Har Mar Superstar – The Handler

As Har Mar Superstar, Sean Tillman-a short, fat Minnesotan who strips to leopard-print thong and socks to deliver lewd R&B songs over backing tracks-suggests a joke funny only once. His second UK release strips away much of the ironic cladding of his 2002 debut, exposing his superb white R&B voice, accomplished rapping and groovy pop songs. Pristine production renders this as vital as anything by Justin Timberlake, and the reinvention of “Alone Again, Naturally” is a revelation. Wisely, Har Mar has now gone beyond the joke.