Aaron Sprinkle's producer credits are extensive. He's worked on projects for Anberlin, Falling Up, Emery, and dozens of other spectacular bands mainly associated with Tooth & Nail records. It seems when his hand is behind an album, the chances of its greatness are greatly increased. However, when he himself helms a release, it is especially great. In the early 2000's, Aaron delivered solid acoustic material, but, recently, his work with the alternative rock band Fair has been nothing short of fabulous. Now that he's solo once again for his latest release, Water & Guns, has anything changed?

Fair fans should breathe easy, because Water & Guns is the perfect sequel to Fair's Disappearing World. This project has all the piano driven indie pop charm from Fair with enough electronic flavor to keep it fresh and progressive. For example, the opener, "Heatstroke," strikes the perfect balance of piano pop/rock with an electronic influence that sets the tone beautifully. Although the synthesized music is often used in subtle, but masterful, brushstrokes across the album, sometimes it's a bit too noticeable. In the best way, Disappearing World felt very organic, but the synth-laden vocals in the chorus of "Can't Last Forever" here divert too much attention to itself.

Not a single song on Water & Guns is filler. From start to finish, each track is crafted with the utmost care, and Aaron polishes each obscure moment and fills them with intricacy. His soft, emotional vocals drive the bouncy pop tune "Whisper Something" while the seamless "I've Missed You" features an aggressive piano/percussion combo that highlight its remarkable chorus. Although the whole album might be a musical highlight, "River & Lead" has a catchy seriousness to it (similar to "Wayside" from Disappearing World), and its fast-paced refrain distinguishes it. Speaking of excellence, the near ballad "Giving Up The Gun" marries the perfect amount of synth with Aaron's sincere vocals.

One minor trouble might be the uneven tone in "Later On." Another downside might be the finale, which doesn't quite live up to Disappearing World's "Anymore." Still, "Washboard Road" is good and intriguing even if it's not the greatest of closing songs.

If you've followed Fair's discography closely, you won't be surprised to learn Water & Guns isn't the most overtly spiritual album you'll hear this year. Although the theme of water and guns sprinkles its way throughout the album, the lyrics can be pretty ambiguous. "Alright" has an innate optimism to it, and "Giving Up The Gun" seems to encourage dropping our stubbornness and dissolving conflict even when we're sure of our position. "River Of Lead" is a bit more interesting with its more spiritual leanings ("I hold my breath and wait for the mountain to move/but I forget there's nothing I can do/I guess I never seem to choose a side/the conversation takes place in my mind/another chance for grace to win if I give in"), but, ultimately, the song is pretty vague.

Water & Guns is the kind of album you hope for from an artist as smart as Aaron Sprinkle, but it's also the one you're too smart to expect. His personal departure from his acoustic material to the electronic side of pop music is both seamless and flawless. Each song is a joy, and the few purely outstanding tracks on the album almost makes Water & Guns a perfect experience. It's too bad it's so hard to connect with the lyrics because this album could have been an instant classic. As it stands, though, it's one of the best albums of 2013.