Road Apples - A Perfect Hell

Hear The Track Here

Click the weblink above and it will take you to a place that promises 'original tunes by a songwriter in Canada - guitar-driven rock music with an "alternative" edge' and no - for the first time in ages - this review is not about Cam Bastedo. Nope, Road Apples is the musician I have in my sights and although he shares the same musical ground as some of Cam's work (beatleish pop to be precise), his approach is different enough to be distinctive. When I reviewed August (November 2006) I really liked its dedication to the cause of this particular field and gave it a highly recommended as I did with Fly Away (March 2007), a knockout collaboration with Alchemystic.

S'no good looking for a download link, you are going to have to pay for this jobbie or takes your chances with whatever player you can get to work in the Soundlcick maelstrom. Therefore, I might add, it raises the stakes considerably when it comes to reviewing a track. After all, free is free and money is money. What would I get then for my hard earned 99c? (Ed: that's around 51pee in real money) Well, you'd get a 128kb/s file for a start and - to be honest - the least I would have expected would be a 192kb/s rendering. Small potatoes I know - writer checks to make sure he spelt potato right - but these things cross your mind when you cross someones palm with silver. However, it's the music you are paying for innit? So is it worth it. Certainly is if you happen to like Road Apples, and I do - but there again I get to listen free too...

Damn, life is suddenly full of dilemmas...

A Perfect Hell is a cute little ditty about the first 'special forces' military group of World War 2, inspired by a novel by the same name. Not sounding very beatleish at all, is it? It isn't, this is a much rockier, harder sounding Road Apples - partly technical, partly emotional. Considering the subject matter (read the lyrics, it is helpful) A Perfect Hell is surprisingly listenable in a meatier, almost Power Pop production that is unexpected. While there is some question of the sound quality here and there, songwise this is a powerful, considered performance delivering a polemic on the nature of war. OK, I see that look in your eye; you still want to know if it is worth your money, right? Well, I'd give that a considered yes because - if I were being honest about it - I'd want a less flawed rendering or maybe a higher bitrate for the joy of actually owning it. Hope I made myself clear here because this is a moral minefield.

Listen before you buy, but this is a tough choice.