Search - Apples in Stereo :: Science Faire

Think on this:

J. Pinnow | a house on Gilpin St. | 11/09/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Schneider was a wiry guy living with a lot of cats in a dank basement apartment in Denver when his band recorded these songs. They were then just The Apples, and when they were forced to change it, I hoped they'd become The Robert Apples, because everyone called him that. Anyways, buy this album."

Solid EPs and singles

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 10/12/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Maybe it's not quite rocket science, but "Science Faire" is an interesting compilation for any fans of the Apples in Stereo. Compiled out of EPs and singles that the band created during the early 90s, it's rough and unpolished, but has a certain exuberant charm.



Fun percussion and a driving riff start off the fun "Tidal Wave," before the dense fuzz-rock of "Motorcar" and "Not the Same," and the rural pop sound of "Turncoat Indian." And some songs like "Running in Circles just exude fun and enthusiasm, with a simple dancey melody and some heavy instrumental layers. But only "Hypnotic Suggestion's" twisting electric riffs hint at the less conventional possibilities that lie under all the fuzz and hooks.



Usually there is a reason why songs are released in these compilations -- often they're not so good. The Apples in Stereo don't fall prey to that, although there isn't really a standout track here -- they're all pleasant, but none will make listeners shriek "wow!" and hit the repeat button. It's the sound of a brilliant young band still finding its way, and producing some pleasant tunes along the way.



A sense of infectious fun goes through all the songs. "Tidal Wave" is basically about splashing in puddles -- "Splish splash in a pool of puddle/don't trip up on a tidal wave - /you'll crash in a murky muddle." Sounds like the sort of fun, childlike song a hobbit would sing. With many bands it would sound trite, but it doesn't here.



Musically the Apples in Stereo show that they're not quite mature yet. The vocals are muffled under the music, rather than being balanced out with the instrumentation. And the fun sound is similarly muffled by the sometimes murky sound of the music, like "Motorcar" and "Haley" -- although I can't tell if the distractingly off-kilter riffs in "Haley" are meant to be that way.



Despite being not yet musically mature, "Science Faire" is a fun, slightly wild album by a band that has gone on to fulfill the promise they've shown here. A pleasant early work by the Apples in Stereo."

A really great album

E. A Solinas | 07/21/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is much better then you may expect. I listened to this for a few months before finally getting fun trick noise maker. I found the first versions of the songs from that album to be done with much more energy and enthusiasm here. Also, you get songs like Haley, and Motorcar, that are totaly great and apear on not another album... in my opionion this low fi outing is their best and most honest work. definitly worth while."