Formation and Debut
The band formed in 1997 in Southern California with Crisci and Pillar joining bassist Jason Wickersheim and drummer Louie Ruiz under the name December's Tragic Drive (derived from lyrics of the song, "Seven" by Sunny Day Real Estate). The following year, the band - now billed as The Appleseed Cast - signed to Deep Elm Records out of North Carolina and released their debut album, The End Of The Ring Wars, an album which met with considerable approval from the emo and underground scenes, as incendiary tracks like "Marigold & Patchwork" were essentially blueprints for the emo style. However, the album was also criticized in some quarters (most notably by Pitchforkmedia) for sticking too closely to a style already well explored by previous acts such as Braid and Sunny Day Real Estate.
Mare Vitalis
In 1999, the band relocated to Lawrence, Kansas without Ruiz, recruiting new drummer Josh "Cobra" Baruth. Later that same year they entered the Red House studio in Eudora, Kansas with Producer Ed Rose who would go on to produce their next four records. The end result was Mare Vitalis, the band's second full-length album. The album showed progression from the dynamics-heavy rock of The End of The Ring Wars. Essentially a concept album on the movements of the sea (encapsulated in such song titles as "Mare Mortis," and "Poseidon" ), the album is a fan favourite, heavy on atmosphere, crescendo, subtly undulating guitar arpeggios and the percussive, intricate drumming of Baruth, who clearly brought a new dimension to the band's sonic palette.
The band completed Mare Vitalis in late 1999, but tensions were developing between the band and Wickersheim. In January of 2000, Pillar asked his roommate, St. Joseph, Missouri-native Marc Young, if he would be interested in playing bass for them, for one show. Young agreed, however the show they spoke of and agreed upon, never materialized. Regardless, Wickersheim officially departed the group that same month with Young replacing him on bass.
Low Level Owl & Lost Songs
After touring Mare Vitalis, the Appleseed Cast once again entered the studio in late 2000 to begin work on what would be their most ambitious project to date. Eager to fulfill their five record deal with Deep Elm, the band embarked on a double LP, with Ed Rose once again at the helm. Low Level Owl Volume One was released on August 21, 2001 with Volume Two following on October 23.
The tracks were woven seamlessly together into album-length soundscapes, revealing a hitherto unnoticed post-rock influence. The complex vocal arrangements and enigmatic lyrics were buried in the mix underneath simple, repeated guitar riffs, swathes of keyboards and found sounds, and Baruth's inventive, intricate drum patterns. The pieces containing vocals and lyrics were connected by ambient-influenced instrumentals. The Low Level Owl albums seemed both to be a natural progression from the more song-oriented Mare Vitalis and a complete shock, the previously disparaging Pitchforkmedia website giving the project a glowing review. However, some critics were put off by the intentionally repetitive nature, not only of much of the guitar playing but also the ambient instrumental interludes.
The band followed their Low Level Owl project with the release of Lost Songs the following year. The album was a collection of songs recorded shortly after the release of The End of The Ring Wars, songs which were considered unfinished. In 2002 vocals and overdubs were added to the "lost songs" and issued as the Appleseed Cast's final release on the Deep Elm label.
Two Conversations
The Appleseed Cast signed with the New York based indie label Tiger Style Records in 2003 and released Two Conversations shortly afterward. Touring keyboardist Jordan Geiger was officially credited as a band member on the album. Two Conversations was met with mixed reviews.
Some viewed the album with dismay, regarding the more conventional song structures, the less diverse sonic palette and the personal, relationship-driven lyrics as a blatant retreat after the no-holds-barred experimentation, depth and complexity of the Low Level Owl project. However, others saw the album as an assured combination of the driving emo-rock of their early work subtly embellished with elements of the Low Level Owl sound.
During the recording of the album and the subsequent tour, tensions mounted once again, this time with drummer Josh "Cobra" Baruth. Rumors began to surface in the spring and summer of 2004 that Baruth was no longer a part of the group, and were confirmed on the band's website later that year.
Following the confirmation the band went on hiatus. Crisci began working with his side-project Old Canes and Geiger returned to his band, Minus Story. In the meantime Tiger Style, in financial difficulties, was forced to drop the band from their label after just one album.
Rebirth & Peregrine
Throughout late 2004 and much of 2005 little to no word travelled on the band's current situation. This began to change later in the year as news of drummer auditions began to spread. The band auditioned with many drummers including part-time Old Canes drummer Aaron Coker who later went on to tour with Reggie & The Full Effect. The position eventually went to the Casket Lottery drummer, Nathan Richardson (affectionately known in the KC-area as "Nate Jr.")
With a new drummer in place, the band was signed by the Militia Group in 2005 and announced they were returning to the studio in October.
The recording sessions for Peregrine, the Appleseed Cast's sixth full-length album, were held in Cannon Falls, Minnesota at Pachyderm Recording Studios. The sessions were produced by John Congleton, as opposed to their regular producer Ed Rose. The band returned from the studio later that year and began mixing and mastering the 13 new songs recorded for the album.
Lead singer and guitarist Chris Crisci stated on the band's website "...I don't know if I've felt better about a record this early since Mare Vitalis." The album is arguably more eclectic than any previous release in their catalogue, the Low Level Owl indebted piece "Here We Are (Family In The Hallways)" sitting alongside the more conventional, guitar-driven "February" and the stark, electronica of "Mountain Halo."
Peregrine was released on March 21, 2006.
Nathan Richardson left the band in the summer of 2006. Old Canes drummer Aaron Coker will play with the band during their Autumn tour.
Sagarmatha
Sagarmatha was released on February 17, 2009. When asked about the next album (previously discussed as an entirely instrumental EP) in an interview, Chris Crisci had this to say; "Well, the idea is still there, although it has morphed into a mostly instrumental full length. There's songs that have 45 seconds of vocals and 6 minutes of instrumental. There's songs that are entirely instrumental, and there's one song with complete vocals that clocks in at about 2:30." This was announced on the band's Myspace, where they also uploaded a demo of "Road West", a new instrumental song that will be featured on Sagarmatha.
Recording sessions were held at Black Lodge Recording in Eudora, KS with Ed Rose after unsuccessful attempts to arrange John Congleton to helm the recording. The album contains 9 songs in total with a good mix of instrumental and some new things vocally. The song "The New Stage (For So Long)" is supposed to be included in the LP version of the album. Three demos were released on their MySpace; the fore-mentioned "Road West" and more recently "A Bright Light" and "Summer Before."
Bassist Marc Young and drummer Aaron Coker have apparently left the band, according to the band's MySpace. They have been replaced with Nate Whitman of Black Christmas and John Momberg of The Dactyls, on bass and drums respectively.
Hanging Marionette
The Appleseed Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
making plans to drink away
and all these words I can't escape
I have to try to make you stay
cause I'm alone
stay with me this time
cause what im feeling inside
but I just can't see
how this is helping me
the stars are burning bright
like the light that lights your eyes
why I could not see
that you were leaving
cause im alone
i need someone
someone to be my friend
but i can't take
anyone who can't stay until the end
cause im alone
stay with me this time
and the stars are burning bright
the smoke is rising high
the stripes are on the stream
from the mountain to the sea
but friend you've done me wrong
left the spoils to the strong
and prey apon the weak
its an end to you and me
cause a friend can understand
that there's no trust to be had
your just bouncing on the strings
a puppet on the screen
im not sure when you left
but it started with that theft
it seems its been so long
The lyrics of "Hanging Marionette" by The Appleseed Cast speak of feelings of loneliness and betrayal, told through the metaphor of a marionette whose stripes are on fire and hands are tired. The singer of the song is wrestling with the loss of a close friend or lover, who has left them feeling abandoned and betrayed. They are struggling to understand how this person could have left them and are questioning whether their troubled emotions may be clouding their perception. Despite the pain they are feeling, they implore the person to stay with them and be their friend, but only if they are committed to staying until the end.
The song is filled with vivid imagery that helps convey the feelings of confusion and abandonment that the singer is experiencing. The reference to the stars burning bright and the smoke rising high serves to reinforce the sense of turbulence and chaos that the singer is feeling. The marionette metaphor highlights the sense of powerlessness and lack of control that the singer is experiencing, and the image of the puppet on the screen underscores the sense of being manipulated and taken advantage of.
Line by Line Meaning
the stripes are on fire the hands are tired
I'm at a point in my life where I feel overwhelmed and burnt out trying to balance various responsibilities and obligations.
making plans to drink away
I'm trying to find an escape from my problems by drinking.
and all these words I can't escape
I'm struggling with my thoughts and feelings and can't seem to find a way to express them.
I have to try to make you stay
I'm desperate for companionship and don't want to be alone.
cause I'm alone
I'm feeling isolated and lonely.
stay with me this time
Please don't leave me, I need your presence and support.
cause what im feeling inside
I'm experiencing intense emotions but I'm unsure how to articulate them.
troubled or maybe im blind
I'm having a hard time coping with my emotions and it's clouding my judgement.
but I just can't see
I'm struggling to understand the situation and it's causing me distress.
how this is helping me
I'm questioning how my current situation is helping me grow or improve as a person.
the stars are burning bright
The sky is beautiful tonight, but it's bittersweet because of my current emotional turmoil.
like the light that lights your eyes
Your eyes hold a beauty and light that I admire and cherish.
why I could not see
I'm reflecting on what I may have missed or overlooked in our relationship.
that you were leaving
I didn't realize that you were planning on leaving me.
i need someone
I'm still looking for someone to fill the void and be my companion.
someone to be my friend
I need someone who will support and care for me like a true friend.
but i can't take
I'm picky about who I let into my life.
anyone who can't stay until the end
I can't tolerate people who leave or abandon me when things get tough.
the smoke is rising high
There's a sense of chaos and confusion surrounding me.
the stripes are on the stream
I'm seeing remnants of strife and conflict all around me.
from the mountain to the sea
This conflict extends far beyond my personal life and seems to be everywhere.
but friend you've done me wrong
You've betrayed me in some way, and it's caused me pain.
left the spoils to the strong
You gave up or let go of something that could've been ours, and now someone else is benefiting from it.
and prey apon the weak
You took advantage of someone or something that was vulnerable.
its an end to you and me
Our relationship has come to an end.
cause a friend can understand
A true friend would understand me and my struggles.
that there's no trust to be had
Trust has been broken and it may be impossible to repair.
your just bouncing on the strings
You're just going through the motions and not really invested in our relationship.
a puppet on the screen
You're being controlled and manipulated by external forces.
im not sure when you left
I'm still trying to figure out when and how our relationship ended.
but it started with that theft
I suspect that the beginning of our decline was related to some kind of theft or betrayal.
it seems its been so long
Our relationship has faded away and it's been a while since we've talked or connected.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nate Nemetz
This entire album is a testament to the genuity&passion that is yet alive in our world. One may have to seek to find but there is still earnest artistry in music today.
buzzcrushtrendkill
I was listening to a internet radio station that played bands that were not signed to major labels (site not in existance anymore). I heard one of their songs and wrote down the name of the band. Later searched for more of their music and then became completely hooked. It was just after they released Mare Vitalis. I drove 1.5 hours alone to see them play. I was compelled. It was a tuesday night and none of my friends had been turned onto them like I was. They played LOUD. Like Slayer loud. It was one of those experiences.
Rachael Smith
Thank u for your story 💝
dyslexic erectorset
who says rock music can't be beautiful? before 'emo' became a dirty word, the appleseed cast constructed it's most haunting, lovely elegy then moved on. great band.
buzzcrushtrendkill
I was compelled to write something but you already wrote what I was feeling
jessi lembo
i love appleseed cast. about 4 years ago, happen to download one of their songs off a website that they suggested just for shits and gigs... absolutely fell in love. one of my favorite bands of all time im in love with them and hope to see them one day.
Enochians
<3 Pretty much everything on that album is wonderful. By far it's their most rock-ish album while the rest are more post-rock but it's still their best.
sti8107
A very deep song that everyone can relate to at some point. I will be seeing them this Saturday
July Guerra
someone let me listened to this song 7 years ago... still have the same feeling every time i listened to it.
Charlie Wong
I adore this song. :D