It’s only 2009, but there’s already a Blog Tour going on for the 10 Best of the Decade. If you want a great way to catch up on what you’ve missed in the 2000s, then check out the link. I’ll admit it, I’m taking notes as I follow along. Continue reading →
the appleseed cast
27
Apr 09
The End of the Ring Wars (1998) by The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast
The End of the Ring Wars
1998, Deep Elm Records
emo, indie rock
½
One of my favorite things as a music lover and the blogger here is to find the old albums of a band or an artist I particularly like. I came across this debut of The Appleseed Cast, and like many other debut albums by other artists, it was almost completely dissimilar to their most recent work. This album has a harder, more desperate (not in a good way) edge to it that brings to mind a child trying to make their mark on the world rather than a group sharing their inspiration to a listener. It’s been lambasted enough by more popular critics so I won’t completely disparage it. After all, it was a product of the times (think Sunny Day Real Estate) and there were still hints of what they would become in “On Sidewalks” and “The Last Ring.” A must for the diehard AC fan, but not necessarily for anyone else.
“On Sidewalks,” “The Last Ring,” “Marigold & Patchwork.”
myspace, last.fm
The Appleseed Cast’s Peregrine, Poets of the Fall’s Revolution Roulette
26
Mar 09
Sagarmatha (2009) by The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast
Sagarmatha
2009, The Militia Group
post-rock, indie
½
If Peregrine was The Appleseed Cast’s epic concept album, Sagarmatha is their most aesthetically pleasing. While not as cohesive, there is a certain honesty and root-sy rock throughout Sagarmatha that lifts this album to the top of the post-rock heap. Over time, it seems the band has learned that the simplest beats are the most unique. They’ve returned to their roots in End of Ring Wars, softened their sound, and managed to create something new in the process. This will probably be the understated great album of their career and of this year’s releases.
