The Apples in Stereo

It is, to borrow a (para) phrase from another time, like grunge never happened. If the
resurgence of Brit bands, bubblegum pop and disco isn't proof enough, consider the state
of late-'90s low-fi indie rock: Home recording and grass-roots ideologies remain prominent
but, aesthetically, bands like the Apples in Stereo aren't low-fi, indie or rock. The Apples'
debut, Fun Trick Noisemaker, came out in '95, making them the first band to eme... More >

Robert Schneider's second pass at homemade Beatles conquers his embarrassment over how much he adores this stuff. Stripped of sonic camouflage, the songs are consistently pretty, fanciful, and slight, as clear as existential questions can be. Half a dozen ways he wonders whether he can lose himself forever in this music--and by so doing, find himself. You don't have to believe in harmony to grant him the right to try. (Grade: A-)