Listening to Elephant 6 veterans The Apples in Stereo can be like a trip inside Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. If you’re not careful, you’ll wind up with a mouthful of cavities and a stomachache.

Previous efforts have found frontman and lead guitarist Robert Schneider waxing down his surf board and attempting to emulate the fruitful mid-period of his beloved Beach Boys. But on “Velocity of Sound” (Spinart), he and his cheery cohorts in The Apples in Stereo strip away the layers of ‘60s pop, and instead head out to the garage and crank out 10 fuzzed-out, concise, sugar-coated, power-pop tunes with hit-and-miss results.

The proof is in the pudding on the first two tracks- “Please” and “Rainfall.” Both tunes are catchy, poptagious tunes that come out of the gate rocking, with “Rainfall” featuring the infectious, chipmunk-like vocals of drummer Hilarie Sidney. “Please,” the album’s first track, finds Schneider’s helium-induced vocals beside the feverish, spaced-out, lo-fi buzz of his band mates, warranting it repeat listens.

The lyrics of “Velocity of Sound” as a whole leave something to be desired. The simple sentiments of Sidney’s other contributions, “I Want” (“Something/ I want something”) and the I-hang-out-with-the-uncool-kids message of “That’s Something I Do,” along with most of the album, come off as bland, hyperactive, therapeutic after-school-garage rock Schneider probably made as a teen, instead of the pop bliss he’s tried to make with recent attempts in his adult life.

The 11 songs comprising “Velocity of Sound” (including bonus track “She’s Telling Lies”) are straightforward and one-dimensional, and although the songs of The Apples in Stereo can leave listeners with the effects of a sugar rush, Schneider and company fail to deliver the goods, leaving fans of the band still in search of their elusive golden ticket.