I see a lot of suggestions for me on Apple Music to check out Swervedriver when I listen to shoegazing music, and have heard a lot of people give them kind remarks of their music. I figured that I might as well give them a listen, because they certainly sound interesting based on shoegazing alone.
“Sci-Flyer” sounds really awesome right away. That bass is just mean. Wow, those drums swirl around just like the guitars. I’m immediately impressed. It’s like someone took some of My Bloody Valentines original album and dressed it up with some 90s grunge. Wow, that instrumentation behind the vocals really doesn’t quit, and sounds like it’s slipping and sliding around in a circle. It’s almost got a nice squishiness to it, almost reminds me of that band Squeeze, though only in a somewhat obscure fashion.
“Pile-Up” has a really awesome feel to it. Very 90s-esque, in my opinion, and kind of reminds me of Bush in a way. The way the rhythm guitar just kind of plays this swirling distorted fuzz that almost serves as a backdrop for every other instrument is really sick, and definitely has a shoegazing sound to it. Dang, that swirly breakdown is pretty slick to listen to. The drums and bass really give a great, solid and centered echo to what the guitars are playing around them. I really dig how it fades out.
“Son of Mustang Ford” picks up right where “Pile-Up” left off with a great energetic grungy jam at the start, though it sort of reminds me of some early 2000s hard rock bands I used to listen to a lot when I was younger. It’s almost got a guitar hero vibe to, not necessarily the game, but just the sense that you’re going to rise to the top. The album name makes quite a bit of sense at the moment. Wow, that combo electric guitar kind of reminds me of the harmonization heard from Avenged Sevenfold, but still very different, and definitely has more of a classic rock sound than Avenged Sevenfold did. I really dig this tune.
“Deep Seat” fades in with some sweet drums, and joining shortly after is a very dreamy fuzzy guitar, and shortly after that an incredibly smooth and tasty bass. That bass tone is pretty fat, and works super well with the drums. Wow, that guitar riff they’re playing is really awesome and gives a great attitude to the song. I really am enjoying the little lonely distorted wah-wah guitar to the left in the soundscape; it’s almost on an island of its own. This song is kind of reminding me of a cross between The Verve and Oasis, two great bands that came from England, much like Swervedriver, and very nearly at the same time: the early 1990s. Wow, the guitar and songwriting in this is really superb.
“Rave Down” has a stupendous drum and bass combination part at the intro, and all the instruments seem to be swirling in some form or fashion. The drums really hooked into this one. Wow, there’s almost an ethereal guitar part way in the background I think I just noticed. The songwriting is really awesome. All this songs have been really awesome to listen to so far – very dynamic, plenty of range, and great quality all around. It sort of takes a 90s spin on shoegazing, as I mentioned before, and that is honestly so cool to me.
There’s an awesome transition into “Sunset”. This one feels a bit more overtly shoegaze-y to me. That bass is absolutely infectious – so smooth, and it really grabs your attention while the guitars spiral around you. Wow, I’m so impressed by the drums and bass and how they’re working together. Wow, the song feels like it just broke through with a possible key change. Great songwriting for sure. Wow, that breakdown at the end was really sweet.
“Feel So Real” has such a different feel than all of the songs leading up to it. It almost sounds like there’s a keyboard part, and this one seems to have more psychedelic subtleties apart from the shoegazing aspect of most songs, in my opinion. The lyrics almost have a droning quality to them, while keeping somewhat of an optimistic feel.
“Sandblasted” sort of has a neo-psychedelic fade-in to it, and is structured very simply compared to the rest of the songs so far. There isn’t a swirling, distorted rhythm guitar playing in the background yet. Then the song sounds like it almost turns on out of nowhere, and drops into a very 90s grunge-sounding rock track, though there’s definitely an air of positivity to the whole track. There’s almost a tease about the ending of the tune and/or album, as the band sort of changes the groove up a bit and plays something with a bit more air between the beats. That electric guitar solo is super awesome. The way the chord progression resolves is a bit unexpected to my ears. Wow, the song goes back and forth between a couple different grooves and each time it feels like the song’s momentum builds on itself.
“Lead Me Where You Dare…” sounds like it’s slowly concluding the album; it’s not as hectic, and is a bit looser in feel. That being said, it’s a really groovy track. The vocals are really interesting, there’s almost an ethereal drone-like tone to it. I really like how the guitars seem to be swirling around and playing off one another. That drum and bass combination Swervedriver serves up is really awesome. The music sort of fades out with about a minute and a half to spare, and then promptly fades back in, only playing in reverse this time, something akin to The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” off of Magical Mystery Tour (1967). That was an awesome way to both the track, and the album. Completely unexpected, and really had a great natural feeling to it as well.
This is a great album for anyone who enjoys shoegazing and/or 90s rock music. I really want to check out more of the album now. There’s not much I can say at this point other than I hope you enjoy listening to it at least as much as I did. Really great album, and at only 45 minutes, that’s definitely not too long of a commitment.
-A