The term "cult hero" was practically created for Anton Barbeau, whose surrealist yet melodious psychedelic guitar pop bears the stamp of predecessors like XTC, Syd Barrett, Julian Cope, and Robyn Hitchcock. He first gained traction in the pop underground in 1994 after his debut long-player, The Horse's Tongue, took home the Sammie (Sacramento Area Music Awards) for album of the year. Since then, he has released a steady stream of acclaimed albums, including Drug Free, In the Village of the Apple Sun, Manbird, and Power Pop!!!, and has collaborated with members of XTC, the Soft Boys, the Bevis Frond, Cake, the Loud Family, Elf Power, and the Corner Laughers, among others.