I hadn’t listened to an Apples in Stereo album in probably ten years, but I went down to Revolution last night hungry for some sugary-sweet power pop goodness. I got that, though perhaps I didn’t really understand the fullness of sugary-sweet power pop goodness.

Aside from being a little too busy, the band — made up of two guitars, two keyboards, bass and drums — did derivative pop well, particularly on a long “Magical Mystery Tour”-style psychedelic workout that I didn’t recognize. Lots of Moog and feedback. The medium sized crowd (strong on a Sunday night, I thought) of mostly young folk seemed to loooove every minute, especially when the band played songs that everyone knows because they’re on car commercials (see here, here and here).

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But ultimately, even more than on their albums, it didn’t take long for the preciousness to wear thin. There’s only so long you can listen to a eunuch-y front man sing about birds and clouds and energy and not want to throw-up.

Ah, but I’ve got a dark heart. Anyone else catch the show?

Also, my near throw-up aside, props to Chris King for taking another risk on the kind of indie band we rarely get in these parts.

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