PeppermintPattie
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Sunny pop band the Apples in Stereo were one of the leading lights of the Elephant 6 Recording Company collective, a coterie of like-minded, lo-fi indie groups -- including the Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Secret Square -- who shared musicians, ideas, and sensibilities. They were led by singer/songwriter Robert Schneider, a native of the tiny town of Ruston, LA, also home to Jeff Mangum (later of Neutral Milk Hotel) as well as William Cullen Hart and Bill Doss (who formed the Olivia Tremor Control). Throughout high school, the aspiring musicians -- all influenced by the likes of the Beatles, the Zombies, Pink Floyd, and Sonic Youth -- exchanged home recordings and played in each other's bands.
After college, Schneider and Mangum relocated to Denver, CO, where Schneider struck up a friendship with fellow Beach Boys fan and bass player Jim McIntyre; after enlisting drummer Hilarie Sidney and guitarist Robert Parfitt, they formed the Apples and issued their self-titled debut EP on the Elephant 6 label. To avoid confusion with other similarly named bands, they officially became the Apples in Stereo for 1995's full-length debut, Fun Trick Noisemaker. In 1996, Schneider produced the Olivia Tremor Control's Music from the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle and later in the year the Apples issued Science Faire, a collection of singles and rare material.
The Apples in Stereo returned in the fall of 1997 with Tone Soul Evolution; shortly after its release, the band signed a distribution deal with Sire and the album was re-released in January of the following year. The excellent Her Wallpaper Reverie followed in the spring of 1999, and a year later the band returned with the equally wonderful The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone. The group also contributed a song to 2000's Heroes & Villains: Music Inspired by the Powerpuff Girls, and in 2001 they released the Let's Go! EP, which featured the track from Heroes & Villains along with a cover of the Beach Boys classic of the same name. In fall 2002, Schneider and the Apples in Stereo issued their most ambitious effort to date, Velocity of Sound. Soon afterward the band went on hiatus with members focusing on other projects (Schneider with Marbles and Ulysses, Sidney with the High Water Marks).
In 2006 they reconvened to record New Magnetic Wonder for actor Elijah Wood's new label, Simian (in conjunction with Yep Roc). Before the record hit the shelves, the band's lineup suffered a blow with the departure of Sidney in late 2006. Her replacement, the Deathray Davies frontman John Dufilho, was added to a band that apart from Schneider also included ex-Olivia Tremor Control member Bill Doss on keyboards, guitarist John Hill, and bassist Eric Allen. The band was given a boost by the appearance of Schneider, singing "Stephen, Stephen" -- his ode to the handsomeness of Stephen Colbert-- on the infamous "Green Screen Challenge" episode of The Colbert Report. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Now I like this song very much and look forward to hearing more of their work. But, I'm not sure if I'd want to attend one of their concerts.
Has this ever happened to you? You like a group - enough to purchase one or two of their cd's; but, don't necessarily want to see them in concert?
Just wondering....
If you look closely at my recently added music or digital music library, you'll notice some pretty obscure names among some of the best artists/bands known to humankind.
I'm currently working on a project for a very dear friend of mine, Ingrid. A beautiful German woman with a heart of gold. She permanently relocated to the US with her husband and daughter, oh, I'd say roughly 10 years ago when Calvin retired from the Army.
She and Calvin are pretty old school and not too computer savvy when it comes to searching and downloading music. Anyway, I know how deeply homesick she feels and I also know how she loves old German "schlager" music. In particular, the 60's to 70's era.
With that said, my project over the past few weeks has been locating old tunes for her. Luckily, there are a few German Music Groups on another site, which shall remain nameless. Those groups have made my search for old "schlager" music virtually a breeze.
"So what does all this have to do with Spliff," you ask? Well, they happen to be one of the "weird" artists/bands listed in my library. When I saw them listed here (I paid no attention to my music folder), I thought, "Spliff, huh, who?" It didn't occur to me they were one of the many artists included on a "Hit Giganten" compilation I downloaded. Naturally, I gave the band a listen.
Unfortunately, Spliff won't be included in my musical compilation for Ingrid, but not because of their name. I just don't think they'd satisfy Ingrid's taste in music. Then again, it might be kind of fun to include them in the mix. ;)
Be forewarned, after listening to the song, I found myself singing "carbonara e una coca-cola" for about a half hour!
Comments
That's pretty sweet of you to do that for your friend B. Not heard of either group but liking the Spliff song & especially their name, lol!
"especially their name, lol!"
yeah, right!
it's quite a catchy tune and the lyrics are so very funny! i can help but bust out in song every time i think about the tune!
and, i'll forever associate it with a spliff too! not that i...well, let's just say not since a very long time, eons ago.
I wouldn't know anything about spliffs(batting my eyelashes ever so innocently), hehe
Through a series of friendships and chance meetings in a pub in Leiden, Holland, Mark Kneppers, Oscar De Jong and Wim Plug discovered their shared funked up love and taste in music. Mark and Wim already knew each other from DJ'ing together and were introduced to Oscar by a mutual friend. They kicked off their band Kraak & Smaak in 2003.
For many fans they've become an addiction that's hard to break. And, regardless of how you experience their performances--as a live band, their intense DJ sets, or their cutting-edge videos, you will find their music to be crunchy and tasty.
Kraak & Smacks' music, heavily influenced by jazz, hip hop, funk, new wave and breakbeat, breaks the mold with funky house rhythms from a do-it-yourself perspective. Their debut album "Boogie Angst" is chocked full of funk and soul jumping grooves. These band of Dutchmen, however, simply like to call it, "Dance music to listen to."
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??chapter 1 human genitals??
And hey!! They never had an accessories chapter in my sex ed class!? What an awesome video and song! Seriously diggin' it. ; ) ; ) nudge
So happy to see you hanging out over here!
that video was kind of interesting. Thanks for the intro. Good to see you here on the not so evil side.
hey, B, remember how you said you don't mog because you're not good at reviewing music and stuff? you were sooo lying. ;p
super diggity diggin' !!!
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good question b. i think of it both ways actually. there are bands that i like more in concert and do not care much for the studio releases.
apples in stereo is a great band and i have similar feelings on them as well. i doubt that i would go see them in concert. I own Tone Soul Revolution and i love that record. I have not taken much time to investigate other things from Apples in Stereo though.
hey there, mike!
great to see you! i recently asked lizzie where she and heather hid your body cuz i haven't seen you around in like F O R E V E R !
it's nice to know i'm not the only one who feels that way. but, i'm curious - which bands would you prefer to see in concert and not own on cd?
definitely going to have to check out tone soul revolution am thinking if you love it, so will i!
a big one would be My Morning Jacket. I love their live sound but don't care much for their cds. I already got tickets for their show in Minneapolis but have not heard the new cd more then a few times.
good to see you. i hear you get to go hang with sunnyd! that is sweet. you two better whoop it up good!
i missed you and it is good to be back with my peeps!