Thanks to a combination of overblown, upbeat vocal melodies, rhythms that make you want to get up and dance and the courage to do whatever seems fun, the Apples in Stereo have become one of the most well-known and influential indie-pop bands in existence. With 17 years and six full studio albums, the band, in collaboration with Yep Roc records, has seen fit to release an album of their greatest hits, aptly named #1 Hits Explosion.
Their reputation as a particularly pop-heavy indie band notwithstanding, this selection of greatest hits focuses almost entirely on the most widely known and pop-infused tracks in the Apples in Stereo's catalogue. Every album released so far is represented here, with the most popular songs from 2007's New Magnetic Wonder and 2000's The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone representing the bulk of the album. The choice to include only the hits might disappoint some who feel the heart of the band lies in their more off-beat and obscure songs or those who feel slighted by the omission of a beloved track (this reviewer is a little disappointed that New Magnetic Wonder's ""Skyway"" isn't considered important enough to be included).
That said, there are still some oddities here, most notably ""Signal in the Sky,"" which previously could only be found on the Let's Go! EP as well as the ""Powerpuff Girls"" soundtrack Heroes and Villains. The inclusion of ""Signal in the Sky"" is an interesting one, despite being a relatively critically panned track (not to mention an indication for some that the Apples in Stereo might have been on the road to selling out). This track is certainly one that many would recognize, albeit by people who may not specifically be fans of the Apples in Stereo. This may, then, be indicative of the philosophy behind the song selection for #1 Hits Explosion: to present the Apples in Stereo in their most accessible and pop-fueled capacity in an attempt to present them to a more mainstream audience.
Ultimately, this greatest hits album is nowhere even close to being a bad thing. The Apples in Stereo excel in this effort to expand their audience (What else could one expect from a band whose main influence is the Beach Boys?), and an accurate representation of the band should present the pop facet as well as their universal appeal. This is a solid collection that combines virtually all of the most fully realized and well-polished tracks in their repertoire. While a greatest hits album may seem like a bit of an outmoded concept in the context of today's penchant for downloading music and the indie scene in general (where fans of a band will most likely already be aware of the bulk of its discography), #1 Hits Explosion is a fantastic representation of the band that will appeal to those who wish to become acquainted with the Apples in Stereo, as well as the hard core fans who might have missed a few gems along the way.
