Zoe lays down a Moog part for the upcoming Ape House release
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Those darlings of the media, Ape House, have been wow-ing the critics for well over a year now... here's a smattering of the good ink spilled on our heroes:
Washington CityPaper (January 2005) - "Apehouse is also a power pop band; in fact, it's exactly the kind of band you would imagine when someone says "power pop"—a loud, enthusiastic sound lined end-to-end with hooks, every melodic phrase leading to a resolution so predictable that you're singing it in your head seconds before you hear it, and all the lyrical hints of darkness submerged under the bright light of the music. Since power pop is a musical style as devoted to rules and expectations as metal, and because the band clearly had put a lot of thought into what it was trying to do, Apehouse came across as much more realized than anyone else that night. Of course, the fact that singer J. Forté could carry a tune didn't hurt, either. His thin, nasal voice with a touch of snottiness sorta recalled the Dead Milkmen's Rodney Anonymous, and that, combined with the relentless major-key melodies, helped Apehouse's songs assume their rightful place in the power-pop canon, nestled somewhere right between the Mr. T Experience's speedy Ramones-lite and the first Weezer record's self-satisfied outsiderism. Read on...
Here's A Hint (January 2005) - "Let me get quickly to the point: These guys rock. They played song after song of loud, catchy power pop, and I found myself very disappointed when they announced their last song. The biggest thing holding them back is their name. Maybe if they were "The Ape House"? At any rate, these guys were tight, energetic and well-rehearsed. I'm really at a loss to say more. They don't have some flash-in-the-pan "hip sound", nor do they sound dated; they simply follow the Washington Social Club and Army of Me school of style: try to play really good songs really well. To that end, they are definitely more in the Washington Social Club (or "success") category."
Punk Planet (Jan./Feb. 2005) - "I'm tired of style as well, so records like this one are like a nice diamond in the rough. Just some good, old fashioned, catchy power-pop gems to relax to in the midst of all these electrobeats and post-punk-rip-offs. Nice."
Splendid (November 2004) - "I reviewed Ape House's last record during my early days at Splendid, and I'm pleased to announce that Tired of Style eclipses it in pretty much every meaningful way. On Minutes To Go, the band straddled a line between a standard, near frat-boyish bar-band rock and the solid, traditional power-pop at which they had proved themselves capable. Here, their sound has matured, and moved away from some of the weaker and brasher elements of their previous work. What replaces them is, impressively, the sort of complex pop nuances you might expect from a band like Ivy or Spent. Anyone who heard the previous record, followed by a Tired of Style track such as "She Plays It Loud, She Plays It Proud", would be hard pressed to hear them as coming from the same band.
One of the pleasures of reviewing, over the long haul, is the opportunity to hear a band's first glimmer of promise blossom into their mature sound. Ape House has done a tremendous job of expanding on the best elements of their sound, crafting something surprising and new in the process. Hats off to them."
Music Monthly (October 2004) - "The 12 tracks on this album drip with the influence of power pop giants like Weezer. Melody is king with Ape House and Tired of Style is a really fun album to listen to. Some of my favorite songs on the album are "I Got Your Message," "Let It Out," and the sugary sweet "Baby, It’s Warm in Here." Ape House claims to play "power pop for the smart set" and I take that as a compliment because I enjoyed them thoroughly..."
Erasing Clouds (September 2004) - "Smart-ass power-pop heroes Ape House sound a bit older and wiser on their new album Tired of Style, though just as gifted at coming up with perfect melodies and turning their guitars up to 11. Actually, the impression of maturity has more to do with the music than the lyrics - these songs sound somehow sadder and fuller in scope. They still rock, but with that extra something that can give straight ahead rock guitars extra emotional resonance..." Read on rock soldiers...
Mark Jenkins (from his NPR syndicated music show) (September 2004) - The spry, tuneful style known as power-pop is not generally associated with Washington. But that hasn’t stopped some local groups from pursuing the style, which is rooted in such classic rock bands as the Beatles. Critic Mark Jenkins says DC's latest fab four is Ape House, whose music is lot tidier than the name suggests.
"When Ape House talks about 'being buzzed,' it’s not just a matter of getting high on life. The album includes several tunes about altered states, including insanity and depression, that could be considered ominous. For some of these songs, the band emulates the thudding rhythms and buzz-saw guitar of The Ramones. The music's energy and playfulness makes a strong argument against despair." Listen to the full audio review (go to the bottom of page)
Not Lame Records (August 2004) - "This release is a scorching assault of Pansey-divisions of sugar-coated guitar pop hooks, heavy riffed up bass lines, rich but bristling vocals and a constant undertow of swells of romantically nostalgic classic power pop. Our Kind Of Pop Diversion! All the trademarks are present and accounted for - tasteful guitar work, sweet harmonies, witty, yet pooignant lyrics, booming bass and energetic drumming - but Ape House add the right, good looking wrinkles to the face lift of the hum-drum, an almost Ramones-like (in terms of attitude, not sound) intensity that results in a big 'ole keeper. Yup, Extremely Highly Recommened."
Swissrecords (Speak German? We don't!): "In den Songs von Ape House steckt das rohe des Punks und das sorglose des Bubble Gums. Als Einheit klingt das in etwa wie wenn die Undertones mit den Buzzcocks und Weezer zusammen in einer Band wären. Die dreizehn Songs auf dem Debüt der Band aus Washington DC strahlen eine gewisse Unbekümmertheit aus, die in einigen Momenten sehr ansteckend wirkt. Beispielsweise wenn Ape House über ein Mädchen singen, das sie wie eine Hitsingle die ganze Nacht spielen wollen ('She plays (like a hit single)'), alternde Stewardessen als Vergleich heranziehen ('Aging stewardess') oder sie in der Buzzocks ähnlichen Nummer 'Tour of japan' über einen Japan-Trip spekulieren. In besagtem Song fordert Sänger J. Forte in sorgloser Manier: You gotta kill me if I am wrong. Da ist man froh, dass man nicht weiss, wie er ist, wenn er wirklich mies drauf ist."
Go Metric! (Fall 2003): "Ninety-nine times out of 100 the phrase "Weezer-influence" really means "this band sucks." Ape House are the welcome exception. Like Rivers and company, Ape House mix Wembley-ready guitars with "Hey, I'm a vulnerable guy" lyrics. (They remind me of Sloan and King Missile, too.) Best song: She Plays (Like A Hit Single)."
Wintermittens E-zine (August 27, 2003): "Some musical conventions work for a band. Sure the power-pop thing has been done before, but it is always nice to see it done well by a new gang. If your guilty pleasures involve hooks, catches, poppy lyrics, and an appropriate touch of guitar wanker-dom you'll definitely dig Ape House's debut CD Minutes To Go.
This album contains some rockin' pop with a touch of sentimentality
perfect for a Sunday drive or the evening hours spent organizing your nearly
obscure record collection. A few listens will be all you need to start
singing along with Mr. Forte' into your hairbrush / hairdryer / vegan hot
dog..." Read
the full review...
Min Jung Kim, KoreAm Magazine (June 2003): "Lively infectious
bubblepunk that knows its roots with Zepplin riffs and resonances of Ash
and Five Iron Frenzy. Fun stuff and great cruising music, catchy
lyrics that don't promise much nor take themselves too seriously.
Enjoy with some blue sunglasses and a cold beer."
Erasing
Clouds (4/22/03): (* It's a niiice long review, so here's a
sampling...) "... With song titles like 'Length Does Matter' and a
band name like Ape House, you might think this DC-based quartet
is a bunch of ultra-macho classic-rock neanderthals. You'd be wrong; they're
more like a bunch of wise-ass rock n' roll comics who take a wry, self-deprecating
look at romance, the music business and everything else while playing rock
of the uptempo, melodic, a tiny bit punkish power-pop variety..." Read
the full review here!
Washington
Post Online - Road Songs (3/28/03): (* Not so much a review,
but it's still nice to read about the 'House in print, soooo...) "Ape
House's pop-punk anthem 'Chicks Dig Speed' closes out the band's debut
CD, '...Minutes to Go.' 'A friend of mine used to comment "chicks dig speed,"
meaning they were into fast cars, thrills, and money, when we would lament
the dating scene around D.C.,' explains the band's frontman J. Forté.
'I just based the tune on that idea throwing in a little sexual innuendo
for good measure. We're not afraid to take on the big issues!'"
DC
City Paper - PopQuiz (3/21/03): "Welcome to the APE HOUSE. Or,
the band Ape House, which is J. Forté (vocals/guitar), Steve Shook
(bass), Gil Hegwood (lead guitar), and GP Shook (drums). The group has
a slogan—as all bands should—properly register-marked, which reads, 'Power
Pop for the Smart Set.'® We couldn't agree more. Listen to 'We Shouldn't
Have Made Out,' 'Are You Buzzed?,' or 'DC Girls' — some of which are on
their new CD '...Minutes To Go...' — and you, too, will be bopping along
in a smart sort of way. Next Friday, March 28, Ape House will be at Chief
Ike's Mambo Room, with Los Hermanos Rodriguez. Don't be a chump, or a chimp.
Swing by. It's the smart thing to do."
Splendid e-zine (3/7/2003): "This is power pop of the poppiest sort, and that's a pretty good thing. Just when you're thinking that Ape House are one of a million other faceless bar bands that missed out on the great sweet-indie-jangle-pop sweepstakes of the late '80s and early '90s, they'll remind you why you wish that you could have those days back again.
Like any self-respecting power-pop quartet, they have sugary hooks hanging out of their jeans, and their songs are reasonably clever stories of love gone ever-so-slightly wrong ("We Shouldn't Have Made Out") and the ephemera of daily life ("Aging Stewardess"). There are also moments of truly inspired, banal brilliance: "Tour Of Japan" spins visions of how big the band is going to hit (Spinal Tap-style) in the land of the Rising Sun, while at the same time acknowledging how bad things would be if they don't make it big even there ("You've got to kill me / if I'm wrong"). The song even ends with an ironic nod to Slash's classic "Sweet Child O' Mine" guitar intro.
It's pure smirk, sure, and so is the rest of the record -- but as an
expression, smirking is underrated." -- Brett McCallon
Punk Planet
(Feb. 2003): "D.C.'s upbeat, catchy rock band serves you up 13 dishes
of two-minute pop gems. To be overly critical, you could say the vocals
could use a little more angst, but maybe things are best the way they are.
Like a good tuna subway sandwich, this will leave you with a pleasant aftertaste.
"
ErasingClouds.com:
"Ape House's EP is a fine example of good old-fashioned power-pop music.
"Chicks Dig Speed," the first song on the EP, has the workings of a lost
Undertones tune. "Yeah" gives the listener a more refined pop tune a la
Matthew Sweet, while "Sweet Connection" and "You're Not In A Band" have
the sassy power-pop character of Too Much Joy. Great song writing and melody
is what makes Ape House's demo EP great.."
Shredding Paper: "Pretty alternative pop, all melodies and harmonies
and lovely guitar licks..."
The Big Takeover: "...Smart lead guitar... echoes of classic
Rolling Stones pop and The Knack."
Music Monthly: "They can mix it up and they can play that's for
sure...Good stuff.."
Music Monthly: "She's (Got) The Right Stuff," while the longest track here (at three and a half minutes) is also the best; it smells like a single. "Yeah" affirms another hook, and is irresistable as the shortest (at two minutes)."
