Review
Martin Swinger MEDIA: CD. CONTACT: Search for Martin Swinger at 1000's of music sellers worldwide! | Martin
Swinger's American acoustic folk CD "Scrapbook" is excellent stuff. The
production is flawless, the songwriting is hopelessly charming and the
tunes are very catchy, With the exception of a cover of "Love Potion
#9", Martin Swinger wrote every track on this CD himself. The
"Scrapbook" CD proves him to be a great folk songwriter/singer. Pretty
much every song on the 12 tracks are 3-4 minute textbook-style folk
tunes utilizing the fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass, drums/percussion
and the occasional accordion all performed very well. Swinger played
mandolin and sang utilizing various musicians for everything else.
Swinger doesn't really have a lame track on "Scrapbook", but I was
impressed that he chose to refrain from front-ending his CD with all of
his best or most commercial songs like most indie artists in any genre
often do. In fact, one of my favorite tracks was the storytelling tale
on track #11 "Die Dancing" about a valuable lesson learned from "Pa
Jones". Swinger seems to be involved in many folk projects. I remember
recently reviewing a CD from his other folk band Zingo Zango Generic
Jug Band. Swinger's solo CD "Scrapbook" is much more polished and has
much better vocal tracks than the band's CD. Swinger's gentle, charming
voice, the wonderful songwriting, humor, and nice production makes his
"Scrapbook" CD certainly one of the best indie folk albums I have heard
this year.. Reviewed by Shane Matsumoto 6/25/99. OTHER COMMENTS |
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