010

They Say...

Review by Tim Sendra, All Music Guide

In 2004, the Apples in Stereo took a break and various members went to work on solo projects. Head Apple Robert Schneider hooked up with three musicians from his new hometown of Lexington, KY, formed Ulysses, and went the minimalist route. .010 was recorded live around one microphone in Schneider's garage with some vocal and synth overdubs added later. The result is predictably lo-fi and raw, with the sound built around buzzing analog synths and Schneider's clanging rhythm guitar. His songs are more direct as well, with simple chord changes and song structures framing personal lyrics that are mostly untempered by whimsy and driven by heartbreak and separation. Schneider's vocals are still on the cute side but surprisingly emotional; he often breaks into a speaker-rattling shout that is very out of character but very cool. At times recalling some of the beautifully bleak work of the Wedding Present around the time of Seamonsters, at times a barely under control Pavement circa Slanted & Enchanted, Ulysses casts aside any vestiges of neo-psych and heads right to the indie rock mainline. "Television," "Glacier," and "Change" all sound like they could have come out in 1992. If they had, listeners might be getting deluxe editions of .010 right about now and songs like the hooky "Burning You" and "Evening Star" would be on alt-rock classics compilations. That's not to say that when Schneider traded in his membership in the Elephant 6 psych club, he traded in his ability to craft splendid melodies, because he still can play that way. Now he uses his talents to break hearts ("The Falcon," "Her Silver Veil") instead of to make you giggle and swoon. Elephant 6 fans might not know quite what to make of a record that is so simple and honest; hopefully, they will give it a chance because it is as strong musically as anything the Apples in Stereo have done and 100 times as powerful emotionally.