The Apples in Stereo is an indie pop band from Denver, Colorado, United Sta… Read Full Bio ↴The Apples in Stereo is an indie pop band from Denver, Colorado, United States which formed in 1992. They are co-originators of the innovative Elephant 6 Collective, a group of bands that initially included Neutral Milk Hotel and Olivia Tremor Control and also includes Elf Power, The Minders and Beulah.

The Apples in Stereo currently consist of Robert Schneider (vocals, guitar), Eric Allen (bass), John Hill (rhythm guitar), John Ferguson (keyboards) and John Dufilho. Schneider writes the most of the band's music and lyrics. Their debut release was 1995's Fun Trick Noisemaker (with Jim McIntyre on bass).

Longtime drummer Hilarie Sydney left the band in 2006, performing her last show at the Athens Popfestival.

Robert Schneider has side projects: Marbles, Ulysses, Thee American Revolution and a new kids music project under the name Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine. He does a lot of commercial composition and film score work.

John Hill also plays guitar in Dressy Bessy.

Bill Doss, who had been the band's keyboardist since 2007, died on July 30, 2012. Doss was also the singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Olivia Tremor Control, the sole member of The Sunshine Fix, and an original member of the Elephant 6 collective.

One of their most popular songs, "Signal In The Sky," was created for and featured in episode 46 of The Powerpuff Girls.

They are best known for their bright, catchy lyrics and 60s pop/rock sound that often provokes comparisons to The Beatles, ELO and The Beach Boys.

Their major influences include The Velvet Underground and The Beach Boys.

Time Pilot
The Apples In Stereo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Whether you are lying down or seated in a chair, adjust yourself to your most comfortable position. Close your eyes and allow yourself to relax as deeply as you possibly can. With every second that goes by, you will find it easier to concentrate on my voice, and you will be able to hear me no matter what other sounds may occur.

Time is just what they say
Everything's changing
and then it slips away

life on the promenade
everyone's gesturing

but they got nothing to say
Styles
they come back around
Everyone's wondering
just when you'll come back down

Frayed yet light souvenirs (?)
everything's flickering
and ringing in your ears.

Physically, you will be settled and relaxed. Mentally, you will have strength of character and tranquility. You will use this record often and each time you hear my voice you will become more physically and mentally relaxed than before. This relaxed condition will remain with you, developing more strongly each time you play this record. Now, slowly, you may open your eyes, feeling wonderful. And... awaken.

Overall Meaning

The Apples In Stereo's song "Time Pilot" is a dreamy, melodic composition that explores the fleeting nature of time and the cyclical nature of fashion and culture. The opening lines of the song, "Time is just what they say, everything's changing and then it slips away," sets the tone for the track, suggesting that despite our attempts to control or understand the passage of time, it remains elusive and difficult to grasp.

The song continues with references to life on the promenade, a place where people come to see and be seen, but where meaningful communication is often absent. The lyric "everyone's gesturing but they got nothing to say" captures this sense of surface-level interaction and superficiality. The idea of styles coming back around and everyone wondering when they'll come back down further reinforces the cyclical, ultimately ephemeral nature of cultural trends and fashions.

The chorus, with its repetition of "faded yet light souvenirs, everything's flickering and ringing in your ears," creates a sense of hazy nostalgia and wistfulness. The use of the word "faded" suggests that these memories or experiences are no longer vivid or clear, while the use of the word "light" implies that they are weightless, insubstantial. This creates a sense of longing for something that is just out of reach or slipping away.

Overall, "Time Pilot" is a meditative, atmospheric track that encourages reflection on the transience of time and the impermanence of cultural fads and trends.

Line by Line Meaning

Time is just what they say
Time is a human-made concept and its importance is only as much as we give it.

Everything's changing and then it slips away
Life is constantly changing and time is a fleeting resource.

life on the promenade everyone's gesturing but they got nothing to say
There are a lot of people around us trying to make an impact on the world, but very few actually have anything meaningful to contribute.

Styles they come back around Everyone's wondering just when you'll come back down
Fashion trends repeat themselves and people who were once popular will eventually fall from grace.

Frayed yet light souvenirs (?) everything's flickering and ringing in your ears.
Memories can be hazy and fleeting, and the past can come back to us in strange ways.

Contributed by Jordan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS