I give up trying to figure out Elvis Costello.

The three releases from 1977 to 1979 are vital gems of passionate angst and original vulnerability that launched him to fringe-god status.

But in the last 24 years, Costello spread himself thin, dabbling in genres from ho-nky-tonk to impractical duets with Burt Bacharach. With the exception of 1986’s “Blood and Chocolate” and last year’s “When I Was Cruel,” the true Elvis has left the building.

Some time over his Hall Of Fame career, the ability, or maybe desire, to maintain the spirit of punk disappeared.

It is admirable when artists branch out to explore various styles. Applauding the intentions and the product is not the same.

On his latest release, “North,” Costello ventures his furthest into jazz. The 11 tracks were composed and conducted by Costello.

The difficult notes and phrasing leave Costello more vocally exposed than his Bacharach experiments, often leaving him straining.

On tracks like “Let Me Tell You About Her” and “You Turned To Me,” the balladeer explores the familiar concept of infatuation.

The focus of “North,” however, is the music, not Costello. Though highly sophisticated with delicate arrangements of horns and strings, the jazzy explorations come and go before scratching the surface.

“North” is a vanity project to entertain a musician bored with the formula of past successes.

This album should be music for candlelight vigils. Maybe you can hold one in memory of the former Elvis Costello.