Under the Wishing Tree
The only redeeming thing about the demise of the Arc Angels, who flamed out in classic drugs-and-rock-&-roll fashion in 1994, is that they freed this preternaturally gifted 26-year-old to establish himself finally as a major-league star. Joined by a crew of Austin soulmates, Sexton delves for surprisingly mature, though restrained, and deceptively hard-hitting rockers unlike anything he's done before. Coproducer Malcolm Burn's risky and indelible spirit haunts the music, which conjures dreamy images of Dylan ("Billy"), Del Amitri ("Everyone Will Crawl"), Mellencamp ("Sunday Clothes") and ultimately no one but Sexton himself ("Neighborhood," "Wishing Tree").--Jeff Bateman