Marbles - Expo

Expo is what you’d expect from the main songwriter of The Apples in Stereo--fuzzy, synth-driven slices of 60’s psychedelic-pop seething with so much sugar that your dentist won’t need many listeners to keep him in business. Robert Schneider has been doing this sort of thing for over a decade, and he’s one of the best in the game. This is his second solo excursion as Marbles, with the first being 1997’s Pyramid Landing and Other Favorites. If you’d never heard of Marbles, and you took one listen to this, assuming it to be The Apples wouldn’t really a crime. But when you put the two side by side, you notice the differences. Schneider relies much more on synthesizers, drum machines, and other various sounds employed electronically. Is it teeming with sun-drenched bliss like The Apples in Stereo? You bet. I can’t say there’s a letdown on the record, besides the fact that it goes by all to quickly. Any fan of Schneider’s more well-known work will enjoy Expo, as his dreamy vocals lead both bands. While it’s a step down from his output with others having their say, the record is, at worst, a holdover until we get another record from the full band. [www.spinartrecords.com]