Adam Green & Binki Shapiro

PAdam is that guy you know from The Moldy Peaches. His newest collaboration with Little Joy's Binki Shapiro seems like a move out of Beck's or M. Ward's playbook of getting close to hot chicks. Not to belittle the singers, but historically, men do some crazy stuff to woo for beautiful women.

In this new collective, Adam strays from his too-precious "anti-folk" and does a retro garage-pop series of duets with lots of lilting piano and echo chambers. And with some exceptions, the songs are straightforward mellow romantic pop. ("What's the Reward" does include a pretty awesome surf break.) The addition of harpsichords, organs, bells (and in the case of "Pity Love", a great walking bass line) give the album a fireside Christmas feel. As if Brian Wilson grew up in Minnesota.

At 28 minutes, it's a perfect record to play while cooking a romantic meal for two together. It's going to bore the tears out of some people who strive for more challenging music, but there's something to be said for quaint beauty.

The exception to all of this is the single. The glorious sunshine pop "Just to Make Me Feel Good", which could be The New Pornographers covering "Heroes".  It's the biggest sounding song on a record full of minature songs, but it fits. (4 of 5 stars)