Aural Fixations

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. "Better Get Ready For a Fist Fight" is an excellent example; Hunt spends most of the tune beating himself up for his naiveté in the music business, but pauses to casually toss out the bon mot "Is it too much to be expected to be looked upon as great?" The ballad "Was I Meant to Be Sorry?" takes the opposite tack, going from the eye-rolling hubris of the title and first verse to deeply self-critical introspection. "Bile Chant" and the finger-pointing title cut (a direct attack on his home country of England) turn Hunt's scathing asides to bitter social commentary, while "Back to Work" matter-of-factly rips a relationship apart. Not everything induces wry grins, however. Despite its title, "Another Comic Tragedy" is fairly sorrowful, and the beautifully melodic but emotionally ugly "You Don't Know Who…" doesn't bother to leaven its anger with humor. "One Step at a Time," with its bright choruses and minor chord verses, seems to be a genuinely sincere ode to the power of positive thinking and its ability to change the world, however gradually. Musically the band is in top form, assaying wonderfully appealing power pop with energy and maturity, plus occasional unusual touches like the Middle Eastern harmonies of "Head Count" and the tin whistle accents in "Love's Ltd." Not only a fine return to form, Escape From Rubbish Island is one of the greatest records in the Wonder Stuff's exemplary catalog. Michael Toland [buy it]