Apples In Stereo - The Discovery Of A World Inside The Moon

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Back in the late sixties a type of music given the title of 'Bubblegum' was frowned upon for not being real music. It was bright, bouncy and had no substance according to those who knew better. Strange how times change ! The Apples In Stereo, along with fellow American bands like Olivia Tremor Control and their ilk, are now being described as playing psychedelic pop. That might be one description but to these ears it sounds more like bubblegum with a touch of psych. Their songs have more than a hint of The Ohio Express and The Lemon Pipers about them, albeit with a heavy dose of The Beach Boys pre Pet Sounds. Not that this is a bad thing. To take inspiration from Brian Wilson and groups from the sixties is a popular thing to do these days and when it is done as well as this why should we complain? But as the moone in the title refers to ' the moone inside ourselves, an opening where dreams shine through', I can see why psychedelic references are made! Lead songwriter and producer Robert Schneider certainly knows his way around a tune.This time (this is their third album) he wanted to "add Led Zeppelin and Sly and the Family Stone dancing around a theremin" to their previous sound. Not a bad comparison on some tracks. All these songs are full of hooks, which soon lodge themselves into the brain and are difficult to forget. The opening song, 'Go', sets the scene well, a raucous track which can't fail to add some sunshine to the autumn days ahead. In fact, although this sounds very much like an album made for lazy summer afternoons, the gift it has of being able to brighten up the darker days which are just around the corner, should not be overlooked. The first lead vocal by drummer/guitarist Hilarie Sidney on track four, '20 Cases Suggestive Of...' (one of two tracks written by Hilarie), makes a pleasant change from the vocals of Robert Schneider. Things slow down slightly for the next two tracks, the second of which, 'What Happened Then', is one of the best tracks on show, dreamy, summer pop at its best. The first track on side two (those sixties obsessions again, two sides, six tracks a side!) kicks off rocking like Zeppelin crossed with The Beach Boys and is a highlight of this side. The album is wrapped up nice and easily with the relaxing, mellow 'The Afternoon'. All in all, an album with enough variety to keep the listener interested and a step forward from their previous releases. Worthy of repeated listenings, I look forward to their next one.

Track Listing:-

1 Go
2 The Rainbow
3 Stream Running Over
4 20 Cases Suggestive of …
5 Look Away
6 What Happened Then
7 I Can't Believe
8 Submarine Dream
9 Allright/Not Quite
10 The Bird That You Can't See
11 Stay Gold
12 The Afternoon

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