Night and Day is Joe Jackson's strongest album, the first on which his ambition, craft and feistiness have fused into a coherent, emotionally charged statement. His earlier albums sounded a bit too calculated to be trusted, and there are moments when Night and Day lapses into glib social commentary. But for the most part, Jackson poses a series of musical questions on such subjects as technology,...

The maturation of Joe Jackson as an artist over the last few years has been very impressive to watch. From ranking second or third in the "angry young man" class of British rockers behind star student Elvis Costello, he has progressed to being a very personal singer and songwriter and a composer of extended musical pieces that reveal broad skills and even broader ambitions. If Jackson hasn't...