Shooting Star, the new album by Philadelphia-based band Golden Apples, begins and ends with its outlier songs. Opener “Another Grand Offering for the Swine” is a brief dirge that’s over before you’ve even had a chance to decide whether you like it or not. Meanwhile, the closing track, “How Long Must I Stay in This Place”, is a lengthier instrumental (mainly featuring wordless vocals) whose title aptly embodies the static nature of the music.
Put these two songs aside, though, andShooting Stars is filled with the kind of moody guitar-based pop that makes it a worthy follow-up to their 2023 album,Bananasugarfire. Conceived initially as a one-person project by Russell Edling in 2016, Golden Apples have gone through various incarnations and have released four albums leading up toShooting Star. In addition to Edling, the group that recordedShooting Star includes Tim Jordan on bass and guitar; Zack Robbins on drums, synthesizers, guitar, percussion, and shaker; Dan Angel on bass, guitar, and drums; and Mimi Gallagher on vocals, shaker, bass, and percussion.
Shooting Starshifts into higher gear with its second track, “Noonday Demon”. Named after a memoir by Andrew Solomon – the book’s subtitle isAn Atlas of Depression– the song serves as a propulsive template for the LP, as guitars crash around the vocals and synths weave their way through the tune.
“Mind” is a gentle but uptempo bop that happens to share its title with a dark and paranoid Talking Heads song, though it shares more in common with a different Heads’ song, the offbeat, but much-loved “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)”.
“Ditto” nicely blends acoustic and crunchy Pixies-esque electric guitar with some electronics and a psychedelic breakdown, continuing theShooting Star pop fest. “Freeeee” (yes, with five letter “E”s) has an airy, expansive feel that might evoke the sound of vintage Stereolab. Name-checking Stereolab feels like a good place to note how nicely Golden Apples employ synths throughout the album. Such electronics are present throughoutShooting Star, enhancing the songs without overwhelming them.
While 1990s college rock clearly informs much ofShooting Star, those who are so inclined might hear echoes of the Feelies and even Velvet Underground. Their influence is especially apparent on “Song for the Record Exchange”, one of the best songs, and possibly an homage to one of Philadelphia’s longest-standing record shops? Only Edling and company know for sure.
Golden Apples occasionally slow things down onShooting Star. “Divine Blight” is an emo-ish ballad, while “Happy” starts slow and quiet before increasing the intensity. Another slower tune, “Breeze”, sounds like it’s going to become “Stairway to Heaven” for a moment during the guitar intro, but then takes a different path.
ThroughoutShooting Star, Golden Apples seamlessly blend and match their influences, resulting in a fine next step for them. Golden Apples are out on the road now. This reviewer saw them supporting Pylon Reenactment Society in 2024 and can report that they’re a fun live band. If you like Shooting Star, get out there and see Golden Apples play, and support live music.