Fear not, fans of pure pop. For now, people, the Apples in Stereo aren’t “going electronica” on us. The title is just more of their impish sense of humor — Projects is really an odds ‘n’ sods collection of B-sides of singles, rarities, and a few previously unreleased songs.
Stylistically speaking, there aren’t any surprises here. It’s more of what these wise-Apples do so well, namely a perky with-a-shot-of-wry cocktail of 1960s bubblegum melodies, light psychedelia, and lo-fi punk-y pop. Imagine a more accomplished-sounding Television Personalities or a cross between the Partridge Family and Robert Pollard. There’s the mopey, angst-laden acoustic number (“Hold On to This Day”), the charming ballad dripping with sarcasm (“The Oasis”), and a crackling bit of a pop-culture tribute (“Stephen Stephen,” about The Colbert Report). “The Golden Flower” would’ve been a great album track (or B-side) for the Electric Light Orchestra, and the concluding “Dreams” is, with its dense, dreamy production and forlorn vocals, their grand finale.
Fans of the Elephant 6/Elf Power sphere are gonna be in orbit over this set. (YepRoc)
