Customer Reviews

Let's Go

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a tip about the Apples in Stereo -- do not consider "Signal in the Sky" to be representative of what they can do. It's a cute little song, but below their usual standards. It also makes up two-fifths of the amusing little EP "Let's Go!", dwarfing worthier songs.

The poppy lightweight "Signal in the Sky (Let's Go)" starts off the EP -- either you will think it's cute, or hate the la-la-la perkiness of it. The acoustic version is not that different, except less annoyingly perky. "Hey girls, hey girls, come out and play now"? I know it was in the Powerpuff Girls movie, but still...

A lot more worthy of fans' time is the fun, offbeat "If You Want To Wear A Hat." Following that is a live version of "Heroes and Villains," which suffers from rather staticky, muddy sound. And the acoustic version of "Stream Running Over" rounds it off on a prettily melancholy note.

The Apples in Stereo are one of the best known bands in the Elephant 6 collective, and they're a fun band. Not every band has been caricatured on their cover by Powerpuff creator Craig McCracken. Sadly the Powerpuff songs are the most lackluster on this EP, leaving the more original songs to pick up the slack.

Just when it seems that the "let's go!" fluffiness of "Signal in the Sky" has infected the songs, we get the entertaining "And that suit that you are wearing my friend/makes me think that you are trying to offend." The guitar work and instrumentation is outstanding, even in the muddied, muffled sound of the live track.

"Let's Go" is an entertaining little EP marred by two versions of a rather vapid, bouncy song. Otherwise, it's something Apples in Stereo fans may want to check out.

The Apples in Stereo loosely consist of Rob Schneider and numerous other talented Elephant 6 musicians. Elephant 6 is irrefragably one of the best musical collectives of the decade, putting out such delicious albums as "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," (Neutral Milk Hotel) "Dusk at Cubist Castle," (Olivia Tremor Control) and "The Gay Parade" (Of Montreal). The winsome label is difficult to pigeonhole, aggregating sounds from manifold genres and styles such as 60s psychadelic, 90s garage rock, and everything inbetween. This EP from the Apples features "Signal in the Sky," from The Powerpuff Girls album, "Heroes & Villains." Although the record clocks in at a meagar fifteen minutes, it's well worth putting on repeat. The opening track is a rocking foray of fun chords and harmony, followed up by "If You Want to Wear a Hat" a droll piece about, yep, hat wearing. "Heroes & Villains," track 3, takes a little while to get going, but it's enjoyable if you give it a chance. "Stream Running Over" might be the best track on the cd. It's a florid acoustic track with whimsical vocals ("Baby I want to go and I guess I would stay there, Wherever that is, That is far from anywhere") and a beautiful melody. The cd wraps up with the original demo version of "Signal in the Sky."

For those of you who like the music video of "Signal in the Sky", you'll love this CD. It not only includes the music video version, but an acoustic version that sounds absolutely wonderful.

Two other songs, "If You Want To Wear A Hat", and the acoustic version of "Stream Running Over", are great as well.

But the live version of "Heroes and Villians" sounds like it was recorded by three five year olds fighting over the placement of the microphones. ;) You can't hear a thing, and there's static all over. Not the best oldie re-recording out there.

This CD really needed more songs, but the quality of four out of five tracks made it worth at least three stars. I do think that it's a great introduction to the style of Apples In Sterio, which reminds me a lot of Simon and Garfunkel. Also a fun little tidbit for fans of cartoonist, Craig McCracken: Charicatures of the band by the creator of PowerPuff Girls.

This little gem is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I of course bought it for its lead-off track (from the Powerpuff Girls: Heroes & Villians Soundtrack), but most of the others are great (particularly the "Signal In The Sky" demo, which I think is even better than the original) The only disappointment was the live Beach Boys cover "Heroes & Villians". Granted, I'm not really able to appreciate it having never heard the original, but it still seemed lackluster. However, I think it may be growing on me, so I'm going to give it the benefit of a doubt and award it one half star. The four other tracks get a full star each. To summarize, a near perfect indie pop Single/EP.