the most ardent fans, and good enough to convert casual ones.