So here I am back writing again, since I finally found some free time to write again. Today I am going to profile my choices for the number 3 spot on my countdown of the best summer albums. The reason I have two picks for this spot is that they are companion pieces that serve a specific purpose which I will explain shortly.
First of all I should explain that narrowing my choice of albums by this band down to two was a chore in itself. The Apples in Stereo are one of my all-time favorite bands, ever since they did a song about the Powerpuff Girls on Cartoon Network in about 1999. I own all of their albums and b-side collections, and I can honestly say that they might be THE summetime band. No band, with the possible exceptions of The String Cheese Incident and Elephant 6 compatriots Beulah have the knack for writing perfectly crafted summertime tunes that (unlike the Jack Johnsons of the world) don't all sound the same. PS I really like Jack Johnson.
Anyway, the Apples catalog is chock-full of dynamite pop ditties, as they capture the sound of the Kinks at their "Lola Vs. The Powerman"-era best, with the upbeat and often goofy lyrics of "One Chord To Another"-era Sloan tunes. This combination proves a success, at least as far as summertime music goes. And, by using these two albums, I have created a formula for a summer day, as one album is ideal for a lazy afternoon, while the other is perfect for the firefly-filled nights that follow.
To begin, "The Disovery..." is pure pop, as singer Robert Schneider belts out chunk after chunk of pure bubblegum goodness. Full of orchestration, the songs on this album incorporate horns, auxillery percussion, resonating backing vocals, and the Apples trademark jangly guitars. This album is ideal for an afternoon spent grilling in the backyard, catching some rays (yes, I said "catching some rays"), or doing some summer-type chore like cleaning out the garage or washing the car.
The best tracks on this one are:
Go: The upbeat album opener seems to set the stage for what will follow, being fun, catchy music that is incredibly easy to sing along to.
The Rainbow: Can now be heard in HP ads for their line of printers, this is probably the catchiest song on the album, borrows heavily from the Kinks siganture sound.
The Bird You Can't See: With it's funky keyboard and choppy guitar work, this song is a sign of the definite Motown influences on the band, and is also a great sing-along song.
Submarine Dream: This is the song that begins to set the mood for the second part of the day, that would eventually lead into my second choice on this spot of the countdown. It draws heavily from "White Album"-era Beatles, and though much more mellow that the other songs is still a great song in its own right.
This will lead us into the nightime portion of your day's playlist, which is where "New Magnetic Wonder" enters the scene.
This, the Apples most recent offering is much more mature in its songwriting and musical style. It features several track shorter than 1 minute in length that consist of vocoder noodling or short interludes between songs which creates the perfect segues from track to track, and serves nicely as background music.
This album seems influenced less by the Beatles and more by the power-pop of the Cars and 90's college jangle-rock of bands such as Miracle Legion and Buffalo Tom. This somewhat deeper and more straightforward approach makes it ideal for late night car rides and patio parties (yes I am sure some of you have patio parties).
The top tracks here are:
Can You Feel It?: Guaranteed to be lodged in your brain for about 3 weeks after you listen to it, this album opener is the perfect fit to start a party or car ride with.
Skyway: This track features a solid, crunchy guitar riff that carries throughout the song, and it's catchy chorus featuring "doo doo doos" make it another great sing-along offering.
Same Old Drag: Billy Joel meets They Might Be Giants in this light, groovy piano rocker.
Play Tough: This country-fried jangle-pop gem is essentially set to Pachelbel's Canon, but just like the other 50 million pop songs that also borrow from one of the most recognizable melodies in the history of Western Civilization, this one too is far too catchy to complain about originality. Another one you'll want to learn all the words to so you can sing along.
7 Stars: Possibly the best track on the album, this spacey pop song tells the story of a man who feels rejected by a woman who doesn't even know his name, but he finds solace in the stars as he knows every constellation, and while star gazing he recounts his tale of heartache. This song is powerful, emotional, catchy, and it rocks. One you'll definitely want playing as your bonfire fades down to its embers.
Beautiful Machine Parts 1-2: Without a doubt the catchiest song on the album, this one WILL be stuck in your head for weeks, as it borrows from the sensibilities of Cheap Trick and TMBG (again). Complete with a horns section, synthesizer, layered vocals, and a driving rhythm section, this song is perfect for a late night drive or a mood-setter at a party.
Open Eyes: Not the best song on the album, but one of them, and my personal favorite. This seems to be The Apples' take on Oasis, as it sounds exactly like something the British band would have included on their "Standing On the Shoulders of Giants" album. A simple 4-chord riff comprises the entire song, and it's Oasis (and by proxy Beatles) influenced orchestral horn and strings section makes this one of the most enjoyable songs on the album, as well as the most versatile, perfect for star gazing, partying, late night driving, or simply hanging out on a summer night at the beach.
So there you have it, my #3 selection(s). Stay tuned for the top 2!
Peace Love and Understanding
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