Tom Waits and Elvis Costello get all the props, but fellow veteran eccentric Robyn Hitchcock's recent work is easily as consistent as theirs. This time out, the British singer-songwriter tapped three R.E.M.-related players guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Scott McCaughey and drummer Bill Rieflin to be his band. Hitchcock brings Hollies-ish harmonies, horns and tastefully distorted guitars to 'Saturday Groovers' and a Western twang to 'Hurry for the Sky.' His dark, absurdist wit is intact: 'Pharaoh's tomb is empty now,' he sings, 'you can come right in, bandage up your grin, bandage up your sin.' --rollingstone.com