World Is Your Lobster, The

And so the most exhilarating comeback of the century continues. Martin Gordon (via Jet and Radio Stars) was responsible for one of the most consistently contagious soundtracks of the mid-to late 1970s, a little less po-facedly than the majority of his peers it is true, but still his lyrics and to-die-for hooks remain among the era's most dynamic. And then -- nothing...for twelve months, for a decade, for twenty-something years, until he finally put stylus to vinyl again and all was right with the world once more. His fourth all-new album in five years, The World Is Your Lobster of course is highlighted by Gordon's now-traditional touchstones of Gilbert & Sullivan and the Beatles, the latter via a truly rip-roaring "Hey Bulldog," complete with interrupting barking and a riff that could hump your leg all night. And that sets the scene for the remainder of the album, as the lobster emerges with all claws waving, a snapping, snarling nest of savage guitar lines that kick off with the primal Kinks krunch of "Pop Goes Bang," speeds on to ask "What Would Jesus Drive?," and positively blazes through the über-prog absurdity of "My Dog's Got No Nose." It's not all noise. "He Was the Best," a tribute to fallen footballer George Best, has a boozily fist-pounding aura all of its own, while "Mirror Mirror" and a maddeningly mental romp through "A Policeman's Lot Is Not a Happy One" defy you not to start singing along. "No More Limbo" could be a late-'70s 10cc classic, and "Witch Came First" could have been a Radio Stars A-side. And on and on for 15 songs that might well prove to be the most solid collection Gordon has unleashed so far, a surf and turf smorgasbord of esoteric brilliance, lashed through with more hooklines, humor and howl-along choruses than most writers can muster in a lifetime. So it's business as usual, then, Martin? ~ Dave Thompson|