John Wesley Harding is not making a modest comeback. Returning to recording after publishing a pair of books ("Misfortune," "by George"), the British-born troubadour has enlisted an impressive support cast for his 14th album, using the Minus Five as his primary band and such musicians as Kelly Hogan, Earl Slick, Candy Butchers' Mike Viola and Los Lobos' Steve Berlin as featured guests. The resulting tracks are all over the musical map—some "Revolver"-era Beatles here, a bit of early Elvis Costello there, with country, Greenwich Village folk and Bacharach-style classicism to boot. Harding's lyrics are typically wry and acerbic, with plenty of narrative twists: A street busker gets busted for necrophilia in "Top of the Bottom" and God serenades Satan in "My Favourite Angel." It's a rich, engaging set that reveals something new with each listen. —Gary Graff