Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello re-teamed with the increasingly slick production team of Langer & Winstanley and cut the first weak album of his career. That said, Goodbye Cruel World is only weak by Costello's standards so strong tracks still abound. The flashy pop single "The Only Flame In Town" (a duet with Daryl Hall), the political lament "Peace In Our Time" and the bilious "The Deportees Club" come off best, while well-written cuts such as "The Comedians" and "Worthless Thing" deserved a better setting.

In these changing times it's good to know there are things we can rely on, so here's another solid if unspectacular effort from this thoughtful, hard-hitting, surprisingly tender singer-songwriter. Highlights include the lilting country cover "I Wanna Be Loved," the straight-to-the-point "Inch by Inch," and--who says there are no great protest songs any more?--"Peace in Our Time," which almost got him booed off Carson. (Grade - B+)