Jordan: The Comeback is Prefab Sprout's crowning moment, a pop album whose ambition--and achievement--challenge and ultimately top those of, say, XTC's Skylarking. Group mastermind Paddy McAloon covers the gamut here, ranging from incisive takes on American legends (Elvis and Jesse James) to love songs both wistful ("We Let the Stars Go") and self-assured ("Looking for Atlantis"). Jordan climaxes with "One of the Broken," a singular plea for compassion in which McAloon assumes the character of none other than God. --Rickey Wright