Search - Swirlies :: Blonder Tongue Audio Baton

Unsung Heros of the 90's

Brian B. Carter | San Diego, CA United States | 09/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If we lived in a just world, this band would be famous and fabulously wealthy. That's also assuming musical talent and authentic creativity were rewarded.



I am a fairly ADD type who loves to listen to complex music like Polvo, MBV, King Crimson, Yes... and the Swirlies fit right in.



As a lover of organized 'wall-of-sound guitar', just the intro to the song 'Jeremy Parker' is worth the price of the album. It's still stunning to me after a decade of listening to it."

Best Album Ever!!!

Brian B. Carter | 07/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the finest American Indie albums ever. If you like Pavement, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive, you'll love this. They are a band who have not released a weak track. Buy everything of theirs."

How Did the World Miss This?

Brian B. Carter | 12/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This could be your next favorite album. I randomly saw BlonderTongueAudioBaton at a record store and decided to listen to it due to the amazing (and very indie rock!) cover art. The unique cover is an excellent reference point for the music, sharp and bent sounds all come together to form catchy, impressive, and cohesive songs. As it has been said already, it really is one of those seminal albums, the kind that challenge you, and then reward you for accepting it. For some reason (I'm going to blame the label) this album just stayed off the radar and now only a select few know of it. Swooning Distortion is laced with spontaneity, and somehow the brilliance of the swirlies make it work. After a few listens, these will be some of the most memorable and catchy rock songs you will hear. "Bell" is the best opener ever, at first a tight experimental shoegaze rock song, then an odd bridge that leaves you waiting (rather excitedly) for what will happen next. "Pancake" has been said to have been the other brilliant pop song that came out of the city of Boston, along with The Pixies "Gigantic." "Jeremy Parker" and "Wrong Tube" are the pinncales of the shoegaze aesthetic, distorted walls of sound that defy words. "His Love Just Washed Away" has some beautiful guitar haze, and "Tree CHopped Down" uses crunchy rythms that match any Sonic Youth tune. All of the songs have beautiful vocal swoons that give the album a pop song feel that is irresistable. I will always remember that day in the record store, when I found this, my new favorite album, by my new favorite band.





If you like this, I also recommend the Swirlies first collection of early EPs called "What To Do About Them""