Apples In Stereo

After the highly polished would-be cash grab that was last year’s New Magnetic Wonder, it’s a relief to have the Apples in Stereo back in familiarly kooky, lo-fi form. Granted, Electronic Projects for Musicians is merely a compilation of rarities and assorted leftovers from the past decade, but it’s so consistently strong that the band could probably have passed it off as an entirely new album. There exists the occasional throwaway that probably would have been best forgotten (the ill-conceived "Apples Theme Song,” yeesh!), but these are balanced with peppy, poppy, sunshine-y songs with the killer melodies the Apples have become so beloved for over the years. Check out "On Your Own” and "Man You Gotta Get Up"; both stand out, and stand up to some of the very best work the Apples in Stereo have done to date.