The Amazing Apples

Trying to prepare yourself to settle back into another week? Sunday going too fast for you? Then I am of absolutely no use to you as the same is happening to me. Still The Amazing Apples are good company for this period of secular purgatory.

From Galway, this 5 piece originally started as a covers band but have since moved on to create their original sounds. The band have been going strong since early 2008 but it is only this year that they have began releasing original material. Their debut e.p. titled 3 or 4 Shoes came out in May and managed to top the Irish download Charts. They just recently (last night at the time of writing) launched their first single "Head In the Clouds" which is off the e.p.

I wonder if The Amazing Apples are the aural equivalent of what this blog represents; the perfect mix of Irish traditional fused with the ethos of americana. The lead single "Head in the Clouds" starts off as a Waterboys-esque pop song with a snappy rhythm to it. The breakdown will draw obvious comparisons with "Come on Eileen" but the song manages to stay the right side of cliché to leave you singing it to yourself hours later. This is a live version from Saint Patrick's Day in Bucharest this year.

"Thinking about a walk" has a lovely waltz timing to it that fits just it perfectly with the theme of the song while "Lemon Lady" is a perfect slice of americana pop. The closing track on the e.p. "Escape" is what you might imagine how Snow Patrol would sound like if Gary Lightbody spent his formative years listening to The Grand Ole Opry Show. Some emo-americana rock but it works. All in all, an e.p. that above all demonstrates the potential this band has.

You can catch the band live this week if you are in Galway. They are supporting The Saw Doctors on Tuesday night (July 3) as part of the Volvo Ocean Race thingy and it's free. Why wouldn’t you go? Also check out their Facebook. You can purchase the e.p. on Itunes now or later if you wish (it'll still be there!).