Search - Swingers :: Counting the Beat

Aussies gave a new wave to New Wave

john thomas engel | Nomadic | 12/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Co-singer/songwriter of Split Enz, Phillip Judd, kicked off this artsy noodling. The Swingers are one the quirkiest bands to emerge in the 80's. A three-piece line-up, that was utterly wonderful.
Most people I know couldn't handle Phil's voice. Personally I think it was great. And his guitar playing, as decribed in Trouser Press, seemed to be that of multi-layered rubberbands
all strewn and stummed together. An apt description.
Cohesive playing throughout, the trio put them out there wildly.
This album got played most often. As seen in other reviews, you literally go through them. I had two vinyl copies. One either loved them or not, but for me they were so uplifting, that to spin their vinyl was the best part of the day. You sang and screamed every song through to the end. It must have been the hooks, they were abundant, and the exuberance in which they played. Frantic! No particular songs to suggest.... The whole thing is to recommend.
I found this to be a treasure of goodies.
Sadly there was only this album, but you can find them live in the Australian indie film Starstruck, where they also played back-up group to Joey Kennedy, star of the film.
Judd also went solo, as The Swinger, and made an lp, plus the later band he formed with Noel Crombie of Split Enz called Schnell Fenster(Fast Window in German, whatever that meant). However, none of the efforts matched the fun of The Swingers.
Sort of a one-off deal. You technically didn't need more.
But I sure would have LOVED to have seen four more Swingers records made. Think it would have killed me, like an over-dose of mescaline or something.
Well, that's how I felt about them. But then I love Australia and New Zealand for the way they meander through Anglo-pop.
Try The Tall Dwarfs/Hello Cruel World, or The Clean, Chills or Bats from New Zealand.
I think anyone loving The Swingers, might find hope in Flying Nun
Records artists, although they are different.
The Undertones, Rezillos and B52's are also comparable fun for the time."

A Kind of Pop Perfection

Carl B. Cox | Florida | 11/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Swingers came out of the 1980s, but their music--like that of the Police and English Beat--is never stuck in any era, but always sounds fresh and young. Their beat is wildly danceable, tempered by smart and sly lyrics, and their artfully off-key harmonies make the whole a kind of strange and joyous pop perfection. I never grew tired of this album when I was 16, but listened to it constantly as a sort of soundtrack--a very fitting soundtrack for such a joyous time. 17 years later, this remains one of my absolute favorite albums."

Now on CD, the LP I wore out two copies of in the Eighties!

Carl B. Cox | 06/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Swingers were a force in the early Eighties in Denver. No party mix tape was complete without a few selections from this (then) LP. The LP was difficult to find then and copies and tapes were swapped regularly.I wore out (literally) two copies of this LP during those days and finally found a third copy. Now on CD this is an essential purchase for those who collect Eighties music."