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Rating: 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
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 99th Dream (05:26)
Before the setting sun reclines
We hear Westminster chimes
You've gone to stealing cars
From Mars bars
And never fail
Always in your painted nails
One day we'll work the world
Without these stimulants
And as thought bubbles form above you
You know that I have always loved you
I love your ways
Love your little ways
Love your ways
Somewhere up in the sky
The Hindenburg still flies
You're still flying from the night before
Last night the big score
As we lie half in traction
And in stereo start to dream
Architecture, nature, alcohol
Space travel, rock n roll
Shop windows at night
And endless possibilities
The mannequin's blank face
Reflecting how you feel
So glamorous and surreal
It's a thin veneer
And something's got to give out here
I'm dreaming number 99
Get me to the world on time
I love your ways
I love your little ways
Love your ways
03 She Weaves a Tender Trap (03:42)
You know she weaves a tender trap
Once you're there's no turning back
She don't even feed you
How does it feel to be fine
Then you're hanging off her line
She don't even thrill you
I will always see it through
I may break my back for you
I have found that it's all true
Are you waiting for the world to get it?
If you're waiting for the world forget it
I'm not waiting for the world
You know she weaves a tender trap
Once you're there's no turning back
She don't even feed you
How does it feel to be drained
Now you're hanging off her train
She don't even thrill me
Take your time don't let it fall
I'm the one who always calls
You're the one for whom life means so
Are you waiting for the world to get it?
If you're waiting for the world forget it
I'm not waiting for the world
You know she weaves a tender trap
Once you're there's no turning back
She don't even believe you
How does it feel to be torn
Then you're hanging off her lawn
She won't even bereave you
I'm the one to see it through
Girl the living final proof
I have found that it's all true
04 These Times (02:41)
We live through these times
And never change the way we are
We've seen through their lies
So don't ever say it's one too far
We've been to these heights
With open arms and ways to fly
We live through these times
And never change
Your time was not mine
I traced you down to an untwinned town
We'd laugh all the while
Playing games with names of passer-by
We drank all your wine
With the Stooges high and a Bunnymen-style
We live through these times
That forever change
These times
These times
We live through these times
Where are the strong and who I trusted?
The harder they chime
Our wish fulfilled but wanting still
This sounds so sublime
Say what you will I just don't care
These times
These times
05 Electric 77 (07:37)
Sail away
Over waves of electric oceans
On a clear day you'll see
Forever and back again
Caroline tunes her dial
Through electric wavebands
She will hear the sweetest hum
When the city sleeps
Take me away again
Take me away and and then
Take me away again
Stellar Caprice in flames
Circled clean round your sphere
For a year on Monday
Fly me twice around the moon
In super-stereo
Bakelite, satellite
Frisbee flight on Sunday
You have no idea
Just how far you're left behind
Take me away again
Take me away and and then
Take me away again
Stellar Caprice in flames
Caroline on a line
Through the heart of everything
She is seventeen storeys high
And lost in time
Take your time
Unidentified flying hubcabs
If I only had time
I'd never die
Take me away again
Take me away and and then
Take me away again
Stellar Caprice in flames
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