Search - Swell :: 41

Give it a listen

G. Meyer | CA USA | 05/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No one I have played this album in front of has disliked it. In fact, most people ask me what band this is by the end of track 3. I don't know what else I could say other than I enjoy 41 the most of the Swell albums. I find more recent efforts like 'Whenever You're Ready' enjoyable as well, but something about the less polished sound of the strumming on 41 keeps me coming back. A number of Swell albums start and end with a track that sounds like someone with a microphone making a journey through a city on foot or by bus or subway as does this CD. The music starts at 1:00 into track 1.



41 was Swell's major label debut.



How to descibe the music to someone hasn't heard it? If Marty Wilson Piper had had twin brothers and they were raised in an orphanage in the tenderloin they might grow up and form a band like Swell. Seriously though, a spectrum from Tom Petty to Radiohead, Pavement to Pink Floyd fans, Swell's sound might easily appeal."

Huh?

Nicholas S. Blakey | 09/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"compared to more then 90% of all the albums reviewed here at amazon, this one CERTAINLY deserves an average of 5 stars. The best swell record, though all their albums are just great."

Better than you think...

Nicholas S. Blakey | Jamaica Plain, MA USA | 08/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Whilst enormously popular in Europe, Swell still go relatively unnoticed here in the U.S., which is a damn shame because like American Music Club before them, they blow lesser groups such as Counting Crows and Red House Painters out of the water with their simplicity and no b.s. attitude. Acoustic and electric guitars swirl around uneven and jagged drums, with the singing both everpresent and still somewhat transparent. "41" is perhaps their finest achievement: a great 7 am hangover record and a wonderful 2 am listening experience. "Forget About Jesus", "Here it Is", and "You're So Right" make a fine triplet in the center of the record, forming the peak between the rising ("Song Seven") and the falling ("Fine Day Comin'") action that makes "41" a great record. A good companion piece is "SERENADE IN RED" by Swell's sister band OXBOW, who are the light to Swell's dark, and vice-versa. Nico, guitarist in OXBOW, now actually plays with SWELL as well. However, be sure you read the previews of the OXBOW record BEFORE you buy."