Professor Alex Gardner and his band, Alex Gardner and the Golden Apples, released their second album, “The Temptation of Thieves,” Nov. 6.
Gardner teaches in the department of Comparative Studies in Literature & Culture (CSLC) and focuses on 19th and 20th-century German literature. According to Gardner, the Golden Apples features Lauren Slusser on keyboard, piano and vocals, Dan Komen on bass, Jason Wyman of TV Girl on drums and Karter Harmon plus Gardner himself on guitar.
According to Gardner, “The Temptation of Thieves” came together organically over the course of about three years.
“We recorded some of these songs in the studio,” Gardner said. “A lot of it, as with the last record, is just my laptop and a couple microphones. […] I work at it piece by piece until it’s done.”
Gardner said he started playing music, specifically guitar, as a teenager.
“I almost immediately wanted to write songs as well,” Gardner said. “Even when I only knew three chords I was like, ‘Okay, how can I make this into a song?’ I knew some friends that also did similar things […] and we immediately were wanting to outdo each other and share ideas.”
Gardner said he released his first solo record in 2008 and he recorded his first solo albums in his bedroom using a microphone and a guitar. His second album “Highly Attainable Dreams,” which preceded “The Temptation of Thieves,” was released in 2023.
“I wrote a lot of [“Highly Attainable Dreams”] during the pandemic,” Gardner said. “It is an album that feels like comfort food, musically, to me. There’s a lot of 90s indie rock that I grew up listening to, like Pavement and Silver Jews. [“The Temptation of Thieves”] is sort of me stepping back into that direction.”
According to Gardner, one of the most essential parts of his songwriting process is his beloved dog, Betty. Gardner said he first met Betty two years ago when his friend found her as a six-month-old stray, and Betty loves Occidental students.
“Betty gives me fortitude, peace of mind and endless amounts of love,” Gardner said. “And that really gives me a good place from which to put songs out into the world.”
Gardner’s song, “Rattlesnake” on “The Temptation of Thieves” is an ode to Betty.
“Betty is the sweetest dog in the world, but she really does like to bite when she plays,” Gardner said. “She likes to bite things; she bites everything, it’s just kind of her thing. [“Rattlesnake”] says that the rattlesnake loves to bite. I’m actually talking about Betty.”
Gardner said he began listening to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell when his interest in songwriting first developed.
“Songwriters who put lyrics front and center and like to tell stories with their songwriting appeal to me,” Gardner said.
Gardner said encounters with artists who treat lyrics like poetry allowed him to connect his interest in music with his love of literature. According to Gardner, his study of literature, academic work and music have always worked in tandem.
“When I would read something that inspired me, I would often pick up a guitar and be like, ‘How would I tell this story as a song?’” Gardner said. “I want to write lyrics that can be read as poetry. I don’t know if I will achieve that, but I sometimes try.”
Assistant Professor Stephen Klemm works with Gardner in the CSLC department. According to Klemm, Gardner revitalized and reenergized the department when he joined.
“One of the key things about Alex is the way he’s always such a humane and enjoyable and kind person to engage with,” Klemm said. “He’s always bringing in references both to German literature and music of the past, but also mixing it up with his love and his enthusiasm for music now and his knowledge of what’s going on inside of contemporary movements today.”
Klemm said Gardner is a dynamic, energetic and enthusiastic professor.
“He really always tries to bring interesting material to bear on the study of German language, whether that’s German poetry or song,” Klemm said. “He’s always grabbing things and introducing things to students that are really cool, and that they might not know from different periods of time.”
Jane Brinkley (senior) said she is majoring in CSLC and took Gardner’s class “Grim Tales: The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm” Spring 2026.
“He’s a very interesting fellow,” Brinkley said. “When I first saw him, I said, ‘You look like the ghost of John Lennon.’ He just laughed and said, ‘Why thank you.’”
Brinkley said she loves Gardner’s laid-back vibe and how he incorporates his musical interest in his classes. According to Brinkley, Gardner has the classic archetype of a storyteller.
“He is a trickster figure altogether,” Brinkley said. “He’s very grounded and will always help you out in any way that you want. I would say that is impressive.”
Gardner said “The Temptation of Thieves” lets the music speak for itself.
“It’s a very basic human need to express oneself,” Gardner said. “So I would just say if you feel that urge, then you should do it. And anyone who tells you that that’s not a good idea, just don’t listen to them.”
Contact Marco Zapien at mzapien@oxy.edu
