The Apples in Stereo

Apple's leader Robert Schneider finds Electric Light Orchestra as a primary inspiration for the band's shimmering sixth record, and much here evokes Jeff Lynne's brilliantly puffy sugar-high pop. After kicking things off with the low-brow gallop of "Can You Feel It?" the record offers a tall pour of vocodered Fauntleroy embellishments, cowbell-hammered choruses and "Do Ya" style doo-wop backing vocals. On many of the tunes, Schneider claims to have used his newly invented "non-Pythagorean" scale. That must be the way the kids are saying "fancy pants" these days.

The Apples in Stereo were one of the Nineties' best indie-pop bands -- Colorado guys (and
one gal) making joyful, mildly psychedelic noise and writing better songs than most of their
like-minded peers. After five years, boy-voiced leader Bob Schneider and cohorts are
back with more of the retro-cool stuff they clearly love to pieces. No great departure from
earlier stuff, New Magnetic Wonder is full of bright melodies that veer between t... More >