Apollo Sunshine | Katonah
Holy Smokes. Apollo Sunshine's Katonah finally sunk in today for the first time after about 3 listens. It finally connected in that way that makes you wonder, "what the hell was I hearing before" and "how is this not the biggest band in the 'semi-popular music' world right now". The album has so much of what I love in music. The quirky beauty of the best baroque pop (a la The Flaming Lips), harmonies that remind me of Queen, complexity and technical proficiency used in a tasteful way that ADDS to the music (a la Frank Zappa), and emotive vocals and catchy hooks (a la Ben Folds), all with an underlying Beatles influence throughout. All of this wrapped up into one tight trio (now a quartet). And usually all within the same song. Some of the highlights on the album include:

• "I Was on the Moon" which features one of the coolest and unique simple chord progressions that would make Lennon proud, it will have you singing and dancing in your chair
  
• "Happening" which just flat out rocks.
  
• "The Egg" is a very cool "Magical Mystery Tour" type Beatles tune, there are twists and turns throughout the song with tons of texture added by backwards guitar, sporadic keyboards parts and a very cool "cannon" vocal part to close the song.
  
• The highlight of the album for me though is the slow and beautiful "power" ballad, "Conscious Pilot", it reminds me of my favorite Weezer song "Only in Dreams", it starts simple and slow like a pretty Ben Folds ballad, with unique and interesting lyrics over mesmerizing arpeggios with backwards guitar adding texture. it slowly grows and builds into this monster at the end that will have you playing some of the meanest air-guitar going, using technical proficiency in a way not to show off, but to add intensity to the climax of this beast of a song.

Anyways, like I said, this album honestly took about 3 listens for me to totally fall head over heels in love with it. If any or all of these influences sound good to you though, give this album a shot as it will likely do the same to you. - G$H