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Sometimes Petkovic’s confessional urgency takes its toll, but those hooked by ferocious rock riffage might be too stoned to hear the lyrics anyway. It’s all in the title: Petkovic’s love letter to his hopeful future is a loud one. Mission accomplished.
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Love & Desperation is one hell of a good time. A testament to both the cathartic, healing power of rock, as well the undeniable joy to be found in an arena-sized riff, Sweet Apples’s debut makes for excellent listening.
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UncutThis terrific album casts its net wider though: as well as Dinosaur fans, this will appeal to admirers of T. Rex, Thin Lizzy, Reigning Sound ad Alex Chilton, too. [May 2010, p.108]
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Only John Petkovic can say how effective Love and Desperation is as therapy, but as chest-thumping and bong-rattling rock, Sweet Apple's debut is a rousing success.
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Alternative PressLove & Desperation may not be perfect, but it sure is fun. [Apr 2010, p.130]
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There are moments, like the echoey, spacious ‘Dead Moon’, when things get eerie and alienated but more often they’re down-to-earth and bluesy, like they’ll stop playing when the beers arrive.
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Two dudes from bong rockers Witch, including Dinosaur Jr. ax god J. Mascis, and two more from middle-aged glam junksters Cobra Verde, including singer John Petkovic, make for a three-guitar, super-ish group that actually gets somewhere rather than just revving its engine (see Them Crooked Vultures).
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Despite its moments of lethargy, Love & Desperation quakes with an energy that’s simultaneously exhausting and gratifying.
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This is one for the ‘pleasant but unremarkable’ file, and it seems that’s all the band was striving for in the first place.
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Q MagazineIt offers some crunchy, very manly rocking, with riffs, choruses, everything. [May 2010, p.126]
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MojoSweet Apple rock it up in gonzo mid-'70s style, with lashings of glam and powerpop. [June 2010, p. 93]
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At their best, Sweet Apple sound like they're trying to emulate the lovable-loserdom perfected by one of Petkovic's unsung Cleveland rock peers, Prisonshake. At their worst, such as "Goodnight", Petkovic goes on and on about him and his hard-luck honey while the group tediously grinds away in the background.
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Under The RadarThe songs of Love & Desperation come across as enthusiastically crafted tunes, if ultimately seeming like a period piece. [Spring 2010, p.71]