Aural Fixations

ED HARCOURT
Strangers
(Astralwerks)
It may be hard for anyone who automatically pukes at the sound of James Taylor or Jackson Browne to believe, but the so-called singer/songwriter movement of the 70s produced some excellent, even cool music. Visionary artists like Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell and, yes, Elton John came to prominence during that much-maligned decade, often touted side-by-side with the Taylors and Chapins of the world, even though they had little in common. And while it may not seem so from the army of earnest, acoustic guitar-wielding neofolkies trooping through your local acoustic nightclub, there are young singer/songwriters on the scene today who recall the best and brightest of long ago. For example: Ed Harcourt. (more)

SHOOTER JENNINGS
Put the O Back in Country
(Universal South)
There's been a lot of railing at the country music establishment the past few years, as artists sick of the soft rock pap fed to the masses try to break the bonds of Nashville orthodoxy (i.e. "if it sells, it's country"). Most of it's just pissing in the wind, of course, since the Nashville brass don't bother to acknowledge the carping as long as they continue counting dollar signs. But the tides are slowly turning, and some of these artists are being heard. Of course, it helps your case if you're (a) a scion of a legendary country music outlaw and (b) have the talent to back up your big mouth. (more)

MANIC STREET PREACHERS
The Holy Bible
(Epic/Legacy)
Superstars in the U.K., Wales' Manic Street Preachers have never managed to build more than a small (but devoted) cult following in the United States. Indeed, its third album The Holy Bible, considered by many to be the band's best, was never released in the colonies. So it's surprising that Legacy decided to give the 1994 record the super-deluxe reissue treatment here. (more)

THE WONDER STUFF
Escape From Rubbish Island
(GiG/irl)
Escape From Rubbish Island is the first album in a dozen years from U.K. stars/U.S. cult figures the Wonder Stuff, and a high profile return for the brilliant songwriting of bandleader Miles Hunt. Hunt's particular genius is a witty, distinctive combination of darkly comic self-deprecation and brash, cheeky arrogance, all wedded to exceptionally melodic, instantly catchy guitar pop. (more)