Yet another indie rock supergroup? It’s easy to roll one’s eyes and let a “meh” escape your lips, but before you do either, give SWEET APPLE a chance for three reasons. One is that this is a very intriguing combination of players: J MASCIS from DINOSAUR JR. and WITCH, his Witch bandmate DAVE SWEETAPPLE (also of FEATHERS) and, most significantly, JOHN PETKOVIC of COBRA VERDE and DEATH OF SAMANTHA (and, briefly, GUIDED BY VOICES) and his six-string partner TIM PARNIN. Two is that the resulting album Love & Desperation sounds like typical indie rock only insomuch as the parent bands do, which is to say, not a hell of a lot. Three is that the music grew out of Petkovic’s personal therapy after his mother’s death, using his friendship with his bandmates to nurture a musical project almost by accident.
Of course, no matter how poignant the circumstances surrounding an album, the music ultimately stands on its own. Conceived mainly in Petkovic’s laboratory, the tracks most resembles Cobra Verde’s glam-saturated, power rock-infused take on postpunk, with big, fat riffs, singalong melodies and basic rock & roll rhythms. “Hold Me, I’m Dying” and “Somebody Else’s Problem” snap and crackle as much with Petkovic’s trademark sardonic wit as well as with hooks. “I’ve Got a Feeling (That Won’t Change)” soars over a classic Dino Jr. pop progression, as Mascis duets (!) with Petkovic. “Dead Moon” drifts wistfully through conflicting emotions, while “Goodnight” rewrites the rulebook from Petkovic’s former employer ROBERT POLLARD. “Crawling Over Bodies,” “Never Came” and “Do You Remember” simply rock mightily and proudly. “Can’t See You” is, perhaps, the key track, as it directly references Petkovic’s mourning period over a classic rock jam. Though born out of the introspection that follows personal tragedy, Love & Desperation vibrates with the sounds of catharsis and joyous release, a reminder of what rock & roll is all about.
http://www.sweetapplesongs.com
http://www.teepeerecords.com
