Steve Barton, the leader behind college rock power-poppers Translator has released a few solo albums over the past decade, and Projector is his latest. Written in part after the death of his father, the songs have a rougher, rawer edge in comparison to his previous releases, due in part to a decision that he made to record the songs to 4-track, play all instruments himself, and record quickly. Thus, there’s a level of dirtiness and darkness to the proceedings. If you’re looking for the 60s-tinged pop that he’s known for, you might not find what you’re looking for. Sure, there are hints here and there, such as “These 4 Walls” and “Bowie Girl,” but the darker moments, such as “Mojave Phone Booth” and “Cut the Rope,” will move you. Then there are the moments of beauty, such as the gorgeous “Elegy in D Barton” and the plaintive “This Is Where Tomorrow Ends.” Projector is a quiet, sublime, touching album, the result of a creative risk that paid off.
