Search - Apples in Stereo :: Let's Go

Let's go

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 10/31/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Here's a tip about the Apples in Stereo -- do not consider "Signal in the Sky" to be representative of what they can do. It's a cute little song, but below their usual standards. It also makes up two-fifths of the amusing little EP "Let's Go!", dwarfing worthier songs.



The poppy lightweight "Signal in the Sky (Let's Go)" starts off the EP -- either you will think it's cute, or hate the la-la-la perkiness of it. The acoustic version is not that different, except less annoyingly perky. "Hey girls, hey girls, come out and play now"? I know it was in the Powerpuff Girls movie, but still...



A lot more worthy of fans' time is the fun, offbeat "If You Want To Wear A Hat." Following that is a live version of "Heroes and Villains," which suffers from rather staticky, muddy sound. And the acoustic version of "Stream Running Over" rounds it off on a prettily melancholy note.



The Apples in Stereo are one of the best known bands in the Elephant 6 collective, and they're a fun band. Not every band has been caricatured on their cover by Powerpuff creator Craig McCracken. Sadly the Powerpuff songs are the most lackluster on this EP, leaving the more original songs to pick up the slack.



Just when it seems that the "let's go!" fluffiness of "Signal in the Sky" has infected the songs, we get the entertaining "And that suit that you are wearing my friend/makes me think that you are trying to offend." The guitar work and instrumentation is outstanding, even in the muddied, muffled sound of the live track.



"Let's Go" is an entertaining little EP marred by two versions of a rather vapid, bouncy song. Otherwise, it's something Apples in Stereo fans may want to check out."

A Fun EP - December 11, 2002

Blackberries | PA | 12/11/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Apples in Stereo loosely consist of Rob Schneider and numerous other talented Elephant 6 musicians. Elephant 6 is irrefragably one of the best musical collectives of the decade, putting out such delicious albums as "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," (Neutral Milk Hotel) "Dusk at Cubist Castle," (Olivia Tremor Control) and "The Gay Parade" (Of Montreal). The winsome label is difficult to pigeonhole, aggregating sounds from manifold genres and styles such as 60s psychadelic, 90s garage rock, and everything inbetween. This EP from the Apples features "Signal in the Sky," from The Powerpuff Girls album, "Heroes & Villains." Although the record clocks in at a meagar fifteen minutes, it's well worth putting on repeat. The opening track is a rocking foray of fun chords and harmony, followed up by "If You Want to Wear a Hat" a droll piece about, yep, hat wearing. "Heroes & Villains," track 3, takes a little while to get going, but it's enjoyable if you give it a chance. "Stream Running Over" might be the best track on the cd. It's a florid acoustic track with whimsical vocals ("Baby I want to go and I guess I would stay there, Wherever that is, That is far from anywhere") and a beautiful melody. The cd wraps up with the original demo version of "Signal in the Sky.""