insta-review

First Impressions: The Apples in Stereo, New Magnetic Wonder

Feb 122007

Riding the coattails of the work of Townswoman Citizen Mom, I’m about to write a real-time review of the new album by The Apples in Stereo, New Magnetic Wonder! After a brief backgrounder, I will advise you to strap in and prepare for what might be a bumpy ride.

I thought Apples in Stereo were cooked! After leader Robert Schneider’s breakup with wife/drummer Hilarie Sidney, I’d read he was deep in long-distance collaborations with the likes of Andy Partridge and Robert Pollard. I’d read he was making electro-mash-ups on his laptop.

Like so many of you, I fell in love with Tone Soul Evolution. Sure, I was behind the curve, but it led me down the path of catching up with the Elephant 6 collective. I especially liked The Minders, who sounded like all the rickety ’60s elements of Apples in Stereo without the dangerously overreaching ambitions. I lined up outside a local record store for the release of the Apples’ follow-up album, Discovery of a Moone Inside Your Ass (or something like that). Every little overdub was placed just so. Details, details. It was retro-indie-sunshine pop made by a copy editor, or a proctomusicologist. As someone says in Spinal Tap, “Too much fuckin’ reality.” This album would be traded in a mere week later.

I could no longer hang with Schneider. Our affair was a brief one, but I’m about to give him a try again. Right now! For a limited time, you too can listen to a streaming version of this album from our friends at Phawker. Are you ready? OK…strap in!
Continue reading »

What’s Playing at the Coffee Shop: Deerhoof, Friend Opportunity

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Feb 062007

There’s this really cool coffee shop where I sometimes run into Kevin. It’s near The University – but a bit off the beaten track. It’s not one of those places loaded with kids ordering decaf, skim, free-range, triple lattes. This place is more laid back. They serve mostly esspresso and cups of French Roast. There’s a small selection of dry pastries, if you must. There are bowls of sugar on each table. The place looks like it’s been around forever. I think it was a cigar store and smoking lounge in the mid-’90s. Locals shop up and down the street.

There’s always something interesting playing when I stop in for my double esspresso. Mostly new stuff. When I first started going there, Rogue Wave was big. Them and Spoon, of course. I got turned onto that Malkmus album I love so in this shop. Then that Decembrists’ album was in heavy rotation, and for the next few weeks I’d “shoot” my esspresso and get on my way. Kevin liked that one, but he’s got broader tastes that I’ll ever have. I do try, and that’s not bad for a guy in my position.

Last week I stopped in and heard something that caught my ear. Hyperactive drums and percussion blasted out alongside slashing, Fripp-for-Big Note guitar chords. A high-pitched woman’s voice, with a hint of Asian teen prostitute, joined in. A bubbling organ part surfaced at points. I savored my double esspresso, thinking I’d stumbled on some supergroup involving members of The League of Gentleman and Art Bears.
Continue reading »

Newer Entries