Roy Wood

In 1973 Roy Wood released two albums: Wizzard Brew (with his band Wizzard) and Boulders. Both are excellent fusions of art rock and glam. But where the former is a two-megaton belly flop into a sea of sonic insanity, the latter is a collection of exquisitely crafted pop that's perfect for the highway. The record opens with one of Wood's most hummable tunes, the gospel-infused "Songs of Praise." From there he wanders through Brian Wilson-inspired bubblegum, faux rockabilly and even some country rock.

Wood puts his heart into his multitracking--even plays a robot and makes you feel for him (by which I mean the robot). Then, on the very next track, he impersonates a grandma picking dexterously if erratically on her banjo. These are conceits, but they're successful conceits--as substantial as Loudon Wainwright's, say, and more tuneful. And when they're Move-style conceits you can galumph to them. (Grade - A-)