For someone who fronted one of the most unbecomingly gooey of early MTV-era British bands, Haircut 100, Nick Heyward has made some appealingly unassuming moves since. The Apple Bed carries on the Britishisms of 1993"s From Monday to Sunday in a slightly harder-rocking package that speaks to Heyward"s obvious admiration of both the Beatles--whose "She"s Leaving Home" is cannily reshaped in the chorus of "Stars in Her Eyes"--and newer followers like Oasis. Thoroughly lightweight, this is also a believably personal tip of the hat from a man who still cares a lot about this music. --Rickey Wright