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Elvis Costello, the most acclaimed and successful New Wave (not "punk" rocker, has a largely entertaining but not satisfying album in Armed Forces (Columbia JC 35709).
There's a pleasing "fun" feel to many of the '50s- and '60s-sound songs, and his band, the Attractions, plays OK, a step or two above bare-bones but not as muscularly or as well as the Rumour, which backs the best New Waver, Graham Parker.
Nor is Costello as commanding a singer as Parker. He is, in fact, not a good singer, throaty, cramped and pushing, yet he's effective enough in the sparse settings.
Usually on either the melodic side of hard or the harder side of melodic, Costello and the Attractions do best on "Peace, Love and Understanding," "Goon Squad," "Accidents Will Happen" and strong ballad "Party Girl." There is, however, no equivalent of the quietly sardonic "Alison," his best-known song.
Costello's forte is clever, intelligent lyrics, but because he often sings them rapidly and because, as noted, he's not a good singer, they should be printed on the sleeve. This omission detracts from the whole disc.
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