The Swingin’ Utters have been kicking around the San Francisco Bay Area for 25 years now. As a punk rock band, they formed in the late 1980s. After a seven-year hiatus, the band reformed in 2010 and released a new album in 2011. Their street-punk sound has often been compared to The Clash or Stiff Little Fingers. but the band also incorporate country music or roots rock into their sounds.
Their new album Poorly Formed is due for release at the end of this month. We took a listen:
The opening track on this fine collection of 14 songs, ‘Librarians Are Hiding Something’ is catchy, fast and energetic. It’s like whipped butter and a squirt of sugar cream – it is all and nothing. Sweet and innocent. But the juxtaposition of the lyrics: Librarians / Contrarians / Barbarians really adds something frangible and chaotic to the piece. This song plays to your sweet tooth- like a troop of marzipan soldiers.
‘Brains’ is stuttering. With a distant vocal and an encapsulated harmony- it leads to the “Down the drains…” feeling of aimlessness and vacant futility. ‘Stuck In a Circle’ has some gorgeous, finely rendered guitar-work. A harmless enough and fairly recognizable (Paul Simonish) tune steps along the lines creditably – though awkwardly – until the lucent chorus blazes in.
‘Poor Beans’ has a satisfying tune. It is soft enough to harness the snarled “Not about to f*** tell you…” chorus that lies angrily in the centre. Then aping Marie Osmond’s lyrics and tumble drying George Hamilton IV’s sentiments, ‘ I’m A Little Bit Country’ is the most Pogues-sounding number – but with a slice of banjo to fiddle things up. This is a barn-dance song, it will make you scream and yelp. Yet, somehow, it also makes a valid point. Cracking stuff!
‘In a Video’ has an astonishingly astringent guitar the clamors and growls around the putrid vocals. It’s a full-on punk fuelled wet dream. And, after the feedback and distorted bass, on ‘Poorly Formed’ we are treated to a fine riff that elongates the feel of the melody. This is gloriously saccharine treatment, and manages to hide the truth under those folds of sugar.
‘Temporary Contemporary’ has a swinging rhythm and a needle sharp guitar that semi-drills its way deep into your fins. This song squeezes you dry. Then spits you out. ‘Military Barbara Billingsley’ is the centre-piece of the band’s Clash-like sounds. A melodramatic romp though a yellow pom-pom suburbia. You can see the blossom flying in the aromatic breeze, even as you push back the drapes to take in the view.
Some of the songs retain their angry saliva intact – songs like ‘Dreadlock Dread Reggae’ which has all the charm imaginable, yet is jostled closely with the muscle. These fellahs can write simply adorable ditties -no matter how much they protest inside- they can’t help but let the goodness penetrate out through the melodies.
‘The Fake Rat of Dave Navarro’ (presumably alluding to Dave Navarro – the guitarist with Jane’s Addiction- who maintains a rodent of soft warm fuzziness under his chin) sounds most like The Undertones. This song has that pure, almost instinctive charm, and a young innocent verve that makes you wonder how Johnny “Peebucks” Bonnel can write stuff – without sin – like this. At age 45.
Finally, ‘Sevita Sing’ has a splendid guitar intro and some cheerfully strummed chords. In fact, this sounds like a perfect pop number. As usual, it hides its jagged edges lyrically, so may be fiercer than it first appears.
In fact, the first appearances should not always be relied on in this album. This is a collection of bruises, groans, complaints and protest – all dressed nice to go dancing in the living room.
Enjoy the fun, take in the decorum and the frivolity. But this with a pinch of salt. Do not underestimate what these songs offer on the inside. Look deep. And you will find a bag of rusty nails! Go easy now…
-© Neil_Mach February 2013 –
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