Nov 23, 2017
I remember when I first listened to this. I was like “this is nice” for two minutes and then it proceeded to destroy me.
seen from Italy
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seen from China
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seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States
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seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Slovakia
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seen from United States
seen from China
I remember when I first listened to this. I was like “this is nice” for two minutes and then it proceeded to destroy me.
Physical Media: The Appleseed Cast "Low Level Owl: Volumes I & II"
An ambitious double album that captures emo and post-rock in equal measure, The Appleseed Cast's Low Level Owl albums are, at their best, a new generation's take on prog (not in the complexity sense; more in the expansive sense) and, at their worst, wallpaper. These are albums that require investment, and the rewards are pleasant - but likely not incredibly memorable.
That said, these got a lot of play the summer I discovered them - at the time they were separate albums... seems they've been re-released as a double album - and they are certainly more summer than winter albums; there's a warmth and hopefulness wrapped in the reverb. Also to be noted, I love the production on this album, especially the drums. Start with "On Reflection" if you only have time for one song.
*Physical Media is the alphabetical revisiting of curated selections from my now dormant CD collection. I’ll share some music, some musings, and probably realize I can sell a lot of this stuff back at this point. Out of print or hard-to-find stuff without a digital presence to embed or link to is uploaded, but happy to remove if for some reason someone out there wants me to.
NEVER FORGET: The Appleseed Cast
NEVER FORGET is a semi-reoccurring feature looking back at overlooked emo bands from the late 1990's and early 2000's
Looking back at old emo bands seems lame because usually when old people suggest old bands to check out they aren't always immediately resonant (and usually those old people are self-righteous about what they define as "the good ol' days," ignoring the awesome new music being released at the time in the same or similar vein). That's not the case with The Appleseed Cast.
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FOR FANS OF:
Sunny Day Real Estate - LP2, American Football - American Football, Mineral - EndSerenading, Christie Front Drive - Stereo, The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - Whenever, If Ever, Owel - Owel, Gates - You Are All You Have Left To Fear, Moving Mountains - Moving Mountains
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DISCOGRAPHY:
The End Of The Ring Wars (1998) - thoroughly enjoyable debut and possibly the most genre-like album they ever did. There's a lot of Mineral and Christie Front Drive here and at first glance it might not sound wholly unique. No matter, it's still a great album with hints at what they would become (see "Stars") and an overlooked entry point into late-'90's/early-00's emo. This is great, but they get better. See "Marigold And Patchwork" and "Stars"
Mare Vitalis (2000) - I'm not really huge on this album as a whole but there are some amazing songs here and it really sets things up for their next album. This album deviates a little further away from their peers by utilizing more space. The drummer Josh Baruth is the album MVP and proves himself to be an intricate part of the Appleseed Cast aesthetic. See "Fishing The Sky" and "Forever Longing The Golden Sunsets"
Low Level Owl: Volume I, Low Level Owl: Volume II (2001) - It doesn't get better than this atmospheric double album. These albums should be in your top 10 all-time favorite emo albums, if not top 5. They took to the space they began exploring in *Mare Vitalis* and went further with it. They took the high-octave melodics and went further with it. They used atmospherics and ambient melodies unlike anyone in the genre had before (and since?). And yet it's never boring. It languidly bobs in and out of different melodies and feelings with such ease that you're always involved, always captivated. And those drums! Only the American Football album comes close to rivaling the creativity and expert execution of drum parts on these albums. See "Steps And Numbers" and the albums in their entirety
Two Conversations (2003) - It wouldn't be incorrect to say they went back to basics on this album, but that would undersell the impact of it. They certainly scaled back on songwriting compared to the Low Level Owl albums but they didn't abandon what they had created entirely. In fact this album is more a sum of all parts than anything they've released. This album is more direct, more driven, more accessible (?) and a little louder than their previous albums but still hyper-melodic, super emphatic and lyrically conceptual (break up album?). And great drumming. Don't forget the drums (see "Hanging Marionette")! If you don't have time for Low Level Owls this should be the one album of theirs you should check out. See "Hanging Marionette" and "Fight Song"
Peregrine (2006) - Time passes after Two Conversations, drummer Josh Baruth leaves, and the band starts to experiment outside of their first four albums. This album is heavier and less directional but still very much Appleseed Cast. They make use of more production techniques, more of an electronic palate, and harder, more simplified rhythms. This album is excellent but I fear it will always be overlooked and underrated. See "Feburary"
Sagarmartha (2010) - Possibly the most conventionally "weird" album of theirs. To me it's always seemed kind of unsure of itself and a little awkward but that gives it it's own unique character. It's almost like they decided to be a jam band without completely giving up their identity. That might sound weird but given the twists and turns these mostly instrumental songs take it kind of makes sense. This album will probably always be underrated and under appreciated because it's probably the least accessible album, but that doesn't mean it's bad or not worth hearing. It's pretty great if you pay attention to it and deserves your affection. See "The Summer Before"
Illumination Ritual (2013) - At this point almost the entire band is gone except for founding member, lead guitar and lead vocalist Chris Crisci. They're basically Built To Spill at this point: 3 or 4 young guys and the 1 remaining grey haired, bearded, brilliant lead singer/guitarist. This album is not a bad place to start in the Appleseed Cast catalog as it harkens back to Mare Vitalis in terms of songwriting, but utilizes everything they've done before, even bringing back the energetic and inventive drumming. It's bright and full of energy and a great start to what appears to be a new chapter to the band's (hopefully) continuing career. See "Great Lake Derelict" and "Barrier Islands (Do We Remain)"
---------- RELATED BANDS:
Old Canes - Lead singer Chris Crisci's side-project Old Canes is essentially his New Amsterdams and it's excellent. It's all the great pop-songs buried in the Appleseed Cast music brought to life in stripped-down acoustic instruments. Though both of their two albums are great I would recommend their first album Early Morning Hymns the most, putting it up there with Low Level Owl and Two Conversations.
Hundred Hands -
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PERSONAL FAVORITES RANKED:
1. Low Level Owl: Volume I, Low Level Owl: Volume II 2. Two Conversations 3. Sagarmartha 4. Peregrine 5. Illumination Ritual 6. The End Of The Ring Wars 7. Mare Vitalis
----- LINKS:
Official
Wikipedia
Bandcamp
Current Label: Graveface Records
If you're on the east coast you can catch The Appleseed Cast on tour with mewithoutyou on their 10th anniversary Catch For Us The Foxes tour
this is one of the best songs ever to get you pumped to go bike riding!!!
the Appleseed Cast is possibly one of the most under rated bands of all time.... check out Low Level Owl Vol 1 & 2....one of the best recorded albums ever....you would never guess it was made in Eudora, KS
The Appleseed Cast - On Reflection
On Reflection - The Appleseed Cast
THE APPLESEED CAST, (Live on Low Level Owl Tour).
One of the most amazing and underrated bands ever, the Appleseed Cast. I have a very personal relationship with this band and their albums, significantly "Low Level Owl", both parts. Their music have been with me during the most significant events of my waking life. They are everything, and they're playing this album live, back to back. I wish to see this live some day, I really hope I can. There's the kind of sunlight rock sound that only they have, mixed with the distant echoes of early emo movement aesthetics when it was not about haircuts or positions but about music. And this band steps beyond with timeless sound, staying true with new albums as well as the old ones.
