Always a pleasure @slaw
Dive in on Van. You can hardly go wrong.
Some favorites at this particular moment (could change in 5 minutes):
Keep It Simple
The Healing Game
Back On Top
Veedon Fleece
Poetic Champions
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Into The Music (vinyl) coming up next but I gotta go eat.
I think there is some truth in what you say re the critic having "a musical life without joy"...a well-turned phrase. Exceptions I’m sure but something about that statement does resonate with me. Seems like an occupational hazard maybe.