Things have been stressful lately. The little things. Worrying about graduation and my future employment (or lack thereof). Trying to finish off my super late senior project. Washing dishes. Eating regularly. Trying to save abandoned kittens. Worrying over whether my office-mate’s boyfriend having swine flu means I should panic every time she sneezes.

It’s not so much that any one thing is particularly difficult, it’s just that between classes and work I’m normally really tired and have very little free time during which I’m not sleeping.

Enter, The Apples in Stereo. They make my life happier. To me they sound like The Beatles meet modern indie pop. I like it so much. “The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone [sic]” has particularly caught my fancy. It’s just such a charming mix of musical styles and lyrics. So much fun. There are also about 18 different little things that catch my attention and make me really happy:

1. A brass section: Brass makes everything better. Much like strings and pianos, brass just lends a little extra something that makes me instantly fall in love. Honestly, I can’t think of one song that makes use of a brass section that I don’t like.
2. Backup vocals: they are done perfectly. Subtle in places, outrageous in others, the backup vocals add some more depth to their already complex songs. I don’t know how to describe it really. It’s almost like how one line is 1D, two is 2D, and if you position that third line right, three make 3D. For each extra voice, an extra dimension is added to the song.
3. Clapping: They do it a lot. I love songs with clapping. I collect them, even.
4. That old-timey feel: seriously, these songs make me feel as if i should be wearing go-go boots or something. But it feels old in the best way possible. Giving that vintage feel to freshly written music I find impressive. Also impressive is the fact that they make use of all sorts of technologies in their music making and recording process that obviously don’t place in the 1960’s or 1970’s, but they still feel at home.
5. Cow-bells, tambourine, and those shaky maraca-like things: there is such a wide array of simple instruments that are often forgot about. in the rush for the biggest and best, some good ole cowbell is often forgotten. Not by these guys.
6. Midi-bass lines: More people need to implement the midi-bass line, me thinks. It kicks the shit out of most other bass lines I’ve ever heard. Perhaps I’ll start collecting midi-bass Lines. I think that would be a short list.

You get the point.

What to take away?

The Apples in Stereo pack all sorts of awesome into their songs. They are filled to capacity without sounding over crowded. They’re damn good. They do a good job of destressifying (a very technical word) without over-hyping. They just subliminally encourage you to get a subtle groove on. This groove may build up over time.

What to Expect?

Vintage sounding indie-pop tracks, most of which are perfect for a good morning pump-up session.

What to Pair it With?

Lithuanian Sparkling Wine. Bubbly, sweet, delicious, and a little bit off the beaten path.

Favorite Song?

“Go” by far. It’s totally my “I hate the morning, and need something to make me stop being a terrible grump” song. It usually works.

I’ve been a fan of Our Lady Peace since I was in 9th grade. Spiritual Machines had just come out, and to my angsty teenage mind their new single “Life” seemed like the most poignant song in the history of mankind.

I then went out and bought every single album in their catalog. Bought. Legitimately bought. I was in love.

This love was not short lived. It flourished and thrived and with every new album came a gleeful trip to the store. 2006 was the last year an Our Lady Peace album was released. I keep looking, though. Fingers crossed, hoping.

There hasn’t been any.

Raine Maida must have been sensing my inner turmoil, and to appease me he released a solo venture.

Only I missed it.

2007 saw his solo album “The Hunter’s Lullaby” released, but I didn’t see it until a little while ago. Sometimes I get so bogged down with music I end up missing those musicians I love the most.

Luckily, my co-conspirator on this website asked me if there were any albums I wanted. He was placing a music order (for real, honest, tangible CDs). I ran through my staple loves, looking for new music. First time I’ve done that in a while, and was intrigued to see new Raine Maida. I mentioned it, and Jacob was good enough to get it.

If you’ve never thought of combining folk and hip-hop, you’re probably in good company. Thankfully, that company doesn’t include Raine.

The album is definitely distinct from the music of Our Lady Peace. Raine takes to talking for most of the album, falling into a 1970’s performance poem kind of feel.

This fits perfect since Raine writes very poetically driven music, and hearing it presented in this manner feels perfectly natural… Except I feel as if Raine really wanted to rap, but knew that it just wouldn’t work out well for him. I can sense restraint in his talking/singing. I’m okay with it.

Elements of folk and hip-hop merge seamlessly here on this album. Acoustic instruments and hip-hop drums. Piano. Strings. This album really covers the gauntlet, though the folk and hip-hop are really the most overwhelming of influences.

The album also has a song that fills into my niche playlist of “clapping”, which makes me happy. More on that later.

The album is a solid album, in my opinion. I just have one minor qualm: it’s just a bit more than ‘chill’, but just shy of being ‘high-energy.’

I wish the tempo of most of the songs was upped just a bit. As always, this is just my personal preference. I like fast. I like high-energy. Or, I like music that I can happily nap to. This doesn’t really fit either bill, but I still definitely enjoy.

This album also may contain the only song to mention the creators of South Park. Positively. Raine Maida is Canadian, but apparently thinks nothing of an occasional jab at his heritage.

What to take away?

This album is nothing like Our Lady Peace, but that’s okay.

What to expect?

Folk and hip-hop with Raine Maida talking over it.

Drink to pair with it?

I feel like this music is perfect for a cafe, especially a European one. But black coffee doesn’t fit the bill. I’m going to have to say a Hot Toddy. I think Hot Balzam and Black Current Juice.

Favorite Song?

It’s gonna have to be the single “Yellow Brick Road“. It’s one of the faster paced and catchier of the songs on the album. If more of the songs on the album had a similar tempo to this I’d be extremely pleased.