press
Review of "You Were Right" by Jay Wawyrziak, Jersey Beat #71:
"My best friend Ron often says that you can't have joy without sorrow, that the two wildly contrasting emotional extremes go hand in hand. If there ever was an indie-rock band with a firm grounding in and sound comprehension of that particular principle, that band would have to be Apple of Discord.

These three down-in-the-dumps sad sack fellows deliver nine supremely downcast and regretful songs that are often so impassioned and emotionally charged that they are rather difficult to listen to. Don't get me wrong, it's not that the music ain't up to snuff. Quite on the contrary, in fact. The anguished vocals, brooding arrangements, and gloomy lyrics blend together to create a melancholy tone that's powerfully well sustained throughout. It's just that the poignancy evident in every song tends to cut a bit too deep, which when you really think about it qualifies as more of a plus than a minus.

So, all told I endorse and recommend this album. However, don't ever listen to it first thing in the morning because it could put you in a depressed funk that'll last the rest of the day. And that comment alone actually says a lot about how potent and effective this album truly is."
Review of "You Were Right" by Jessika Brune, Delusions of Adequacy:
"Five stars for good stuff. This band has a lot of elements of previous legendary emo greats with a hip spin on it, with intelligent hooks, surrendering lyrics, and build-ups/break-downs to fill the listeners holes. You're going to think I'm weird, but singer James Cuartero has a great high-pitched tone. It's within the boundaries of tough, still and very strong, which is especially apparent in "Eternal Flame," the third track of You Were Right. This song reminds me of the times when you walk into a show and the door opens, the music is instantly loud, and you can tell the band is good because you sort of get those goose bumps watching everyone inside with their face turned up to the ceiling and their eyes closed.

This band and release are not especially new news; in fact, this release was recorded in 2000. I suppose initially a soft-spoken band would not catch on, but again with a deeper look there is much to be seen. Harmonic riffs are swirling all over the place, keeping things diving and rolling. "The Sorrowful Mystery of Your Face is One More Thing that Keeps Me Awake" even ends with a nice solo. With track titles like this one, you might think of this as another depressing, whiny group. Not so. Though the ideas are tortured tails of love and insecurities, they are demonstrated so realistically. There aren't any times where it becomes old or whiney or redundant. There is a nice mixture of kinder, softer ballads entwined with that pianoed-tune guitar structure and sympathetic surrender.

I finally got to demonstrate the whole "bet you can't have just one" theory. And by one I mean one song. I listened to this release a lot before I decided to go over to appleofdiscord.com and see what the hell is up with these guys. Looks like they are booking an east coast tour. The band doesn't blow anything out of the water, but they take simple structure and a knack for perfectly hitting my taste and go to town. The production is even good, and I can't think of any reccomendations for them other than to put out some recent stuff and send it out my way.

If you're into the older (and better, if you ask me!) Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World stuff with a tint more emo and a great strong vocal track, this is the disc for you. With truth- baring lyrics such as "My love won't breathe, she only chokes," how can you turn them away? It's all in the songwriting, friends. It's got character, and it can fill your void in the proper situation. The Cure is sad and melancholy, but did that ever steer anyone away? Nah, just eat it up for the metal you are to the magnet that pulls you."
Review of "You Were Right" by Matthew Pollesel, Splendid:
"I wasn't sure what to expect from Apple of Discord. They described their sound as a cross between soul and indie rock, with both Pavement and '60s soul singer Bill Withers listed as influences. Pavement is frequently cited as influential for indie bands; Bill Withers is not. I couldn't help but imagine a bizarre mixture of crooning and strangely-tuned guitars. Thankfully, that's not the case. Apple of Discord is about as stereotypical as an indie rock band can get (apart from the fact its members are all Asian). The vocals are high and strained, the guitars are clangy, and each song is about being heartbroken and lonely.

That's not to say that 'You Were Right' isn't an enjoyable album. In fact, it's definitely above average on the songwriting front. Both 'It's Always Cold Without You" and "The Sorrowful Mystery of Your Face is One More Thing That Keeps Me Awake', for instance, convey heartache and pain well, without becoming tedious or painful to listen to. It may be sad stuff, but it's listenable sad stuff -- a distinction, frankly, that we wish more bands would understand."
Review of "You Were Right" by Jennifer L. Huls, Origivation Magazine:
"The pensive and at times depressing lyrical vocal stylings of singer James Cuartero strike a sympathetic chord. Simultaneously, the impressive layering of subtle guitar parts demand attention - simple ideas come to fruition. The bass and drums play well with one another, weaving in and out of the groove in all nine songs - never under or overplaying. The disc constantly reveals new elements with each listen.

Just one listen to the opening track, "Hope is the Steel Held Close Against Your Heart", shows you what Apple of Discord is capable of accomplishing. The song pulls in the listener with its repetitively hypnotic guitar riff during the verses. Drums and bass follow suit with enough deviation to maintain interest. While breaking it down in the middle a Mike Watt sounding bass solo, these guys were smart enough to put this magnetic song first to pull listeners along for the rest of the ride. Kudos to whoever recorded this band - the production value of this disc is as good as the songs on it.

Apple of Discord knows how to craft a song, and this CD shows the band's talent brilliantly. The world should look forward to more music from this promising band. Anyone looking to buy one indie album this month should buy this one - it's no disappointment."
Review of "You Were Right" by Heidi Drockelman of Indie-Music.com:
"There is absolutely nothing in discord with this record. While they classify themselves as “overwrought indie-rock”, I think they’ve actually found a wonderful balance between depression and shadowy brilliance. It takes but a moment to realize that Apple of Discord isn’t your average indie-rock band. Most of that is due to the beautifully off-key vocal stylings of James Cuartero. Certainly, I won’t sit here and tell you that there isn’t a large element of longing and some despair going on here, you just don’t get this kind of tension from being happy all the time. But what might qualify as someone’s depression makes for a wonderfully shadowy and atmospheric record. With one real surprise at the end of the disc.

Cuartero’s vocals can be most easily compared to that of contemporary artists Jeff Buckley, whose own style was unique and quite gorgeous simultaneously, and mainstream newcomer (and isn’t it about time?) David Gray. The style is strong, but maintains the right nuance of vulnerability, never faltering and feeling inappropriate. The songs themselves are catchy, but don’t fall into any type of formulaic traps and carve out a nice identity for the band. I’m sure that although the song titles themselves might trip up a DJ or two, the heart of the material is what will capture the listeners. A personal favorite boasts a song title rivaling only that of the prolific prose of Fiona Apple’s last album name – “The Sorrowful Mystery of Your Face Is One More Thing That Keeps Me Awake” – with a definitive single coming on next in “Trigger in My Brain”. Other wonders include “The Reward Of My Life Is An Angel Spitting On My Soul” and “Rubber Balls and Liquor”. and for the shocker, a version of “Genie in a Bottle” that perhaps Christina Aguilera should get her hands on. Who knew a dance hit could sound this good modified for the emo-rock generation.

This is definitely a band to watch and listen to in the future, and I feel that while this is an outstanding introduction to the band, we’ll be hearing more guitar and creative song titles in their future."
Live review at the Hamilton St. Cafe 5.03.2002 by Emily Richard of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School Lamp

"The middle room did not fill up for the first two bands, which were Apple of Discord and an unnamed band. Apple of Discord was decent. The vocalist had a mediocre voice, which went along with the mediocre guitarist, bassist, and drummer. They tried to be creative, which showed merit, but they didn't quite make it. They sounded as if they needed more practice."