Not so with Elevator. Though the arrangements are only somewhat softened, they're now largely honed to traditional pop and new wave melodies -- think XTC, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, even Squeeze. It might lead some haters to note that DeCaro left the band after recording was finished. But from the date-dumping snap of "Goodnight Goodnight" ("You're embarrassing me") to the gothy swoon of "Elevator" ("Don't take me up/I'll only find my way back down"), the combination of trad-pop classicism and new-rock mannerism (those mewling vocals!) should win these Canadians at least another season far from the "Middle of Nowhere" that they know so well.