When Appleseed Cast released "End of the Ring Wars" on Deep Elm Records, they were heralded as 'Yet Another SDRE Clone'. Listening to that CD, it's hard to argue otherwise. Much of EotRW did sound like "Diary" covers. However, by the time the "Low Level Owl" discs, there was no denying this band's creativity. Even if you were put off by the drawn out instrumentation, there were plenty of brilliant rock songs to enjoy. Appleseed has parted ways with Deep Elm and "Two Conversations" is their debut with Tiger Style Records.
So, tear off the plastic wrap, open the jewel case, briefly check out the liner booklet (no lyrics included), pop the disc in and for about two minutes of organ and guitar dueting, you're prepared for another epic Appleseed Cast masterpiece. But something happens at 2:07: loud crunching guitars. And then it hits you square in the face:
Two Conversations is a pop record.
After you recover, you realize this isn't such a bad thing. For the first time since their first CD, you can actually hear Chris Crisci's vocals above all the instruments. Interestingly, this isn't a major departure from the "Low Level Owl" discs. The pounding drumming is there. Ditto to the keyboards. And the guitars are just as noodley as ever. The difference is in the songwriting and the mixing. Ed Rose mixed "Two Conversations" to be a punchy catchy album. And there isn't a single instrumental track.
I have to say, I was a bit disappointed by the lyrics on this record. Chanting of "We could both be naked now and innocent" on Ice Heavy Branches is just a little too graphic an image for me. In the past, Crisci's lyrics were more obscure and since they were so low in the mix, you could barely hear them anyway.
Still, Two Conversations has some great tracks on it. Fight Song is a perfect blend of old and new styles. Also, "Hanging Marionettes" is one of the best songs in the Appleseed catalog.
It's hard to rate a straight ahead pop record. It doesn't bowl you over with its creativity. Nor is it an album you'll be telling your children about. But I've been listening to "Two Conversations" and Radiohead's - "Hail to the Thief" exclusively since they came out. It's interesting that such talented bands chose summer 2003 to release pop records. Maybe it's a hint of where popular music should be.
A-
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Trae CadenheadAppleseed Cast was one of the first bands to come along before emo was popular and to give meaning and definition to the genre. With their previous release Low Level Owl I & II the band ventured into more experimental territory, playing with an atmospheric sound that gave the music more originality and definition in the world of emo clones. Now Appleseed Cast has released the album that they were…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Jeff ElbelThe Appleseed Cast finished their Deep Elm tenure with an ambitious pair of albums in Low Level Owl parts I and II. The band's Tiger Style debut continues the band's effort to paint emotions and create heavy poetry, with or without the use of words. While the musical palette stresses atmosphere and space as before, the martial rhythms of drummer Josh Baruth are stressed on "Ice Heavy Branches,"…Similar sounding releases
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