When the first notes of first track "Burning" come through the speakers, you're expecting a subdued affair. Then, Mandrew - nom de rock of St. Paul's Mike Andrew - suddenly turns up the volume, and chaos briefly reigns. All is not what it seems.
Which is not to say that Mandrew doesn't do subtle - "Expanding The Collection" is an especially sweet, Teenage Fanclub-like pop song - it's just that he knows exactly when to throw a curveball.
Sometimes the curveball is subtle, as in "Your Turn," which on the surface seems like a standard-issue pop number, but is filled with enough distortion and pathos to throw you off guard.
More often than not, however, the curveball starts right away, as in "Hot Wax," which at first glance sounds like a dark rhumba, and quickly becomes pop utopia, complete with handclaps and a ready-made melody.
The word "pop" has now appeared three times in this review (okay, now four), but it's unavoidable. There's no other word for "The Wonderful World of Mandrew," and that's a very good thing. Though Andrew knows his way around a studio, he keeps the songs simple and solid, throwing the occasional dressing on top for texture.
By the time you reach the end of "The Wonderful World of Mandrew," you'll feel like you need another listen, which is the record's greatest feature. "Leave 'em wanting more," goes the saying, and since this disc's best qualities are subtle, you'll need a few spins. This is a good thing.
www.myspace.com/mandrewmusic
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