In Brief

*** 1/2 XTC, “Apple Venus Volume 1,” TVT. After a seven-year hiatus, English pop eccentrics Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding return with an acoustic-orchestral collection (due Tuesday) that recalls XTC’s many pastoral moments. Lush, complex melodies color moods ranging from giddy (“I’d Like That”) to pensive (“I Can’t Own Her”), but Partridge’s wicked wordplay fails him on the sour “Your Dictionary.” Coming from the author of such double-edged pop gems as “Dear God,” this pointed rebuke of an unfaithful wife is surprisingly flat-footed.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.