In Your Bright Ray

As antipodal exports, the Bee Gees might enjoy greater recognition, but two lesser-knowns have generated the real thunder down under. New Zealander Chris Knox and Australian Grant McLennan have paced contemporary Brit sounds both in their bands (the Tall Dwarves and the Go-Betweens, respectively) and solo projects — often bettering their U.K. counterparts. Yes!! is a mixed bag, from which Knox draws bits of Robyn Hitchcock and Billy Bragg; In Your Bright Ray is a gentler effort, fusing the best elements of Richard Thompson and Elvis Costello. B+