All the Apparatus: All the Apparatus

This Island-state collective, dubbed by some as “Honolulu’s own Arcade Fire”, recently relocated to Portland to record their sophomore album with producer David Eaton (Polyphonic Spree). All the Apparatus is a rollicking, eclectic, and hysteric form of indie rock, perfect for those who prefer celebration over navel-gazing. The eleven-piece outfit may not be as classy as Arcade Fire, but band members do succeed at not taking themselves too seriously, and this is a relief. If you are into novelty, and if you were a closet fan of ska in the early ‘90s, there will be much to love. From the pompous opening track “Hat Trick”, to the Tom Waits inspired “Chains O’ Damnation”, this album roars like the freakish populist rock opera that it is. Anything that All the Apparatus may lack in melodic sense it makes up for in sheer energy. This may not be a classic, but it is worth a spin at work on a Friday afternoon.