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Apple O´

I didn't get into Deerhoof until after the release of their acclaimed 2005 album The Runners Four, but, for reasons lost to the mists of time, the first record of theirs I bought was Apple O´ from 2003: perhaps it was more readily-available via Amazon UK at that point, or just slightly cheaper. In any case, it made a favourable impression, and I obtained The Runners Four soon afterwards, along with the Green Cosmos EP.

Allmusic reviewer Heather Phares wrote "As the title implies, Apple O' (my eye) revolves around the band's musings on love, sex, and creation". But is the last character in the title really an apostrophe, when, on the cover, it has the look of an acute accent? My theory is that the O´ in the title is an emoji-esque representation of a cartoon bomb (Apple 💣), which happens to match up  with the title of track 6: 'Apple Bomb' - which, to my ears, is the best song on the disc. It's a number that builds from delicate beginnings to an appropriately explosive finalé.

Deerhoof's sound is particularly bright and sharp-edged on this album, with what can sound like a near-shambolic spontaneity belying the band's formidable cohesion. Besides 'Apple Bomb', my other favourite tracks on the album include 'Sealed With a Kiss' and 'Dinner for Two'.

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