A.c. Newman, "the Slow Wonder"

Don't be fooled by his unfamiliar moniker: A.C. Newman is actually Carl Newman, guitarist/vocalist in the late '90s indie band Zumpano and, more recently, the founder and leader of the New Pornographers. As resourceful as he is talented, the redhead earned a grant from the Canadian government and recorded his solo bow, "The Slow Wonder."

Unsurprisingly, "Wonder" often shimmies with the trademarks of Newman's current band. Pristine male-female harmonies, spunky chords and catchy choruses abound; the stern cello- and chirpy piano-driven "The Town Halo" and uptempo "On The Table" especially resemble the NPs, albeit on a muted scale. However, Newman's deviations from the jaunty hooks he favors with his Canadian compatriots are much more rewarding. "The Battle for Straight Time" meshes fuzzed-out riffs with a distressed flute melody, "Most of Us Prizefighters" twangs like a dingy country tune and "Drink To Me, Babe, Then" is a languid, Shins-esque pop nugget.

Hearing Newman wail on choruses without honky-tonk siren Neko Case can be jarring, especially since his distinctive, quasi-falsetto yelps beg for her rich vocal timbre. Still, she isn't missed at all on the hands-down highlight "Come Crash." The tune sounds like dizzying British indie rock My Bloody Valentine might have made had it toned down the feedback roar, as a winsome female voice intertwines with Newman's to plead, "Christine, come crash on my floor."

Such experiments hammer home the fact that "Wonder" isn't as immediately accessible as any New Pornographers album, which may turn off some fans looking for another set of sugar-coated rock. Nevertheless, these compositions also demonstrate Newman's immense talent, which ensures any monotonous patches on the album are quickly redeemed by far more interesting sonic departures.