By Jay Mukherjee
One of the problems with being middle aged, ("middle age" def: sandwiched between a financially needy younger generation and older, health challenged generation), is that one has less time to engage with things we love to do -- like listening to music. So, when we run into a song that makes you do a double take, it becomes like a welcome breeze on a muggy day. This is what happened to me while listening to a podcast that featured a song named "Waiting for a Cloud". After finding out the song was a band named Golden Apples, I had to find out more about them. I asked my good buddy Glenn if I could review them and he graciously obliged.
The Golden Apples are a band from Philadelphia, which has a real burgeoning music scene (Nothing, Hurry, etc.). They are essentially a solo project of Russell Edling, supported by a host of Philadelphia's indie rock scene's finest. To these ears, I hear three distinct styles on this album. The first is late Eighties/early Nineties British rock like The Stone Roses, The High, and The House of Love. Then Nineties-inspired indie rock in the vein of long forgotten bands like Small Factory and Radial Spangle, and, in places, even some Pavement and Yo La Tengo. Finally, Velvet Crush/Matthew Sweet-inspired power pop makes its way into this album. Throw in some hints of shoegaze and what else is there to ask for?
The British influences can especially be heard on the opener "Anti-Ant Car" and the soaring highlight of the album, "Waiting for a Cloud". "Sugarfire" starts with a Yo La Tengo-style organ figure then transitions into shoegaze, and even features New Order/Peter Hook-type riffs. "Guard Stick" and "Park" check the power pop boxes. Another highlight is "Little Bronco" with its sublime Rolling Backouts CF-ish guitar riffs that segues into a glorious chorus. The album ends with a killer outro "Green", which must be great live, though I have yet to see them live. This all adds up to one of my favorite albums of the year.
Bananasugarfire by The Golden Apples is out now. Details below.
[Photo: Golden Apples Bandcamp]