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Appleseed Cast

Low Level Owl: Vol II
2001
Deep Elm

Appleseed Cast - Low Level Owl: Vol II (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Anchors
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Deep Elm Records (Logo)

Published on December 17th 2004

I've always enjoyed the works of The Appleseed Cast. They just had a way about them. Incorporating beautiful, haunting vocals, dissonant guitars, and dense atmopsherics. All this with well-written but abstract poetic lyrics. When added up, you've got yourself a good product.

This is exemplified well by Low Level Owl Volume Two.

The Appleseed Cast have a certain way about them, a way that incorporates so much through so many layers, but is able to simplify it all. The added synth does not clutter, as some bands all too often let happen. Everything flows, and everything meshes.

The Appleseed Cast do not hold true to a specific song structure here, and it adds so much to the music. Nothing feels put in as a rush decision to fill space, nothing feels uneccessary. Every synth string is perfectly plucked, every tap on the snare drum glides seamlessly into the guitar chord or piano key that follows. Continuity is the word folks, and this album is where to find it. Along with that goes atmosphere. And that's what they're trying to create. A vast scape of sounds, that put you in such a mindset that everything is slowed down. You here every single chord, tap on the wood block, ring of a sleigh bell. It's all there for you.

Another good adjective for this ambitious project: epic. They're trying to pick up exactly where Volume One left off, yet do so much more with it. Where as Volume One was more centered on a hook and a rhythm, this takes you past that. There's not many rising crescendos, or momentum changing splashes; it's all about mood. I found myself sometimes not realizing it was the same song any longer; I was that entranced. Not the "this shits so boring I want to sleep" entranced, but the kind where you're following so intently that everything the music does to you subconsiously comes to the forefront. The vocals are far less apparent than on previous efforts, save "A Place In Line," where the lyrics serve as a rare centerpiece.

That's not where this album's strength lies, however. Listen to "Confession," the album's closer, if you want a true feel for what's trying to be accomplished here. The sheer beauty in this song is overwhelming. The piano and guitar loops and drum machine creates such an eerie calm and such an atmosphere that you can do nothing but listen intently. Amazement in its simplicity: that's where the true strength lies. The inctricity in some of the moments of this album are mindblowing, but when it's stripped down to nothing it shines just as brightly.

This album is good folks, real good. Your head will swirl around everything there is to hear, and not let you back down until the feedback has subsided. It's a far cry from the wrenching End Of The Ring Wars or Mare Vitalis, but it's so epic in scope and granduer that you'll toss those to the side. Find it, own it, love it, just don't expect to fully understand it; that's not why it was made. Your fifty-five minutes will be some of the best you've spent.



People who liked this also liked:
Explosions In the Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold Dead PlaceJimmy Eat World - Bleed AmericanPelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the ThawLatterman - ...We Are Still AliveSunny Day Real Estate - DiaryAmerican Football - American FootballCircle Takes The Square - As The Roots UndoThe Fall Of Troy - DoppelgängerRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeSet Your Goals - Mutiny!



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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 9, 2005 at 8:27 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    No word can fully describe this album. Along with vol 1 this is some of the best music you'll ever hear.

    Posted by ThriveToFailure on 2004-12-22 16:34:50
    My Score:

    Score is for Mogwai, Modest Mouse (yes, even 'Good News...), and the cast of 'Appleseed'

    Posted by insinceredave on 2004-12-22 13:07:03
    My Score:

    A really Great band!

    -insincere dave (being sincere)

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at 8:32 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    there is nothing mainstreat about modest mouse.. well, i'll have to agree "float on" is terrible. but that's about it. nice work on that fugazi review.

    WNB
    -jd

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at 11:25 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "The Moon and Antarctica" was also on Sony. Not indie.

    -Chinatown

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 20, 2004 at 11:04 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i forgot to take credit for the post below.

    WNB
    -jd

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 20, 2004 at 11:03 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    this score is for chinatown- before good news for people..., everything about modest mouse was indie.

    stop name dropping fugazi albums too... it's offensive.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 20, 2004 at 9:11 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I was quoting the morons on this site that call anything that's more complex than a 4/4 beat and three chords "indie hipster crap". I am aware they're completely unrelated.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 2:20 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Did someone just call Modest Mouse and Franz Ferdinand "indie"?

    -Chinatown

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-19 13:58:50
    My Score:

    Explosions In The Sky are incredible. Mogwai are pretty solid in their own right.

    Not so much into Franz Ferdinand, though.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 10:59 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Is mentioning Explosions In The Sky not dangerous on this site? Surely a thousand morons shouting how much they hate Mogwai and Modest Mouse usually follows ('cause y'know, if you like EITS you must like Mogwai, Franz Ferdinand and every other unrelated "indie" band ever).

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 1:49 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i really love both volume I and II. but that's also because i get stoned often.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2004-12-19 01:22:42
    My Score:

    I don't know about this, but Volume 1 just sounded like a mix between Sunny Day Real Estate and Explosions in the Sky.

    Sounds great on paper, sure, but it's pretty dull for the most part.

    Posted by boldredletters on 2004-12-18 10:22:25
    My Score:

    another word for this album: boring. i couldn't get into this band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 18, 2004 at 12:27 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    so i heard this band was better than aiden.....whoa!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 17, 2004 at 11:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I introduced this band to my firend, and now he swears by them. Sadly, my interest only lasted a few months.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 17, 2004 at 11:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Both volumes got great reviews, but I just couldn't get into them. Not enough wackiness I suppose. I hope my review for "End Hits" gets posted...

    -Chinatown