POP ART ELECTRIFIED

“LONG WALK TO NOWHERE.” Pop Art. Stonegarden. The guitars of this San Fernando Valley quintet have undergone some serious electrifying since last year’s acoustic-oriented “A Perfect Mental Picture.” But Jeff Steinhart’s music, bursting merrily at the seams with the influences of Peter, Paul & Mary and Simon & Garfunkel, remains in the wings while brother Dave Steinhart’s lucid vocals take center stage. His vocal style is more world-weary than haughty, perfect for showcasing his skillfully crafted lyrics. While it may be tempting to dismiss Steinhart as a guy with a heavy chip on his shoulder when you hear such compelling downers as “Hands and Triggers” and “Relatives,” he also projects a more hopeful side with introspective, elegantly metaphorical tales of philosophical renewal like “Really Blind Faith” and the title cut.