SWAG
Catch-All (Yep Rock)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Whaddya get when ya mix one Wilco, two Mavericks and a Cheap Trick? A delightful power pop concoction called Swag. As throwbacks go, this is a goodun. The boys play seventies style AM fun music, sorta like Paul McCartney's Wings without the sap (well, almost without). Plenty of smooth, ready for swooning, vocals backed by irresistable guitar hooks and punchy drum beats. If Tiger Beat were still around today (is it?), then Swag would surely be the quick colour fade, fold out poster center spread. The idear behind supa dupa groups is that the talents at hand can take turns cranking out the hits, negating the necessity for album filler. Sounds good on paper, but seldom does the game plan bear any fruit. This one does. Just when you think you've heard the "single", another gem, written by another Swag, sung by another Swag, comes along. They really do take turns outdoing one another. A winner, and headed for the hit parade!

© 2001 - John Sekerka