Tom Waits and Elvis Costello get all the props, but fellow veteran eccentric Robyn Hitchcock's recent work is easily as consistent as theirs. This time out, the British singer-songwriter tapped three R.E.M.-related players — guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Scott McCaughey and drummer Bill Rieflin — to be his band. Hitchcock brings Hollies-ish harmonies, horns and tastefully distorted guitars to "Saturday Groovers" and a Western twang to "Hurry for the Sky." His dark, absurdist wit is intact: "Pharaoh's tomb is empty now," he sings, "you can come right in, bandage up your grin, bandage up your sin."