Customer Reviews

Discovery of a World Inside the Moone

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Apples in Stereo, perhaps the most accessible Elephant 6 band, get tighter, groovier and poppier on this record. Their sound has been progressing from a more traditional psychedelic pop band that paid homage to Rubber Soul Beatles ("Tone Soul Evolution") to one more reminiscent of an early 70s Badfinger or bubblegum pop.

Unlike other Apples albums, TDOAWITM has no really weak songs that make me press "skip" on my CD player. Each one will get you tapping your feet, drumming your steering wheel, or god forbid, your behind up on the dance floor.

In fact, the tune "Look Away" stands apart from the rest because it was release on an EP many months before TDOAWITM. It sounds like the "old" Apples more than the "new" Apples on the rest of the disc.

Harmonies, horns, trippy vocals and a sound that would have fit in on Budda Records three decades ago make this one of my favorite releases of 2001.

This April 2000 release of the Elephant 6's most prominent band is quite accessible, especially poppy, and downright enjoyable. The funkiness (especially of the bass line) of the tenth track, "The Bird That You Can't See" is a little unexpected and very infectious. The overall mood of the album continues the band's practice of tipping the hat to the Beatles. The harmonies still are suggestive of Beach Boys. Perhaps the dissappointment of the album lies in its unexperimental and totally straight-ahead foci. Of course, the Apples in stereo aren't quite as exotic-seeming as the Olivia Tremor Control, for instance, but some different sounds a la Her Wallpaper Reverie would be interesting. Overall, the record is good as a fairly coherent pop statement. I think it is recommended in the least for listening if not for purchasing.

Apples in Stereo produce some of the best indie pop. This album is their best effort yet, producing such infinitely hummable tunes as Go, Rainbow, I Can't Believe, The Bird That You Can't See, and Submarine. Whenever I want to convince people that all indie rock doesn't stink, I play this for them. Even if they don't like indie, they usually admit that this is well produced, harmonious, and catchy.

Let's take a trip back to the days when The Beatles just started using marijuana, making their music a little more psychadelic. Sort of a mix between Beach Boys, The Beatles and everything inbetween, 'The Discovery of a World' is a psychadelic masterpiece (or something close to one) that you won't put down for a while. From the little jam in 'Go' to the 'yeah yeah's of 'The Rainbow', The Apples In Stereo do a fine job of recreating the 60's/70's feel of music. Yes, it was created in 2000.

They all play such a variety of instruments! I hear a bongo, a flute, and a brass section in 'Go' alone! One of my favorites is 'The Rainbow' with a great catchy chorus that is reminiscent of sugar-pop, as I like to call it. 'Stream Running Over' is good too, with hand claps and acoustic guitar that will help you 'clear your mind' during a bad day at work! '20 Cases Suggestive Of...' is a bit heavier, a bit more distorted, and a bit less innocent than the previous 3 songs. It didn't lose a bit of greatness, though. If you're looking for music reminiscent of Beatles, look no further than 'Look Away'! It's catchy, with pianos and guitars and Ringo-esque drums and it's oh so sweet! Another goodie is 'I Can't Believe', another rocker piece on this great record. And guess what 'Submarine Dream' sounds like? Yep, you guessed it: The Beach Boys. (Sarcasm.)

Overall, it's a great, full album that you won't be putting down. Apples In Stereo aren't the most popular band, but the least popular bands are usually the best. If you like it, check out bands like the Beach Boys and the Beatles. If you haven't heard of those bands, well, that's your mistake for drowning in the crap you people call 'the music of today'.

*2 THUMBS UP FOR 'DISCOVERY OF A WORLD INSIDE THE MOONE'*

After two servings of cold, tastless oatmeal in the form of "Fun Trick Noisemaker" and "Tone Soul Evolution," The Apples in stereo started serving cereal that, for the most part, stays crispy in milk. Nowhere is the Apples' new random-precision formula more evident than on 1999's "Her Wallpaper Reverie," an extended EP with a collection of excellent tracks strung together by a recurring link track. That album left the listener wondering what sort of full-length album the ever-improving Apples could achieve if they put their minds to it. "The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone" answers with an electric guitar riff and the word "Go!" shouted at the beginning of the first track. "Go" isn't just a great, rockin' album opener; it serves notice that as long as Robert Schneider and Hilarie Sidney are around, catchy, in-your-face pop music is in safe hands. Another jammin' gem, "The Rainbow," follows, preceding the album's first average track, "Stream Running Over." However, Hilarie meets what seems to be a one-song-per-album quota with a knockout punch in "20 Cases Suggestive of ...," a high-energy track featuring her great vocals and occasionally double-tracking them with Robert's. The single "Look Away," a satisfying, mid-tempo rocker with a psychedelic wink, is next. Track 6, "What Happened Then" is a letdown, and tracks 7 and 9, "I Can't Believe" and "All Right/Not Quite," sound a bit too similar. They sandwich a great slow number, though, in "Submarine Dream," a song reminiscent of "The Shiney Sea" from "Her Wallpaper Reverie." And the album's Single Most Likely to Succeed, "The Bird That You Can't See," follows. This song's body-rockin' groove sounds like it came straight off a Beatles B-side compilation, and the strong hook overcomes the mistifying lyrics (if ever there were a song about nothing, this is it). The album closes with "Stay Gold" and "Thursday Afternoon," two tracks that the album could live without. Neither does much to distinguish itself, instead serving as a reminder of what the Apples lived off of during their first two albums.

Label this album punkish pop, retro or whatever else you will, but don't make the mistake of thinking that Robert's fascination with The Beach Boys has a huge impact on his music. "Surf's Up," "Carl and the Passions," "M.I.U. Album," "L.A. Light Album," "Keepin the Summer Alive," "15 Big Ones," "The Beach Boys" and "Summer in Paradise" - especially the latter five - lack the punch and consistency of the Apples' current output, but the Apples still haven't shown the ability to take their music a step further and craft songs as strong as "Till I Die," "Cuddle Up" or "Feel Flows." If they keep evolving, though, the results could be frighteningly good.

I've had the same problem with the Apples In Stereo that another reviewer had--great sugary sweet songs that are ultimately forgettable. While I would heartily recommend the Apples two previous full length efforts, both Fun Trick Noisemaker and Tone Soul Evolution tended to run together. Sure, there were exceptions--great songs like "Glowworm", "Tidal Wave" and "Seems So"--but after awhile your mind started to wander. But great bands grow, and AIS are a great band. The Discovery Of A World Inside The Moone is more fuzzed out that the previous two full length offerings, at times recalling Robert Schneiders production work with Olivia Tremor Control. These are the strongest, most consistent Apples songs yet, not a clunker in the bunch--even the slow tempo songs ("Stay Gold", "The Afternoon"). But it's the crunch of songs like "Go", "Stream Running Over" and "I Can't Believe" that make this album soar. It doesn't always work--"The Bird That You Can't See" strays dangerously close to Squeeze territory--but overall this disc doesn't miss. It's a four car crash between Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett, Phil Spector and John & Paul. It's that good.

The Apples in Stereo -- the most accessable of the Elephant 6 bands -- have always been into retro pop. Colourful, psychedelic, sunny music, which leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

In "The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone," Rob Schneider and his Apples are in their absolute best form, harkening back when music was floating on marijuana and dreams of a sunsoaked future. From parade-pop to fast-running guitars, there literally isn't a song on here that isn't a feast for the ears.

It opens with a fuzzy riff, and a blast of horns in a cheery little tune. "When you're going to the place /where you work you have no face/then you wanna go (go baby)," Schneider sings happily. After some brief interludes into musical chaos, he continus to sing about the places where you wanna "go, baby," sounding happy to oblige.

From there, the Apples venture off into a catchy little guitarpop tune. "Oh when my battery/it just runs out on me/I like to take a walk about/and so it came to pass/I saw you on the grass..." It expands into colourful imagery ("just like a rainbow!"), Beatlesesque harmonies, and some really wonky guitar distortion.

Having snared listeners, the Apples continue with their psychpop. They expand their sound into languid summer tunes, rapid-moving indie-rock, swirling balladry, shimmering psychpop, and electro-edged guitar melodies that race right into the finale, "Afternoon," a folky little melody that finishes things up on a meditative note.

If you didn't know who the Apples in Stereo were, you might think that they were a pop band from the 1960s. Okay, retro-sixties pop is not unique musically, but the Apples have something special -- the wonder-filled, swirling sound inherited from the Zombies, and pop sensibilities inherited from the Beatles.

The music is a dense mass of instrumentation -- nimble riffs, piano and light percussion are soaked in warm mellotron, wavering synthesizer, organ and strings. The melodies are dancey and lighthearted, but just in case not everyone is bouncing in their seat, the Apples insert some soaring trombone, bongos and handclaps. It's like being in an acid-soaked parade.

Schneider and Hilarie Sidney sound a lot like the Beatles in their more whimsical moments here, especially with those pitch-perfect harmonies . Okay, the lyrics are on the lightweight side ("There's a stream running over/on distant shores/everybody's swimming/in the water..."), but the lighthearted, carefree sound matches the music perfectly.

The Apples in Stereo produced the ultimate retro-sixties album in "The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone," with its enchanting music and sunny outlook. Definitely worth getting.

It's nowhere as spaced-out as "Black Foliage" from the Olivia Tremor Control, but the Apples' new effort definitely brings the E6 influence in full force. The 60's psychedelia/Beatles influence is obvious (consult "Submarine Dream" in both title and sonics), but not overwhelming in the sense that this record sounds like a nouveau-hippie rehash: "Go" leads the record off with an absolutely smile-inducing horn section hook, while "20 Cases Suggestive Of..." gets a nod for sounding so much like that Madonna song from the 'Austin Powers' sequel (I mean that in a good way). There isn't a whole lot of variation in the songs - most are either 'rock' songs or slower ballad-esque pieces - but it doesn't necessarily hinder the record to my ears (more diehard Apples fans may disagree). "The Discovery..." is a good pop record and a great place to start your journey into the Elephant 6 Collective.

I'm a longtime Apples fan and I'm happy to report that I think this is their best yet.

Nobody does catchy like the Apples do catchy. From the infectious brass section that kicks off the awesome first track "Go" to the delicate and pretty final track "The Afternoon", this album doesn't disappoint.

It feels like you can sing along with these songs the very first time you hear them. For my money, this is perfect pop. I'm trying not to gush but there's something in the music that makes that impossible. Long live the Elephant 6 and my favorite of the bunch; Apples in Stereo!

P.S. The liner notes are three feet long and as fun as the music.

As a big fan of psychedleic pop music, including the Olivia Tremor Control, I picked up this disc merely because the Apples are a part of the famed Elephant 6 collective. Unfortunately, the Apples, like most of the Elephant 6 bands, merely remind me that you can't improve on perfection (Beatles, Kinks, XTC/Dukes of Stratosphear, and the entire Nuggets box set, to name a few). I haven't heard the Apples' other albums, but this disc did not impress me enough to go out and buy the others.

First, it just makes me want to turn it off and put on a Let's Active record. (Let's Active = a truly great pop outfit in the mid-to-late 80's on IRS records.) Second, it fills me with a dull, hollow longing. Because it's ALMOST good. So close, but so far away. Third, it's TOO darn happy, and it's overproduced. It's really kind of grating, actually. What made the Beatles great were those occasional touches of "darkness," like Eleanor Rigby or Mr. Kite. Maybe it's called an "edge," but I don't want to sound cliched. Of course, the Beatles are gone, and this will just have to do for now. But, like processed cheese, it's too sticky and leaves behind the tase of artificial preservatives.