XTC

On this 1986 masterpiece, XTC combine their pastoral English folk side with the retro Beatles-eque psych pop of their Dukes of Stratosphere side project. Heavy FM radio play for "Earn Enough for Us" and "Dear God" (a surprise hit, this B-side was later added to the LP). Just lovely, with Moulding and Patridge's contributions seamlessly forming a summer concept album.

Imagine Sgt. Pepper if McCartney hadn't needed Lennon--if he hadn't been such a wet--and you'll get an inkling of what these insular popsters have damn near pulled off. Granted, there's barely a hint of overarching significance, but after all, this isn't 1967. With Todd Rundgren sequencing and twiddling those knobs, they continue strong for the first nine or ten (out of fourteen) songs. Only when the topics become darker and more cosmic do they clutter things with sound and whimsy; as long as they content themselves with leisurely, Shelleyan evocations of summer love and the four seasons, they'll draw you into their world if you give them the chance--most enticingly on a song called "Grass," about something good to do there. (Grade - A-)