The Apples In Stereo
Tone Soul Evolution

THE REVIEW

Dull day at work and a cold to remember. To kill this time, I start surfing the Internet, which if someone had told me about it a few months ago, I would have killed myself. The cruise topic: MUSIC. Boredom and banality, until I stumble upon this site, where anyone can write (a mix of strength and flaw on whose outcome I am still undecided). I read and my hands start to itch. I admit to the musical intransigence that characterizes me, but some people here exaggerate, teachers of lessons held from self-assembled pulpits after a Saturday spent at IKEA. Then I look for a review of an album and can't find it. Solution? A bit of history.

Born in 1992 in California from the genius of Robert Schneider, the father of Elephant 6, which includes Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel (well done Zigghio!), the Apples are the 'lighter' and 'more playful' part of the company. The 'friends' we would like on stage for the birthday party. In 1997 the masterpiece is released. Abandoning the experiments of the first album ("Fun Trick Noisemaker"), here the Grail is manifest: melody at all costs! Sweet and less raw sound than the debut, without ever too much honey. Whether in this quest they go from the catchy chorus ("Seems So"), to the Beach Boys style vocal harmonies of "Pet Sounds", from a refined pop with Beatles splashes ("About Your Fame") to unrestrained use of acoustic and improvised instruments (ukulele and chimes of all kinds), without missing psychedelic splashes like Byrds and garage pop guitar riffs ("We'll Come To Be") doesn't matter, if the result is this.

Everything is in the cauldron of "Tone Soul Evolution": country ("Tin Pan Alley"), British beat style '60, surf, folk, bubblegum ("What's The #") and a bit of Bacharach. And all reworked with skill and originality rare for the genre.