Louden Swain: Witty, Entertaining Rock For The Masses
Written: Nov 10 '03 (Updated Nov 10 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great songs, great melody, great vocals...GREAT!
Cons: Too short.
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended, not at all serious pop-rock.
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| lambchops's Full Review: Overachiever - Louden Swain Movies |
Named after Matthew Modine’s character in the 1985 film Vision Quest, Louden Swain formed in the late 1990’s at Chicago’s Northwestern University. With a sound rooted in pop/rock influences including The Cars, Foo Fighters, and Weezer the band formed a label and has subsequently self-released a full length album and EP.
Louden Swain is the product of three humble Midwestern guys. Helming the band is singer-songwriter Rob Benedict. Benedict is also known for his recurring roles on TV shows Felicity and Birds of Prey in addition to various roles in film. At the time of the February 2003 EP Overachiever, the band was rounded out by Mike Borja on bass and Stephen Norton on percussion.
Before listening to Overachiever, it’s important to drop all previous conceptions of what the band may be or what they intend to be. Go in tabula rasa and enjoy Louden Swain for their refreshing, fun, and ironic sound. The band clearly owes a debt of gratitude to a host of lighthearted pop/rock contemporaries, but their music is certainly not derivative—instead I find myself absolutely entertained by the rock guitars and drums which mesh nicely with Benedict’s coy, boyish voice.
Overachiever contains five equally noteworthy songs. It is a refreshing, brief introduction to a band that deserves your attention but for no particular good reason has yet to hit your radar. Starting with the first notes of Cast Off, it is crystalline that the disc is off to a positive start. Louden Swain possesses a keen knack for melody while not coming off as trite. This ability so well showcased on Cast Off casts a lovely sunshiny freshness across the four songs that follow. Plus, it’s hard not to crack a smile as Benedict sings the lyrics:
Her breath smells like gum
Juicy, juicy fruit
If my jaw wasn't wired I'd have me some
Louden Swain’s music is short and punchy—something that definitely lends itself well to the genre. Songs that are too long lose momentum but this is never the fate of anything on Overachiever. Neurosis is a lovely, melodic piece once again featuring great guitars and vocals not to mention snarky lyrics. Codependent is particularly entertaining—especially since it reminds me of the hip, slap-happy songs of The Cars (a band that I’ve always enjoyed).
The frantic pace continues through the up-tempo Only Lyin. At first listen, the song sounds remarkably like pop-metal with the guitars and drums, but once Benedict breaks in with vocals it takes on a completely other direction. His voice brings an air of brazen innocence to the song. He sounds very much like a kid who pretends to be shy and demure, but in reality knows a bit too much for his own good. Therefore, even without considering the lyrics the songs are automatically witty. And I like wit.
Much too soon, Louden Swain wraps things up with title track Overachiever. Once again turning to The Cars for inspiration, the band puts together another sparkling pop/rock song. The song is seamless, as is the rest of the EP. That’s right—Louden Swain manages to grab my attention and hold it for the entire time this disc is in rotation.
Overachiever is a special find from this indie DIY band. The sound is easy to digest and fun to listen to. It lacks pretension—something I absolutely appreciate. Not just that, but I like that Louden Swain doesn’t take much seriously. Bands that lack a sense of humor at least on some level always seem to fall short of their full potential. I applaud Louden Swain for a job well done.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Cast Off
02. Neurosis
03. Codependent
04. Only Lyin
05. Overachiever
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This album can be purchased at:
http://www.loudenswain.com
Recommended:
Yes
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lambchops
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