Swervedriver
99th Dream

THE REVIEW

Last episode of the Swervedriver saga. A controversial episode, the album is from 1996 and the band had signed with Geffen. The talent of the Franklins had been targeted. Is success finally coming? None of this. Faced with the real business, the beautiful toy breaks, as has happened so many times in the past. The album's release would be postponed, and "99th Dream" would only come out in 1998. And it would be the last. After the reunion of other great bands, Swervedriver also announced their reunion in 2008. It seems confirmed, even though nothing has been released so far. Sony, however, remastered and expanded all the early albums in 2008. Let's hope to see and, above all, hear something more.

The album. It's miraculous, but even the fourth album is still decent, thanks to some gems. Of course, the surprise had passed, and now everyone was expecting anthology tracks. And they gave it their all. It starts with "99th Dream", beautiful, and it would seem that the Swerves have not yet emerged from their dive into psychedelia. So, do they continue on that path? No, unfortunately, and we'll see why. The track would rightfully become a stable part of their anthologies. Second is "Up From The Sea", and a bit of fear arrives. The piece isn't as convincing as the others, it's strange, different. We didn't know it then, but it was the beginning of brit-pop, which the Swerves obviously couldn't carry forward. The Oasis, with their first albums, would give it a defined meaning. Third is "She Waves A Tender Trap", a wonderful ballad. In any case, we are now in brit-pop up to our necks. Fourth "These Time" and the Swerves are back. But it's incredible how they manage to compose a piece that could stand in the Oasis's anthology. Who is the inspirer of this beautiful track? I don't know. Certainly, Oasis wrote few tracks like this. Fifth "Electric 77", another track in full psychedelia. But by now, the guitars are different. Maybe it's the influence of the first Gallagher that has arrived. It's hard to say precisely. It would be worth reading some interviews from the time to hear what Franklin thought of Gallagher. Sixth "Stellar Caprice" is an all-instrumental track. Franklin seeks new paths, but things are no longer as easy for him as they used to be when he moves from his field. Seventh "Wrong Treats", and it's a beautiful pop track. From the anthology. The talent is there, but it's clearly directed by others toward new paths more fitting for the fashion of the time. As said before, brit-pop. Eighth "You've Sealed My Fate", and we return to tracks worthy of Ejector. The connection with the sixties is still strong here. It's nonetheless impressive how easily Franklin finds the right melody. Ninth "In My Time", a pop track I could have done without. Even though there are artists who would build an entire album around such a piece. Tenth "Expressway" a marvelous ballad that alone is worth the entire album. A classic. Eleventh "Behind The Scenes Of The Sound..." is Swervedriver's farewell, and the Swerves decide to do it by giving lessons to everyone. The track is finally long, like in the past, the first part instrumental, the hard guitar from Mezcal Head returns with the acoustic underneath. Moog and finally, Franklin's mournful voice intones an epic melody. In this vein, Oasis would make their entire 1997 album "Be Here Now".

In short, really a beautiful track (and at the time, it also sounded new) and a worthy closing of a great show. It must restart from there. The business forced them to chase the Oasis. And probably they were abandoned because they weren't good enough at completing the task. Better for me. I've got another beautiful album left. And I await them. Alex