NEW RELEASES : In Brief

** 1/2 The Manhattan Transfer, “The Offbeat of Avenues,” Columbia. There are no real grabbers here. While dabbling and experimenting in many genres--jazz, pop, R&B;, Brazilian music--the best vocal group in the business doesn’t come up with any dazzling results. What’s missing is what they do best: a cover of one of those obscure ‘50s doo-wop tunes with Alan Paul doing some of his matchless crooning or one of those perky ‘40s swing numbers they sing at breakneck speed. Excellent vocals but dull material.

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