Search - U.S. Maple :: Acre Thrills

Lets get started

blah | kanada | 04/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"ok all you usmaple virgins, lets get started! this is a good place to start. id say this is an improvement on talker, which was hurt slightly by its murky production. this has something for every aspiring art rocker. it has some catchy material(open a rose, troop and trouble) and the complete redefinition of the ballad(chang, youre attractive) if you didnt like usm before, you prolly wont like them now, but thats ok cause we dont need you. it is hard to explain why usmaple are so good(every fan has the same plight when explaining them to friends). i will let someone else attempt this feat. what i will say is that usmaple is easily the most important rock group of the last 5 years. it is both a spoof and sincere statement on rock. it is both a joke and the most serious music you have ever heard. unlike improvised music, it is full of references, but unlike most bland indierock, it doesnt have boundaries sincerely"

Debunking some myths . . .

El DZ | Chicago, IL USA | 05/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There seems to be some debate -- don't ask me how this debate was initiated -- as to whether U.S. Maple are virtuoso musicians constructing amazingly complex musical pieces or whether they are a bunch of amateur hacks randomly scraping guitar strings and rattling drum kits. The first time I saw them in performance I had already been convinced that the former was true . . . any thorough listening to any of their works reveals the not-so-hidden genius of their musical artistry. After seeing them live for the first time, performing SANG PHAT EDITOR in its entirety, I was stunned to a point of speechlessness. One might say that they have an antagonistic relationship with the audiences in front of whom they play their utterly unique style of rock; I say that it is more of a display of musicianship not often witnessed by typical music fans, especially in the small clubs and the various holes in the wall in which these guys typically play. That night, U.S. Maple replicated every seemingly random musical event that occurs on SANG PHAT EDITOR, leaving a room full of innocent patrons speechless out of either awe or confusion . . . it was simply amazing. More recently, I've had the privilege of witnessing two similar live replications of ACRE THRILLS, and my feelings haven't changed a bit. It seems that U.S. Maple does the impossible every time they play one of their structurally warped songs note-for-note, warble-for-warble, rattle-for-rattle . . . but, let me tell you, that is exactly what they do . . . and in unbelievable fashion. In a tired environment of indie-rock posturing and imitation, these guys have somehow invented a new type of music. Their style is definitely not for everyone, but -- for interested and curious music lovers -- ACRE THRILLS is a fine place to start."

Neat-o

pretzel_logic | cleveland ohio | 06/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I like offbeat music, but not usually non-music. US Maple is NOT nonmusic, and this CD is fun to listen to. I love "Open a Rose" - it has a beat! Mmm, good CD. Keeps on giving."