The Apples In Stereo

Neutral Milk Hotel Re-Issues Planned

Early material from Neutral Milk Hotel is set to be gathered on two new re-issues courtesy of Fire Records.

Led by Jeff Mangum, Neutral Milk Hotel emerged from the same Elephant 6 collective which spawned The Apples in stereo. Unlike Apples, however, the band's material tended to stray on the dark side of psychedelia.

Deeply experimental, second album 'In The Aeroplane Over The Sea' is widely held up as the band's finest moment. With Jeff Mangum now active after a period outside of music, it is perhaps time for Neutral Milk Hotel's back catalogue to be assessed as a whole.

Fire Records have stepped in to secure two new re-issues. Early single 'Everything Is' will be pressed onto seven inch vinyl for a new release later this year, followed by debut album 'On Avery Island'.

Suitably gorgeous, 'Everything Is' remains a fantastic starting point for entry into Neutral Milk Hotel. The band's first release, it found Jeff Mangum beginning to broaden his vision of the group.

The line up then steadies, with sessions for a debut album beginning shortly afterwards. 'On Avery Island' was initially released in 1996 and gained a cult following. Despite the strength of its songwriting the album sadly remains in the shadow of 'In The Aeroplane Over The Sea'.

Hopefully the new re-issue will shine new light on the project. 'On Avery Island' will be re-issued on August 22nd, available on CD and on both red and yellow vinyl although sadly there is no bonus material to speak of.

Coinciding with Jeff Mangum's re-emergence the new re-issues are a timely reminder of just how thought provoking and evocative Neutral Milk Hotel could be.

'Everything Is' will be released on August 8th before 'On Avery Island' follows suit on August 22nd.

Also Tonight: The Apples in Stereo - SSG Music | SSG Music

It’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure to write about a night of pure indie-pop joy. Tonight, The Crocodile is hosting the amazing lineup of The Apples in Stereo , Fol Chen , and Seattle’s own BOAT . While The Apples in Stereo are the most experimental in sound, all three have that cutesy lo-fi pop sound that makes them so charming.

The Apples in Stereo have had their finger’s in numerous pots. In 2000 they contributed the song “Signal in the Sky (Let’s Go)” for the Cartoon Network show The Powerpuff Girls from the keyboard. While the song “Dance Floor” isn’t the most danceable, it’s probably one of their ambitious songs recently, with multiple keyboards and Schneider’s falsetto voice singing about how there are no more dance floors. The entire album is a lo-fi disco dream, with plenty of indie pop charm.