AC Newman - ‘The Slow Wonder’ (Matador) Released 07/06/04

Formerly of the splendidly entitled New Pornographers, ‘The Slow Wonder’ sees AC back with a trademark power pop solo effort that deserves to drape a warm, fuzzy, good feeling over your summer.

A million miles away from the bubblegum rock of Fountains of Wayne, from the outset this firmly marks out its mature intentions with the infectious ‘Miracle Drug’.  'Rumours' era Fleetwood Mac offset by a low key Elliot Smith nod, it’s a stunning start.  Hot on its heels is ‘Drink to Me, Babe, Then’, a perfect specimen of twisted, psychedelic pop with a country twang, as it becomes clear that TSW has classic alt-American pretensions in the same vein as Wilco’s ‘Summer Teeth’. 

And it only gets better.  ‘On The Table’, is a real piano driven stomper that Ben Folds could only dream of writing whilst ‘The Town Halo’ manages to pull off the feat of sounding wonderfully familiar but strangely peerless at the same time. 

A fascinating insight into what Rivers Cuomo might produce in ten years time, this is an album that gets better upon each listen as new sounds and song dynamics are joyously stumbled across.   A real treat!