Cargo Records

Love & Desperation

Of course, the band – Dinosaur Jr.’s J.Mascis (drums/guitar/vocals); Cobra Verde’s Tim Parnin (guitar); John Petkovi (vocals/guitar) and Witch’s Dave Sweetapple (bass/vocals) – eschews the whole “supergroup” tag. Sweet Apple was born by accident and friendship – out of death, after a cross-country drive. Singer-guitarist John Petkovic got in his car heading eastward days after the passing of his mother – to smoke cigarettes, listen to music and clear his head. He ended up in New England, the home of long-time friends Dave Sweetapple and J.Mascis, who told John to start writing some songs so they could start a band. Within weeks, and after recruiting Cobra Verde guitarist Tim Parnin they started working on an album.

The 12-song disc casts a wide net, reflecting the disparate sounds of all their bands: catchy power-pop, crushing rock and wounding ballads. Recorded in Cleveland and Massachusetts, the album was mixed by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr/Sonic Youth/The Hold Steady) and Don Dephew (Cobra Verde/Guided By Voices).

“I tell people that I saved John’s life by starting this band,” says Mascis. “But they don’t believe me.”