New Magnetic Wonder

After several long years, The Apples in Stereo have finally put out a new album. The last one VELOCITY OF SOUND was a fuzzed out, electric power popper that you either loved (like me) or hated (like everyone I've ever let hear it). The Apples are always at their best when they channel 60's ear pop bands (Beatles, Beach Boys, Turtles, Raspberries, Herman's Hermits, Mommas and the Papas, etc.) and VELOCITY OF SOUND was almost a little too punk-ish. Or at least, the Apples attempt at a harder punk sound.

NEW MAGNETIC WONDER returns the band to psychedelic rock--and that's where they belong. The album begins curiously, with a synth-ish voice saying "Turn up the stereo." The first time I heard this (which is used on several of the smaller "micro-tracks" peppered throughout the album) I thought "What the hell is that?" It really is a different type of production this time around. The overall album has 24 tracks. Of these, 14 are actual songs...the other 10 are short little Pollard-esque ditties/oddities/album fillers that add a cohesiveness to the record (but are nonetheless not really needed). I like an occasional interlude, but after a while (like maybe the first 5) aren't you just being pretentious?

The actual songs, though, rock. Standouts include the brilliant single (and A&E commercial jingle) "Energy" as well as "Skyway," "Can You Feel It?," "Same Old Drag," "7 Stars," and "Open Eyes." The previously mentioned "Energy" is one of the best songs, no I take that back--it is the best song I've heard in 10 years. It's a brilliant ear worm, with a catchy hook and Lennon-inspired message of "everything is going to be alright." Nice. The "Tin Pin Alley"-type song "Play Rough" is very "Hey Jude"-ish. But that's where the Beatles influence stops. Amazingly, the Apples made an ELO record. Listen to "The Same Old Drag" and it's piano opening. The synth-ed out backing vocals? It's all there. That's the ghost of Jeff Lynn you're hearing, and it haunts them for the rest of the album. Interesting.

Though it could have been trimmed and tightened (I'd have cut 4-6 tracks) NEW MAGNETIC WONDER works as an overall concept "album." By that I don't mean there is a prog-rock story line (or anything like that)...rather, what the Apples in Stereo have done is build a series of songs that are great stand alone, but are infinitely better when played in sequence. Much like The Beatle's MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. Some could argue that a song that depends on another (and another) to exist is a weak song...others call that album making. The album is a dying art, especially in this day and age of i-Tunes downloads (and the single cherry picking that it brings). I still think the album is the music world's version of the novel. Thanks to the Apples in Stereo, the novels not dead yet.

Jason gives NEW MAGNETIC WONDER a B+