Moo, You Bloody Choir | Sony BMG

The previous releases by this Melbourne, Australia quartet have all been pleasant in that almost interesting way that inspires listens, but not purchases, so when I heard that the latest goofy-titled release garnered four ARIA nominations (Australia’s version of the Grammys, and don’t sniff because they tend to identify actual good music more than mere bestsellers) and the 2006 Australian Music Prize, I thought maybe it was a down year for that nation’s musical output. Now that the release is available stateside, however, I believe the fuss is clearly earned. The compositions manage to be unambiguously rock without treading any tired ground, even as the band recalls such recognizable outfits as Del Amitri and U2. Singer-songwriter Glenn Richards establishes himself as a troubadour worth watching, making lyrics at times as sardonic and lovely as The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy and even attaining the same comforting and poetic expression as Bob Dylan in transcendent moments. “One Crowded Hour” and “The Cold Acre” are the most satisfying entry points, but the layers and strange turns of “Thin Captain Crackers” and “Clockwork” open up a window to the talent beneath the surface. The group will close out its U.S. tour in San Francisco on Oct. 5, at Slim’s.

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