The Apples In Stereo — Electronic Projects For Musicians

After listening to this odds 'n' ends disc it's clear that AIS have grabbed They Might Be Giants' mantle as kings of the pop ditty. Like the Giants, Robert Schneider effortlessly wrings out smart pop gems even out of his throw-away material. The surprising thing about Electronic Projects For Musicians is how well it fits together, as the first half-dozen songs — including "Shine" and "Onto Something" — flow effortlessly as if they came from a single recording session. The end of the CD tacks on a couple of charming novelty songs — the Stephen Colbert salute "Stephen Stephen" and "The Apples In Stereo Theme." The only letdown here is Schneider's demo-y material in the middle section of the disc, making this a surprisingly solid follow-up to 2007's stellar New Magnetic Wonder.