Customer Reviews

Tone Soul Evolution

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just now discovered the Apples in Stereo, and this was the first album of theirs that I bought. It's a real gem. Sure, it has a nostalgic sort of sound, and it may be a bit derivative, but so what? It is a type of sound that I really love, and The Apples make it their own.

"Seems So," "Tin Pan Alley," and "Silver Chain" are just a few of my favorites on here. They are just so catchy and uplifting. There are really NO bad songs on this album.

A few of the songs sound very similar to one another, but this is a minor quibble. I imagine it's hard not to fall into this trap when songwriting. I really dislike buying a CD where ALL of the songs sound cut from exactly the same mold -- but this isn't one of those albums. There is enough variety here to keep you going for the duration.

All I can figure is that this Martin Blazy reviewer must be a troll, or he listened to the wrong album. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, but his arguments against the album are not even based on fact. Minimalist? How so? Incompetent and in need of music lessons? Hey, I play keyboard and guitar and do okay, but I know that I am listening to folks here that are WAY better than me, and that I will probably NEVER attain this level of competence. The Apples can play. It's not Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton, but it's CERTAINLY more than competent enough.

As I write this, summer is almost upon us. And what a PERFECT summer album this is. Roll down the windows, cruise with the breeze, and CRANK IT UP!

I first heard The Apples In Stereo on the Powerpuff Girls soundtrack. Finding "Let's Go (Signal in the Sky)" to be the sunniest piece of pop music I'd heard in a while, I went to the record store which, of course, did not have a copy. I was still interested in the band, so I got this CD instead.

I was not dissapointed. Tone Soul Evolution is an absolute delight, and a perfect break from the producer-driven pop that currently dominates the airwaves. Schneider has a great ear for pop, and every single song is irresistably catchy, with the exception of the short filler tracks "Silvery Light of a Dream (Part 1)" and "Coda". Those two tracks are the only blemish on an otherwise perfect album, and as far as filler goes, they're tolerable enough to listen through.

As great as this album is, one must keep in mind that this is Lo-Fi, and therefore may take some getting used to. Although it was recorded on 24 tracks, making it much more polished than the average album in the genre, I still required 2 or 3 listens to get used to the sound.

In short, if you like sunny pop music and can get around the deliberately unpolished nature of the album, you will like Tone Soul Evolution.

I wasn't going to bother reviewing this album, because most of the other reviews summed up what mine will be...but that one-star review just forced me to do something...Minimalist? Wow. Seriously, this person must have listened to the wrong album. This album shows just how much respect Rob Schneider has for Pet Sounds. Most songs have wonderfully layered guitar and vocal harmonies that are just a joy to behold. The songwriting is very strong, even if most of it does follow the retro-60s theme. Most artists have a certain style, and this happens to be theirs. And they do it well. Their style has gotten stronger in this album compared to Fun Trick Noisemaker (which is still darn good, just not quite as rewarding).

If you like pop/rock, you will probably like this album. If you don't, you probably won't.

Pop Kulcher Review: The centerpiece of the so-called "Elephant 6 Collective," a group of bands who share ideas and, occasionally, band members and recording facilities. All of these bands share a reverence for Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles and Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys. The Apples in Stereo make music that is readily accessible, avoiding the psychedelic excesses of some of their peers. Tone Soul Evolution, their third album, is chock full of shimmery, lush psychedelic power pop, with catchy hooks and off-kilter twists. It's yummy, it's inconsequential, like a box of Nerds candy. Fans of Magical Mystery Tour and late-period XTC will love this, as may some fans of Pavement.

It's easy to say that this is just really good 60s pop-rock, but it's so much more than that. Tone Soul Evolution has some of the most blissful, jangling pop tunes I've ever heard. These tracks are all delectable ear candies, sweetened to perfection. The Apples are one of the most underrated pop bands of the 90s. They really have an amazing sound. Rob's dreamy vocals and the soaring tempos make this album a delightful experience for me listen after listen. There's also an awesome foldout picture included in the album sleeve. The songs The Silvery Light Of A Dream (Part II), Tin Pan Alley and Find Our Way are my favorite tracks on the record. I definitely recommend this album to fans of catchy, upbeat rock and roll.

Outstanding! The Apples in Stereo offer a recording full of jangly pop with harmony vocals that is not overly produced. Give Rob Schneider credit for helming the production and arrangements that give this CD an updated retro sound. While harkening back to the Beatles "Revolver" or "Rubber Soul" period, TSE also is quite akin to the 1980s neo-psychedelia of The Three O'Clock, or the Norwegian band The Thought, but the Apples tends to transcend that era by providing consistently catchy song writing and eschewing intrusively cheesy keyboards.

I was reading the reviews of this album and discovered that no customers had yet reviewed it. I don't know how much I can add to what the pros have said but I must tell you the album is beautiful. In one fell swoop, it can take you from jubilation to sorrow and back again. The songs have catches hooks and harmonies that will keep you singing them throughout the day.

If you enjoy pop music in its original form (circa 1960's) but still seek new music and bands, you're sure to enjoy this album. If you own nothing from this band, start with this album. Thanks for reading!

I am an avid follower of the Elephant 6 collective, especially the grandaddy of them all, Neutral Milk Hotel, so I'll naturally give a whirl to anything they have to offer...and I'm glad I did with AIS. This CD, the first full-length one of theirs I have (the EP "Her Wallpaper.." being my AIS intro course) is a mixture of sunny meloncholy, and it has, for the most part, similar, dreamy vocals and production of the Elf Power/OTC variety. It rides the rail between bubblegum pop and fresh-faced emo-inspired psyche-dalia. Each song is very neat, not too long, and has a lot of heart. The only thing I'm missing on this CD is length (it's barely 40 minutes) and depth (where's the beautiful, haunting lyrics of "wallpaper). Other than that, it's a joy to listen to...it's a real summer record, pump it up in the car with the windows down and watch people stare.

Not sure how someone can call this "pseudo-60's crud." Dude, listen with your good ear! This album has so much going more going for it. Take opener "Seems So" is a wonderful look at a guy trying to explain an unusual phenomenon. A few listens and you finding yourself joining in his mystery. Yup-jangle-pop-catchy chorus-power pop, but The Beach Boys? Not in the few tracks, at least. Think more Badfinger. Personal is "About Your Fame," an mainly acoustic effort discussing a friend's changes.
Okay a touch of Beach Boys here. "Silver Chain," "Tin Pan Alley," and album ending delight "Coda" are worth the price of admission. Don't miss this one.

Tone Soul Evolution is like a breath of fresh air - if you like Pet Sounds/Byrds/Beatles, and want to hear it done good - this is for you. Like many of the other Elephant 6 Collective bands (Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel) this is wonderful, mind-expanding music, though of the three (major) Elephant 6 bands, this is much more lighter and poppy, and therefore, accessible.