‘Sunshine’ on Scotland : **** Great Balls of Fire *** Good Vibrations ** Maybe Baby * Running on Empty

THE PROCLAIMERS

“Sunshine on Leigh.” Chrysalis ***

Not to be confused with the romantic extremism and sonic assault of Scotland’s other Reid brothers (William and Jim, from the Jesus and Mary Chain), Charlie and Craig Reid write without apology or self-consciousness about politics and love, cushioning the themes with folk-dominated rock strains as warm and winning as a sunset.

“Cap in Hand” is an angry slap at social/political lethargy in their native land, but “What Do You Do?” (with its lonesome, steel guitar-assisted arrangement) is more typical of the Reids’ disarming approach. In the song, the twins, who share vocal and writing duties, express social frustration and disillusionment with musical colors as heartfelt and poignant as a Hank Williams ballad. Sample lines: “What do you do / When democracy’s all through? /What do you do / When minority means you?”

The Reids (whose arrangements now feature occasional rock textures rather than the primarily acoustic focus of their 1987 debut album) can be giddy (the schoolboy exuberance of “Oh Jean”), but they are most effective when they stick to that intimate style--as on the title tune (a delicate, McCartney-styled ballad about finding love) or “Sean” (a wonderfully affecting statement of blessings and joy triggered by the arrival of a baby in the family).

Much like Ireland’s Hothouse Flowers, the Proclaimers have yet to fully define their musical course, but there’s a spirit and an emotional purity at work that makes the music sound like something that came to us straight down an expressway from the heart.