at a glance...

Hometown: Denver, CO
Formed: circa 1993

Members:
Robert Schneider -guitars, vocals
John Hill -guitars, vocals
Eric Allen -bass, vocals
Hilarie Sidney -drums, vocals

Bands in the family :
Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, Flydaddys, Beulah, Dressy Bessy, Of Montreal, The Minders, The Frosted Ambassador, Music Tapes, Bablic

Notes:
Apples In Stereo released a few split 7-inches, including one with fellow 60s-psychedelicists Olivia Tremor Control, on various indie labels before recording their debut album, Fun Trick Noisemaker on spinART in 1995. Quickly won the patronage of some of the big names of American indie rock, touring with Flaming Lips, Beck and Pavement, before releasing Tone Soul Evolution in February of 1998. Discovery Of A World Inside The Moone is their latest release.

Soul? The Apples In Stereo? Aren't they those knowingly twee, postmodern purveyors of pop music? You know, like they made back in the '60s, before everyone realized that having melodies in your songs was, like, uncool? Shouldn't they leave "soul" to the experts? Like Michael Bolton? That's them alright. Yet almost in spite of themselves, Apples in Stereo do create their own kind of soul music. Yes, it's built on melody, with hooks scattered around the songs like so many flourescent pick-up sticks. And yes, it's retro, sounding like the kind of mid-'60s record that was actually proud to be recorded in stereo.

But from the moment "Seems So" kicks in the door, Tone Soul Evolution comes at you like a mob of kindergartners at recess. The Apples pinch tunes from everyone from The Byrds to The Boo Radleys, never questioning the righteousness of their cause. Horns, Hawaiian guitars, ba-ba-backing harmonies - all manner of psychedelic weaponry enlists along the way, and by the time the Apples have wafted through the dreamy cycle of "The Silvery Light of a Dream," any trace of irony is long forgotten. Tone Soul Evolution is a labor of love. It's 13 songs and an infectious smile. It'll warm your heart. And everyone knows that's right next to the soul.

If you like The Apples In Stereo, check out:
Apples In Stereo Discovery Of A World Inside The Moone
Olivia Tremor Control
Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Boo Radleys Wake Up!
The Beatles Rubber Soul

-- jf