A.C. Newman

After the sugary rush of the New Pornographers’ first two records, the solo exploits of the band’s primary songwriter, A.C. Newman, seem somewhat anemic at first. But what Newman’s recently released The Slow Wonder really represents is a chance for his songwriting to catch its breath and sigh. Despite moods as blue as its AM hooks are sublime, the perfect pop of Wonder sticks to the ribs in a way that the Pornographers’ wares can’t — seducing by insidious degrees instead of flashing an eyeful of colorful thong — something your dad will dig as much as, if not more than, your music-blogging hipster homies.