Sweet Apple

The four players that make up Sweet Apple are known commodities but came together via coincidence and sad events.  Guitarist and Vocalist John Petkovic had recently lost his mother and decided to just drive and drive when, perchance Dave Sweetapple called, finding John in a horrid emotional state, so he gathered their mutual friend J Mascis and started writing songs.  

Tracks like “Can’t See You” could have slipped by as a simple sing-along with a meaty guitar solo closing, but hits closer to home knowing the bands history. The musical clicks fuzz and swaggering of “Hold Me, I’m Dying” shake before combining with the urgency of the chorus and verses adding extra dimensions.  Even without knowing the groups history these songs hold up as ballsy rockers.

“Somebody Else’s Problem” and “Goodnight” wouldn’t be out of place blaring from convertibles on the Sunset Strip.  But things get a sluggish on “Blindfold” and it's a mystery what the band was aiming for with “Dead Moon” but any intention got eclipsed.  “Crawling Over Bodies” and “Never Came” are powerful workouts showing off the strengths of Sweet Apple with their pummeling drums mammoth guitars and emotionally scarred lyrics that the recording of this album captured.

Combining glam and noise rock heroes during a stressful time manages to elevate what would normally have been a hard rocking bar band into something greater; a group of compatriots that helped out a friend, happy to be alive, playing exhilarating from the heart tunes.

---