• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact

Medialoper

We're Not Who You Think We Are

silver chain

Certain Songs: The Apples in Stereo – “Silver Chain”

November 2, 2014 by Jim Connelly

image

Album: Tone Soul Evolution.

Year: 1997.

Most of the time, when you say “Beach Boys influenced” to me, I nod my head wisely and assume that whatever you’re talking about is too damn baroque for me. But “Silver Chain” combines the “ba ba ba ba ba” backing vocals and swelling horns on the chorus with a jangly guitar counterpoint that would have never even crossed Brian Wilson’s mind.

Also: unlike the vast majority of songs in The Apples in Stereo’s catalog, “Silver Chain” wasn’t written by Elephant 6 mastermind Robert Schneider, but rather by drummer Hilary Sidney.

I can’t remember who it was, and Google was no help, but I saw The Apples in Stereo open for somebody in the mid-90s (really thinking it was Pavement, but I have no proof) and what I remember most about them was that Hilary Sidney was the most joyous person I’d ever seen on stage. 

There was no doubt whatsoever that she knew that she’d never have more fun doing anything in her life than getting on stage and playing those songs. And I think that this ridiculously gorgeous song captures that joy.

Fan-made video for “Silver Chain”

Filed Under: Certain Songs, Hot Topics Tagged With: apples in stereo, silver chain, tone soul evolution

Primary Sidebar

Lopy

Search

Previously on Medialoper

  • Certain Songs #2578: Supergrass – “Sun Hits The Sky”
  • Certain Songs #2577: Supergrass – “Alright”
  • Certain Songs #2576: Superchunk – “If You’re Not Dark”
  • Certain Songs #2575: Superchunk – “Endless Summer”
  • Certain Songs #2574: Superchunk – “Reagan Youth”

Copyright © 2023 · Medialoper