Unfocused Follow-Up From John Wesley Harding : *** : JOHN WESLEY HARDING : “The Name Above the Title” : <i> Sire/Reprise</i>

Your generosity is appreciated, Wes--13 original songs, plus two interesting fragments and a fun version of Tommy James’ “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” And your gift for instant composition and off-the-cuff couplets continues to impress. But you shouldn’t have. Really.

These amiable attributes are great on the stage, but on record a little judicious stinginess is called for. As with last year’s promising but sprawling debut album “Here Comes the Groom,” it’s hard not to wonder what more focus and attentiveness would have done for the best songs in this opus.

First suggestion: The more something sounds like Elvis Costello, the more it should be thrown out. That means losing some pretty good ones, but those vocal mannerisms--not to mention the presence of the Attractions rhythm section--already draw more than enough attention to the influence.

That would leave maybe 10 fine numbers that would be even finer if they were all given the kind of care that created the distinctive brass-driven folk-funk groove worked up on “Bridegroom Blues,” the winking wit of “The World (And All It’s Problems)” and the sweet, sorrowful wistfulness of “Backing Out.” On the other hand, there are 10 worthy songs here, and these days that’s a rare feat.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic.)