Four stars

THE man with one of the most distinctive voices on the planet today is back with his new album.

Declan Patrick McManus, aka Elvis Costello, returns to form (unless you thought he was never off form) with When I Was Cruel.

Recent collaborations with Burt Bacharach must have sparked something off for the 48 year old to make this 16-track triumph.

Over the past few years, Costello has sat back to become a king of ballads with the albums Painted from Memory and For the Stars but now he is back to his best.

Costello has teamed up again with members of The Attractions who he first recorded with on his second album This Year's Model way back in 1978.

And what a difference. Tracks from the album have everything you want from rock to soul to ballads.

It would be a definite five star album - only his voice really gets on my nerves.

MS