Sigh. We have to admit, listening to Ron Sexsmith CDs is starting to depress us.

It's not that he's depressing. Or untalented; far from it, this rumpled Toronto troubadour is one of the finest songwriters on the planet, a romantic tunesmith on par with the likes of Paul McCartney, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman or Elvis Costello.

But that, sadly, is the trouble: He's an Elvis Costello in a Britney Spears world. So even though he has spent the last decade producing magnificently crafted, artfully executed albums that critics rave about and cognoscenti covet, he sells fewer records than this week's TV talent-show pan-flash.

We'd love to say that Retriever, his seventh studio set, is sure to rectify that deplorable disparity. But frankly, we'd be kidding ourselves. Don't get us wrong; this gorgeous and nostalgic disc is yet another stunning and superlative effort, with a dozen lushly appointed, sonically seductive pop masterpieces soaked in melancholy melody and dripping with poignant longing. And Ron's boyish, butterscotch pipes have never sounded stronger or more self-assured. But ultimately, it's just another superb Sexsmith album that will probably fall on deaf ears.

Bottom line: Unless he hooks up with The Neptunes or gets someone like Norah Jones to cover one of his cuts, Sexsmith seems doomed to be the best songwriter most people have never heard. Sigh.

Track Listing
1. Hard Bargain
2. Imaginary Friends
3. Not About to Lose
4. Tomorrow in Her Eyes
5. From Now On
6. For the Driver
7. Wishing Wells
8. Whatever It Takes
9. Dandelion Wine
10. Happiness
11. How on Earth
12. I Know It Well