The Stranglers: IV Rattus Norvegicus (United Artists)

THERE'S LITTLE DOUBT that while the first batch of British new wave albums were by the more outrageous elements, and somehow seemed to rely on volume and message as opposed to musical content, the second wave, so far represented by The Stranglers and The Jam (neither of whom seem to have claimed to be punks, although I'm sure they welcome the publicity aspects attached there-to), have the ability to both write tunes and play their instruments to at least an acceptable level.