The Times were one of many projects launched by Edward Ball, a vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in smart, sharply written pop tunes with lyrics that cast a wry and sometimes bitter gaze on U.K. popular culture. Ball first came to the attention of music fans in the late '70s as he partnered with Dan Treacy in a handful of recording projects (the Teenage Filmstars, the Missing Scientists, the O-Levels) that evolved into the Television Personalities, who gained a well-deserved cult following with tunes like "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape," "I Kno...