Go!

Chris Von Sneidern’s third album, 1996′s Go!, is probably the only one of his albums that fits comfortably in the popular definition of power pop: artists who sound a little bit like Badfinger. There are fewer of Von Sneidern’s usual stylistic experiments and a lot more simple (but not simplistic) guitar-heavy pop songs. The opening “Blinded Eyes” kicks things off with a strong chorus and nagging hook, and the ten songs that follow are uniformly fine. Most importantly, on this album, Von Sneidern seems to recognize the value of brevity; only two of the 11 songs, “North Country Girl” (an original, not the folk song) and “Thru the Mirror,” break the four-minute barrier. After the slightly overstuffed Sight and Sound and Big White Lies, the new emphasis on streamlined material is refreshing, and helps combat the listening fatigue that occasionally hampers enjoyment of Von Sneidern’s albums. – Stewart Mason