Fun Trick Noisemaker
Encyclopedia
Fun Trick Noisemaker is the debut studio album from The Apples in Stereo
, recorded in a house in Los Angeles
, in Robert Schneider
's (at the time) portable Pet Sounds Studio. 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
.
The first track entitled "The Narrator" is an old 1960s recording describing the Relay 2 communications satellite
. As described by Robert Schneider:
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. 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.
The Apples in Stereo
The Apples in Stereo, styled The Apples in stereo, is an American indie rock band associated with The Elephant Six Collective, a group of bands also including Neutral Milk Hotel and The Olivia Tremor Control. The band is largely a product of lead vocalist/guitarist Robert Schneider, who writes the...
, recorded in a house in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, in Robert Schneider
Robert Schneider
Robert Peter Schneider is one of the co-founders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company, along with Will Cullen Hart, Bill Doss, and Jeff Mangum...
's (at the time) portable Pet Sounds Studio. 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
Marbles (band)
Marbles is the solo recording project of The Apples in Stereo singer and chief songwriter Robert Schneider. The project started out in 1993 when Schneider would record his various musical endeavors on cassette for various people he knew, but was somewhat abandoned as the Apples got off the ground...
. Learning to be a record producer since he was fifteen years old, his influence from producers such as Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
and Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
led him to use the popular "Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
" 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
Electronic Projects for Musicians
Electronic Projects for Musicians is a b-sides and rarities compilation album by The Apples in Stereo. It was released April 1, 2008 under the Simian Records, Yep Roc Records, and Elephant 6 labels...
.
Track listing
All tracks written by Robert Schneider except where noted.- "The Narrator" – 0:35
- "Tidal Wave" (R. Schneider/C. ParfittChris ParfittChris Parfitt is an American guitarist who was one of the founding members of the Elephant 6 indie pop band The Apples in Stereo. Before his 1993 departure, he co-wrote the songs "Tidal Wave" and "Not the Same" with Robert Schneider and his performances appear on the band's original self-titled EP...
) – 3:26 - "High Tide" – 2:33
- "Green Machine" – 2:50
- "Winter Must Be Cold" (H. Sidney) – 3:16
- "She's Just Like Me / Taking Time" – 4:36
- "Glowworm" – 3:02
- "Dots 1-2-3" (J. McIntyre/R. Schneider) – 2:31
- "Lucky Charm" – 3:26
- "Innerspace" (R. Schneider/J. Hill) – 2:36
- "Show The World" – 2:29
- "Love You Alice / D" – 4:27
- "Pine Away" – 4:07
- "Shine (In Your Mind)" – 3:36 (Japanese release only)
- "Thank You Very Much" – 1:05 (Japanese release only)
The Apples in Stereo
As they appear on the sound recording:- Hilarie SidneyHilarie SidneyHilarie Sidney is a musician most famously recognized as the longtime drummer for The Apples in Stereo. She was previously married to Apples in Stereo frontman and Elephant 6 co-founder Robert Schneider. Their divorce became publicly acknowledged in 2004...
- drums, vocals, guitar, maraca, bells - Robert SchneiderRobert SchneiderRobert Peter Schneider is one of the co-founders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company, along with Will Cullen Hart, Bill Doss, and Jeff Mangum...
- vocals, guitars, piano, melodica, Jupiter and Moog keyboards, bass - John HillJohn Hill (musician)John Hill is an American guitarist best recognized as a member of The Apples in Stereo and Dressy Bessy.Hill, a college friend of drummer Hilarie Sidney and bassist Jim McIntyre, joined The Apples in January, 1994 after the departure of lead guitarist Chris Parfitt...
- guitars, vocals, bass
Other performers
- Jim McIntyre - bass on tracks 2, 4, 8 and 12
- Kurt Heasley - guitar on track 3, vocals, tambourine
- Joel Evans - bass on track 10
- Jeff MangumJeff MangumJeff Mangum is a musician best known for being the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of the band Neutral Milk Hotel, as well as being one of the cofounders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Mangum, along with the other founding members of the Elephant 6, attended Ruston High School in the late...
- bass on track 7 - Kyle Jones - vocals
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
Relay program
The Relay program consisted of Relay 1 and Relay 2, two early American satellites. Both were primarily experimental communications satellites funded by NASA and developed by RCA. As of September 12, 2009, both satellites were still in orbit...
. As described by Robert Schneider:
The cover art for Fun Trick Noisemaker is from prolific artist Steve Keene
Steve Keene
Stephen Keene is an American artist who believes in mass producing hand painted works of art for the masses. He was called the "Assembly-Line Picasso" by Time magazine...
. Robert Schneider, familiar with Keene's work on a Silver Jews
Silver Jews
Silver Jews was an indie rock band from New York City, formed in 1989 by David Berman along with Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Berman remained throughout and was the only constant member. During the last few albums, Cassie Berman became a regular member of the band...
record, contacted Keene about doing the cover. Keene sent him several paintings (about thirty six), and the band picked eight for final production. 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.
External links
- Japanese bonus tracks in MP3 format
- Album art and liner notes at Optical Atlas