Fun Trick Noisemaker

Last updated
Fun Trick Noisemaker
Funtricknoisemakercover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 2, 1995
RecordedOctober 1994 – February 1995
Genre Psychedelic pop, indie rock, power pop
Length39:54
44:35 (Japanese release)
Label SpinART Records (spart 42),
Elephant 6
Producer Robert Schneider
the Apples in Stereo chronology
Hypnotic Suggestion EP
(1994)
Fun Trick Noisemaker
(1995)
Science Faire
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [2]

Fun Trick Noisemaker is the debut studio album by the Apples in Stereo. [3] It was recorded in a house in Los Angeles, in Robert Schneider's (at the time) portable Pet Sounds Studio. It was released in 1995 via SpinART. [4]

Contents

The album is perhaps the most raw example of the Apples, with the rather lo-fi recording values being eclipsed somewhat by their later efforts. It is one of the band's most critically lauded albums.

Though the album is an early effort in production by Schneider, he had previously had experience producing with the Apples in Stereo and his own solo project, Marbles. Learning to be a record producer since he was fifteen years old, his influence from producers such as Phil Spector and Brian Wilson led him to use the popular "Wall of Sound" production technique on Fun Trick Noisemaker. Several tracks (notably the opening song "Tidal Wave") have as many as ten guitars playing at any one time (usually eight rhythm guitars and two guitars used for solos).

The Japanese version of Fun Trick Noisemaker contains the extra tracks "Shine (In Your Mind)" and "Thank You Very Much". These tracks can be found in mp3 format on the Elephant 6 website. They were later included on the 2008 b-sides and rarities compilation, Electronic Projects for Musicians .

Production

Fun Trick Noisemaker was produced by Robert Schneider and engineered by the Apples in Stereo, with technical assistance from Kurt Heasley. The album was recorded on an 8-track analog from October 1994 to February 1995 at Brendt Larson's house (Glendora, CA) and Kyle Jones' house (Denver, CO). The LP was mastered by Paul Brekus, Aardvark Records. The CD was mastered by Park Peters, Audio Park.

The first track entitled "The Narrator" is an old 1960s recording describing the Relay 2 communications satellite. As described by Robert Schneider:

...It's from an old record that my friend Jeff [Mangum] found in a used record store one day. He was just listening to a bunch of old demonstration records and stuff, found that, and said 'Robert - you've gotta listen to this!' I listened to it, and said, 'Oh my god, that's the beginning of our album!' I cut it up a bit, the dialog - it's not exactly like it was, but pretty close. The record was printed for some convention in the '60s trying to determine what wavelength to use for satellite broadcasts, which was best suited for stereo music programs. It wasn't really released, it was just for this conference. We were only able to track down one person who was involved. He's some executive now, and he just said 'yeah, go ahead, use it.'

The cover art for Fun Trick Noisemaker is from prolific artist Steve Keene. Robert Schneider, familiar with Keene's work on a Silver Jews record, contacted Keene about doing the cover. Keene sent him several paintings (about thirty six), and the band picked eight for final production. [5] The original CD packaging liner notes were printed in a manner that they could be unfolded and re-folded to show a different cover. The back cover art was done by William Cullen Hart.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Robert Schneider except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."The Narrator"0:35
2."Tidal Wave" (R. Schneider/Chris Parfitt)3:26
3."High Tide"2:33
4."Green Machine"2:50
5."Winter Must Be Cold" (Hilarie Sidney)3:16
6."She's Just Like Me / Taking Time"4:36
7."Glowworm"3:02
8."Dots 1-2-3" (Jim McIntyre/R. Schneider)2:31
9."Lucky Charm"3:26
10."Innerspace" (R. Schneider/John Hill)2:36
11."Show the World"2:29
12."Love You Alice / D"4:27
13."Pine Away"4:07
Total length:39:54
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
14."Shine (In Your Mind)"3:36
15."Thank You Very Much"1:05
Total length:44:35

Personnel

The Apples in Stereo

As they appear on the sound recording:

Other performers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elephant 6</span> American musical collective

The Elephant 6 Recording Company is a loosely defined musical collective from the United States. Notable bands associated with the collective include The Apples in Stereo, Beulah, Circulatory System, Elf Power, The Minders, Neutral Milk Hotel, of Montreal, and The Olivia Tremor Control. Although bands in Elephant 6 explore many different genres, they have a shared interest in psychedelic pop of the 1960s, with particular influence from bands such as the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and the Zombies. Their music sometimes features intentionally low fidelity production and experimental recording techniques.

<i>Raw Power</i> 1973 studio album by Iggy and the Stooges

Raw Power is the third studio album by American rock band the Stooges, released on February 7, 1973 by Columbia Records. The album departed from the "groove-ridden, feel-based songs" of the band's first two records in favor of a more anthemic hard rock approach inspired by new guitarist James Williamson, who co-wrote the album's eight songs with singer Iggy Pop. Pop produced the recording sessions himself and David Bowie assisted with post-production work, though the team were allotted only one day to mix the album and the resulting fidelity was poor. Later reissues have attempted to either correct or enhance the original mix, most notably Pop's 1997 remix, which became notorious for its extreme volume and compression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Mangum</span> Neofolk musician from the United States

Jeffrey Nye Mangum is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who gained prominence as the founder, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist of Neutral Milk Hotel, as well for his co-founding of The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Mangum is characterized for his complex, lyrically dense songwriting, exemplified on the critically lauded album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, as well as for his public image as a recluse associated with his extended periods of musical inactivity and minimal press interaction. An article published in Slate described Mangum as the "Salinger of Indie Rock." In 2023 Jeff Mangum received a Grammy award nomination for "Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package".

<i>In the Aeroplane Over the Sea</i> 1998 studio album by Neutral Milk Hotel

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the second and final studio album by the American band Neutral Milk Hotel, released on February 10, 1998, by Merge Records. The album is predominantly indie rock and psychedelic folk and is characterized by an intentionally low-quality sound. Traditional indie rock instruments like the guitar and drums are paired with less conventional instruments like the singing saw and uilleann pipes. The lyrics are surrealistic and opaque, exploring themes that range from nostalgia to love. An important influence for the album was The Diary of a Young Girl, a book of writings from the diary of Anne Frank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Apples in Stereo</span> American pop/rock band

The Apples in Stereo are an American indie rock band associated with Elephant 6 Collective, a group of bands also including Neutral Milk Hotel, The Olivia Tremor Control, Elf Power, of Montreal, and Circulatory System. The band is largely a product of lead vocalist/guitarist/producer Robert Schneider, who writes the majority of the band's music and lyrics. Currently, The Apples in Stereo also includes longstanding members John Hill and Eric Allen (bass), as well as more recent members John Dufilho (drums), John Ferguson (keyboards), and Ben Phelan (keyboards/guitar/trumpet).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Olivia Tremor Control</span> American rock band

The Olivia Tremor Control is an American psychedelic band from Athens, Georgia. The band's main line-up consists of Will Cullen Hart, Bill Doss, Eric Harris, John Fernandes, and Peter Erchick. The Olivia Tremor Control's music combines indie rock and neo-psychedelia, taking influence from psychedelic pop bands of the 1960s, such as the Beach Boys and the Beatles.

<i>Velocity of Sound</i> 2002 studio album by The Apples in Stereo

Velocity of Sound is the fifth studio album by The Apples in Stereo, released in October 2002. The American release has an orange album cover, while the European version is green and the Japanese version is blue. The bonus track is also different for each version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Schneider</span> American musician

Robert Peter Schneider is an American musician and mathematician. He is the lead singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer of rock/pop band the Apples in Stereo and has produced and performed on albums by Neutral Milk Hotel, the Olivia Tremor Control and a number of other psychedelic and indie rock bands. Schneider co-founded The Elephant 6 Recording Company in 1992. He received a PhD in mathematics from Emory University in 2018. As of September 2022, he is an Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Michigan Technological University.

<i>Tone Soul Evolution</i> 1997 studio album by The Apples in Stereo

Tone Soul Evolution is the second album from The Apples in Stereo. It was recorded from February to June and released in September 1997.

<i>The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone</i> 2000 studio album by The Apples in Stereo

The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone (2000) is the fourth album from The Apples in Stereo. It received generally good reviews as a showcase for the band's experimental/psychedelic pop.

<i>Lets Go!</i> (EP) 2001 EP by The Apples in Stereo

Let's Go! is a 2001 EP by The Apples in Stereo. It contains five songs.

<i>Science Faire</i> 1996 compilation album by The Apples in Stereo

Science Faire is a compilation album by indie pop Elephant 6 group The Apples in Stereo. The album consists of two EPs and various singles that were released from 1993 to 1995, leading up to the production of Fun Trick Noisemaker. All of the selections were recorded the summers of 1993 and 1994 and appear on the compilation in the order they were recorded.

Lilys are an American shoegaze band formed in Washington, D.C in 1988. The only constant member is Kurt Heasley, with the line-up changing regularly. Several of the band's tracks have been used in television advertisements, including the band's biggest hit, "A Nanny In Manhattan", which reached No. 16 in the UK after being used in a Levi's advertisement directed by Roman Coppola.

<i>New Magnetic Wonder</i> 2007 studio album by The Apples in Stereo

New Magnetic Wonder is the sixth studio album from The Apples in Stereo. The album was produced by Robert Schneider with additional production and mixing by Bryce Goggin and was recorded in four separate states. The album was released on February 6, 2007 via a co-venture between the actor Elijah Wood's Simian Records, Yep Roc Records and Elephant 6.

<i>Look Away + 4</i> 2000 EP by The Apples in Stereo

Look Away + 4 is the third EP from The Apples in Stereo. It contains five songs, featuring the song "Look Away" from the album The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone. The other four songs were previously featured on the Japanese version of the 1999 album Her Wallpaper Reverie.

<i>Sound Effects: 1992–2000</i> 2001 compilation album by The Apples in Stereo

Sound Effects is a 2001 compilation album by indie pop Elephant Six group The Apples in Stereo. The album was originally released in the United Kingdom and Japan as an introduction to the band that spans music from 1992 to 2000. It features remastered songs from other albums as well as exclusive radio mixes and acoustic outtakes.

Jim McIntyre is a musician best known as the man behind the Elephant 6 band Von Hemmling. He was also the original bassist for The Apples in Stereo before leaving in 1993. He has written or co-written many early songs for the band, including "Stop Along the Way", "Touch The Water", "To Love The Vibration Of The Bulb" and "Dots 1-2-3". He also plays bass on several tracks that appear on the debut album Fun Trick Noisemaker, as well as engineering and performing on other Apples in Stereo albums. An incarnation of Robert Schneider's Pet Sounds Studio was located at McIntyre's residence, where influential albums such as In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel were recorded.

<i>Tidal Wave</i> (The Apples EP) 1993 EP by The Apples

Tidal Wave 7" is the debut release by The Apples. The EP, released in 1993, was the first official release under the Elephant 6 Recording Co. label.

<i>Hypnotic Suggestion</i> 1994 EP by The Apples in Stereo

Hypnotic Suggestion EP is the second EP by The Apples in Stereo. The record was released in 1994.

<i>Electronic Projects for Musicians</i> 2008 compilation album by The Apples in Stereo

Electronic Projects for Musicians is a b-sides and rarities compilation album by the indie rock band The Apples in Stereo. It was released April 1, 2008 under the Simian Records, Yep Roc Records, and Elephant 6 labels. It can be seen as a companion to Science Faire, a 1996 compilation that collects recordings from the band released prior to their first album.

References

  1. "Fun Trick Noisemaker - The Apples in Stereo | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  2. Christgau, Robert. "The Apples in Stereo". Robert Christgau.
  3. "TrouserPress.com :: Apples". www.trouserpress.com.
  4. Jenkins, Mark (December 8, 1995). "TASTY LIPS" via www.washingtonpost.com.
  5. Robert Schneider. "Apples in Stereo - Biography". Hip Online. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-29.