>   And now for a horse of a different color, Bevis Frond. Where to 
> start?
> Do I start?  Anyone?  I keep seeing their name pop up over the years 
> but
> never took the plunge.

It depends on your tolerance for long acid-rock guitar solos. Nick 
Saloman (who *is* the Bevis Frond, although he's been working with a 
rhythm section recently) is obsessed with three things: '65-'69 
psychedelia, London, and his own increasing age and disengagement with 
what passes for the pop mainstream.  He can be an absolutely brilliant 
songwriter, but while there's at least two fantastic songs per album, 
there's also usually at least a couple of endurance-testing guitar 
freakout wankfests.  I think that if you own at least a couple of solo 
Richard Thompson, Yo La Tengo and Love albums, you'll get behind the 
Frond.

NEW RIVER HEAD, recently reissued on Rubric in an expanded two-disc 
edition, is the masterpiece.
>
>      Last year John Cale put out a great pop disc. This year many 
> are
> singing Brian Wilson's praise for SMILE. So, now I hear Elton John 
> is
> getting some praise for his latest disc. He's going for a return to 
> his
> earlier sound. Has anyone heard it. As I've mentioned, I love his 
> early work
> but stiiiiiiiiill, I'm oh so very cautious about jumping in feet 
> first on
> this one, without a push. Anyone?

I heard this was a return to the TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION sound more than 
it was anything else.  Personally, I'm not that much on that 
particular album.

S