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.
Innocent Vigilant Ordinary
The Appleseed Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i think about the times
the way you smile at me
and how we always kiss
and how we drank the sun
and killed the night
and fought the sleep and won
and how we left it all unmade
it was only once
now there's more than one
no, there's only one
now there's more than one
you're the only one
you're the only one
you're the only one
it's good to see
that you are doing well
and well enough to be
laughing here with me
'cause what we did
there's no excuse for it
you know i love you so
and it hurts to know what i did
it was only once
i want you to know
that i will always love you
and always be your friend
and never leave you again
the past is past
it's now, so we can go
and we can move ahead
i hope this letter gets read
if just only once
The Appleseed Cast's song "Innocent Vigilant Ordinary" is a hauntingly beautiful piece exploring the aftermath of a past relationship. The singer is reflecting on a past liaison with someone they still deeply care for. Even though the relationship has gone sour, the singer remembers the happier times when they were together and how those moments made them feel. The opening lines, "oh, no," seem to reflect a sense of regret or sadness at the way things turned out.
The lyrics delve into the profound and intimate moments shared between the two. Memories of their stolen moments fighting insomnia, drinking the sun, and kissing are bittersweet to the singer. The line "and how we left it all unmade" could represent their unresolved relationship or lack of closure. The second stanza reveals that the relationship was sporadic and perhaps had no longevity.
Line by Line Meaning
"oh, no," i said
Expressing regret or shock at a situation that had occurred
i think about the times
Recollecting memories of past experiences
the way you smile at me
Admiring the affectionate gesture of loving partner
and how we always kiss
Cherishing the intimate moments shared by them
and how we drank the sun
Taking pleasure in the brightness of the day and its warmth
and killed the night
Enjoying staying up all night and engaging in fun activities with each other
and fought the sleep and won
Trying to resist the urge to sleep and succeeding in staying awake
and how we left it all unmade
Not worrying about the consequences or aftermath of their actions
it was only once
Acknowledging that they had made a mistake, but it was a one-time occurrence
now there's more than one
Realizing that their mistake has affected multiple people and situations
no, there's only one
Contradicting the previous line and saying that their true love is the only one that matters
now there's more than one
Reiterating that the mistake caused bigger problems than they had initially anticipated
you're the only one
Affirming the loyalty and dedication to their loved one
you're the only one
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the importance of their relationship
you're the only one
Restating their unwavering love for their partner
it's good to see
Expressing pleasure in seeing their partner happy and thriving
that you are doing well
Acknowledging their partner's growth and progress after the mistake that was made
and well enough to be
Highlighting the positive change in their partner's demeanor
laughing here with me
Enjoying the current moment of happiness shared between them
'cause what we did
Addressing the mistake that they both made
there's no excuse for it
Acknowledging the gravity of their mistake and that it cannot be justified
you know i love you so
Reaffirming their love for their partner despite the mistake
and it hurts to know what i did
Feeling remorseful and hurt about the mistake that was made
i want you to know
Stressing the importance of a message that is yet to be conveyed
that i will always love you
Promising to always love their partner through thick and thin
and always be your friend
Asking for their partner's forgiveness and urging them to maintain a friendship
and never leave you again
Pledging to never make the same mistake and leave their partner again
the past is past
Accepting and moving on from the mistakes of the past
it's now, so we can go
Emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present and moving forward
and we can move ahead
Encouraging their partner to join them in overcoming the past and moving towards a better future
i hope this letter gets read
Expressing a desire for their partner to receive and understand the contents of this message
if just only once
Believing that even one instance of communication can lead towards reconciliation and progress
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
shank
"oh no," i said
i think about the times
the way you smile at me
and how we always kiss
and how we drank the sun
and killed the night
and fought the sleep and won
and how we left it all unmade
it was only once
now there's more than one
no, there's only one
now there's more than one
you're the only one
you're the only one
you're the only one
it's good to see
that you are doing well
and well enough to be
laughing here with me
'cause what we did
there's no excuse for it
you know i love you so
and it hurts to know what i did
it was only once
i want you to know
that i will always love you
and always be your friend
and never leave you again
the past is past us now
so we can go
and we can move ahead
i hope this letter gets read
if just only once
James Collins
I love songs that I can relate to. Especially when you feel it not just in the words but in the music too.
5ystemError
I don't know why, but the way their music is composed, it just gives me an ineffable feeling. Perfect band to listen to on a road trip.
anneflo2009
wow, so far every song i've listened to from this band is amazing!
Lily2Ivy
Andrew is just the best! I've heard every single song that he recomends as song of the day and they just brigned my day !
Deanna Little
Love this song for some reason. I am beginning to become a fan of The Appleseed Cast!!! Thanks for sharing this
John Doe
This is another one of my favorites from them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KumvqIWz47s. Another group, same genre, also big in the early aughts was "American Analog Set." There are definite parallels between the two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maXd4ltM8og
meonyouztubecom
love this song!
stealthwolf29
Such an amazing song. My girlfriend and I love it so much. It reminds me of her. :)
juic3
I miss this era of music.
John Doe
This song got me through more than one breakup. lol