Stephen Kalinich & Jon Tiven "Shortcuts to Infinity/Yo Mam Ma/Symptomology"

(MsMusic) Two super veterans (Kalinich is a longtime Beach Boys collaborator/Tiven worked with Alex Chilton on his great early post-Big Star stuff) getting together and writing a bushel of songs and then sort of arranging them in album form, with the results being pleasantly schizophrenic. The less jokey stuff showcases diverse songwriting skills, fine vocals, and smidgens of subtlety. The punny joke folk material doesn't evoke too many smiles, but earns nods of appreciation for cleverness. Along the way odes to getting high, giving up, and payola may explain why these talented cats are not household names.