Sweet Apple
The Golden Age Of Glitter
Tee Pee Records [2014]
Fire Note Says: Sweet Apple invites you to turn it up and rip the knob off!
Album Review: I hesitate to call Sweet Apple a supergroup, though some of the members are sort of famous, but that term supergroup has all sort of preconceived notions of half-baked ideas, jam sessions and general wankery that is usually better on paper than what actually gets recorded. Leave those preconceived notions at the door, because Sweet Apple is nothing like that. This is a fully functional rock machine featuring the talents of John Petkovic, J Mascis, Dave Sweetapple and Tim Parnin, who you might know better as members of Witch, Cobra Verde, Dinosaur Jr, Death of Samantha, and of course Petkovic was once a member of Guided by Voices as well, but more about why that is relevant in just a moment. Their new album, The Golden Age of Glitter is everything that is great about rock. It’s glam, it’s post punk, it’s power pop, it’s garage rock all rolled into one, and despite pulling from so many different styles it holds together incredibly well. This is a party record in the best sense of the term, put it on and let it crank.
The album has a couple of notable guest vocal spots, the first being the one and only Mark Lanegan, who duets with Petkovic on “Wish You Could Stay (A Little Longer)” and “Let’s Take the Same Plane” (which also features Rachel Haden). “Wish You Could Stay (A Little Longer)” is a great rocker and opens the album on an incredibly high note, “whereas “Let’s Take the Same Plane” is a more reflective song that sets a more mellow mood and works exceptionally well at mixing up the packing of the album. “Reunion” is the first of two songs on the album that just so happen to feature Guided by Voices frontman Robert Pollard, and it’s a strutting rocker full of swagger and attitude. “Under the Liquor Sign” is the second song to feature Pollard, and it’s another winner. Man it would be great to see these guys on stage belting this one out. Elsewhere, “Boys in Her Fanclub” sounds like vintage Cheap Trick, Petkovics voice is really incredible on the whole album, but on this track in particular he kills it. Mascis plays mostly drums on the album, but he does lay down some smoking leads on three different tracks, which immediately make your ears perk up, his playing is unmistakable and only adds to the greatness on the songs he is on.
I find myself going back to this album all of the time and playing it constantly. To say it is heavy rotation is an understatement, lately, it is the rotation! Give this one a chance, by the second listen you will be hooked!
Key Tracks: “Wish you Could Stay (A Little Longer)” / “Boys in Her Fanclub” / “Reunion”
Artists With Similar Fire: Dinosaur Jr / David Bowie / Cobra Verde
Sweet Apple Website
Sweet Apple Facebook
Tee Pee Records
– Reviewed by Kevin Poindexter
Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, I am extremely proud of the area I grew up in and the influence it has had on the world at large, from the Wright Brothers to Robert Pollard, the area has been a center of innovation both technologically and artistically. During my college years at the University of Dayton, I found myself becoming more and more immersed in the local music scene, a period of time in the early to mid 90's that coincided with the rise of bands like Guided by Voices, Brainiac, and The Breeders, who added to the rich musical legacy of the area. Dayton is also the hometown of many giants of funk in the 70's and is also the birthplace of Jazz greats Billy Strayhorn, John Scofield and Bud Shank. I wrote extensively for The Fire Note, a great online magazine focused on indie rock, in the 2010's while simultaneously being a partner in Rockathon Records, before retiring from both in 2018. In 2024, my thoughts turned back to helping at Rockathon and more importantly to pick back up on my writing, and more specifically to write about my love of jazz. I'm always listening, always searching for something new, something great. It's been a lifelong journey, and I still feel like there is so much out there to hear.
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
I love this one!!!