With nearly 15 years of songwriting under his belt, Andy Matchett knows a thing or two about what he wants his art to accomplish. Unlike his past work with the dancey Monorail, on The Apple Tree Circle, Matchett & the Minks take aim at radio pop, crafting eleven catchy songs around his dramatic and emotive voice. The record, named after a childhood home, reflects a very personal feel and, despite the presence of a backing band, this is very much Andy Matchet’s solo project.

As the emotion flows, the energy wavers. The upbeat songs tend toward restless energy while the slower ones wallow into melodrama. “All This Time” utilizes big guitars that sweep in between the verses and, later, close it out in dramatic fashion as he bellows “I’ve been hiding all this time.” As the record progresses and Matchett bears his soul, a curious thing happens: The Apple Tree Circle becomes a pop record.

Phrases are frequently repeated with the intent of getting them stuck in your head. “Too Much Happiness” bounces off the walls with catchy energy as he sings “It could have been too much (too much) happiness…mind control/ oh-ay-oh.” Similarly, “Thoughtsalot (A Note to Bill Watterson)” supplies a peppy bassline countered with f-bombs and gloomy lyrics. Despite the subject matter, the catchiness remains its focal point, emphasized by the repetition: “It’s a tragedy when anybody sees their insides open wide (open wide).”

It can’t all be bouncy “la da das,” though. “Last Minute Love Song” has a bit of a James Taylor soft rock vibe, which is again echoed in “Window” and “(I’ll See You on) Monday.” His sentimentality and expressive voice dominate his songwriting, with a layer of instrumentation including piano and strings serving to fill out the sound and pace the record. The nuance in Matchett’s delivery gives a continuity that blends the above-mentioned styles relatively seamlessly. Unfortunately, Matchett’s penchant for melodrama gets a bit heavy on the slower songs.

While steeped in pop and adult-contemporary rock, Matchett mixes his influences to create an enigma that might be labeled as kitschy power pop, albeit with more personal substance your average radio fare.