After a five-year absence, Apples in Stereo have returned with a sprawling and lush masterpiece. Their founding principle of the DIY approach to recording has remained in place, but the nearly 15 years of technological progress has made such ways of working yield significantly more robust sounds. Robert Schneider’s songs have always harked back to the pop artistry of Brian Wilson and Jeff Lynne, as well as such near contemporaries as Pavement. New Magnetic Wonder offers a more lush sweep of sound. It’s varied, dazzling, and full of surprises. There’s the keyboard-based pop of “Same Old Drag,” the hypnotic muscle of “Sunndal Song” (sung by drummer Hilarie Sidney, who’s recently departed to work with her own band), and the sprawling, four-part “Beautiful Machine.” Depending on who’s listening and what song they’re hearing, there are many different ways to describe this band. Ultimately, they gently demand that you take them on their own terms, rewarding handsomely all those who make the glorious plunge.
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Thom Yorke, RadioHead frontman, just said the band won’t be repeating its initiative to let fans pay what they want for their downloads.
Here is the one artist that made me buy music for the first time on iTunes. Yes, I spent $.99/song for the first time this week. And you know what? It was well worth my money!
Here is one band that deserve your attention! Foals are an indie rock band from Oxford, England.