August 29, 2007

Limited edition EP from delightful Philadelphia band The Swimmers

The Swimmers have put out one of my favorite albums of the year. Except they haven’t actually “put out” just yet. We’re still sweet-talking, trying to coax them into that.

Their delectable debut Fighting Trees is streaming in full over on their website and has been for some time now. This is literate pop, literally. Their music is based on the 1964 short story “The Swimmer” by John Cheever [read about it here]. I find their sound completely irresistible and find myself cueing it up quite a bit this summer.

It is delightful, shimmery fare with rich layers of thumping percussion and chimey harmonies. I hear threads of Wilco and Lemonheads and The Shins, all wrapped up in a fresh and original package. Swimmers frontman Steve Yutzy-Burkey tells me that the group’s proper album should be out locally in the Philadelphia area this fall, and nationally in February or March.

In the meantime, they’ve been selling this limited edition EP at their shows. From what I hear, there’s always a line at the merch booth to pick this baby up — five live tracks and a tasty outtake that’s just as good as anything on the album. You can’t help but enjoy.

THE SWIMMERS EP
Heaven [live]
All The New Sounds [live]
Miles From Our Fears [live]
It’s Time They Knew [live]
Pocket Full Of Gold [live]
The Ocean Lifts Her Dress [outtake]

ZIP: SWIMMERS EP

UPCOMING SHOWS
Sep 3 – Schubas, Chicago, IL
Sep 14 – Tritone, Philadelphia, PA
Sep 15 – Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
Sep 22 – PA’s, Somerville, MA

Also, Tom at Bag of Songs has a few more live tracks at the bottom of this post from radio appearances that The Swimmers have done, including a nice ELO cover.

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3 Comments

  • wow wonderful stuff i was always a big big fan of Steves previous band One Star Hotel both of whoms albums are brilliant so obviously im gonna love this stuff.thanks
    mick d

    Anonymous — August 29, 2007 @ 1:35 pm

  • Like this- a lot -it’s kind of like the Beatles meets Talking Heads.Thanks Heather for being you and doing what you do – as the man says re track 2; “magic”: in a mundane world, charged with over expectation, we need this kind of faith, hope and these left field moments of glory.

    Heard Rilo KIleys “I never ” today for the first time – what a remarkable song and sound……..loved it and also shook my head at music’s power to destabilise and make one smile or cheer.

    Wonderful post – keep doing what you do – its both remarkable and edifying.

    russell — August 29, 2007 @ 6:08 pm

  • The Swimmers album is finally coming out on Mad Dragon Records (based in Philly!)….I saw them last week open for Last Town Chorus and Camera Obscura and as always they were great….

    Bruce — August 29, 2007 @ 7:38 pm

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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