Pop Art's music has a lot more substance and sophistication than "pop art - so one figures they came up with the name as a logical mid-point where pop meets art rather than as a reference to the disposable art form. This Southern California foursome is led by the three Steinhart brothers, with two of the three, Jeff and Rich, sharing all the guitar chores. They spruce up the band's brand of snappy pop by applying jazzy/folky elements like those often present in the music of 10,000 Maniacs or Aztec Camera-for a taste of the guitar sound, try the solo piece "Strumpupphallningsupparat." The band has called in Steve Weisbud to handle the drumming, and if they're smart, they'll ask him to join the group - Weisbud keeps lively rhythms throughout, and pushes the beat along by mixing in crisp shuffle patterns and quick rolls instead of just laying down a standard 4/4. Brother Dave Steinhart is the lead singer/main songwriter, whose poetic/romantic words are delivered in a style generally associated with Morrisey and Michael Stipe (y'know, with a cadence that is forever gliding, dipping and soaring) but with a certain vulnerability (inexperience?) and warmth not usually displayed by those two. Snap Crackle Pop Art, produced by Ethan "Radio Tokyo" James, offers sixteen tunes worth of top notch pop that snaps, crackles and pops with style. Try "Light Blue Pictures," "Bullets," "No Fire," "Never No," "Subsiding" and "Under Yow Glove."

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