“The Seldom Seen Kid” (Fiction/Geffen): A-
Less wussy than Coldplay and more accessible than Radiohead, it’s hard to fathom how stardom has eluded this British quintet. Like 2005’s triumphant “Leader of the Free World,” this is literate pop
music at its finest. Frontman Guy Garvey writes clever, insightful songs that he sells with his Daltry-like vocals. Pulp’s Richard Hawley co-writes and duets on the jaunty “The Fix,” where two giddy horseplayers anticipate beating the odds. “Weather to Fly” and “The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver” will break your heart. And for a guitar solo that will knock you off your feet, download “Grounds For Divorce.”
