Album The Apples in Stereo
posted by on January 22 at 11:45 AM
Everyone who has ever been subjected to my record collection knows which record is always on top: the Olivia Tremor Control’s Singles and Beyond. It contains my favorite song of all time, “Fireplace,” which features Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) on vocals. It is a collection of singles that plays like a fully constructed album, with psychedelic noise breaks and all. It’s a marvel.
I am the biggest Elephant 6 freak you will ever meet (if you ever meet me). Elephant 6, of course, is the record label/collective that featured a lot of bands that are truly wonderful, including Of Montreal (who have recently bored my pants off- more on that some other time), the aforementioned favorite song makers, Secret Square, Elf Power, and the Apples in Stereo.
The Apples in Stereo were always my least favorite of all the major Elephant 6 bands. They are also the most consistent record-makers of all the bands, except Of Montreal (who I will no longer mention, as they have ceased being part of this aesthetic, according to me). I recently began to appreciate them a lot more as I listened to Fun Trick Noisemaker, their 1995 debut, during a really boring job that I had. I was always by myself late at night at this job, and the Apples in Stereo sound like they know what that is like.
Anyhow, all of this is heading towards something I did not expect- excitement for the new Apples in Stereo album which comes out on February 7th. The excitement is not purely because I appreciate Apples in Stereo—I must admit I am more interested because of two guests on the album. One is Jeff Mangum, who became a recluse about 10 years ago (he would pop up and cry on stage now and then) and has re-emerged to perform on this album and also maybe, with any luck, to record some new songs of his own. The other is Bill Doss, one of the main forces behind Olivia Tremor Control, who went on hiatus earlier this century. If either of these men had heavy influence on this album, it could easily be the best album this year. I will be buying this record the first day it comes out. Or, you could buy it for me. Just sayin’.
I completely agree with you about Of Montreal. Their earlier stuff was so much better, and far more interesting. Songs like "You are An Airplane", "Nikki Lighthouse", "Penelope", and all of Aldhils Arboretum and so much more were so magnificently beautiful, and was some of the best that Elephant 6 came out with. Their stuff nowadays is something else entirely from the aesthetic they had for a long time, indeed.
Ehhh...lazybloggersayswhat. What's the new record called? (I know I can search, but it's all the way over in Google)
also a huge former e6 freak. fun trick noisemaker was the first i heard. i had the good fortune of growing up in the same neighborhood the ladybug transistor were based. recently ran into gary olson on the subway while visiting home. i agree with domenica that "nikki lighthouse" is fantastic. kevin barnes was my favorite songwriter. what the hell happened?
Ehhhh I don't even care what it's called. It's the one that you can't buy right now. Jeez. I'm not lazy- saying nice things about something took me a really long time, like an hour. That's why I'm usually so mean.
wow, I always thought people who say they like elephant six bands never meant it (kinda like saying you "Get" David Lynch) I figured people said it to impress other people who say they like Elephant six bands but really don't....
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