Track of the Day: Swell, '(I Know) The Trip,' (1997, Beggar's Records UK, from the LP Too Many Ways Without Thinking)

Swell is a band that almost defies categorization, let alone identification. Founded in San Francisco, it's one of those 'kind-of-a-band-in-name-only' kinda bands. Whereas their career has endured over nearly 25 years, you've probably never heard of them. They've hopped record labels, personnel, aliases (bandleader/vocalist/lyricist/guitarist David Freel has recorded under several Swell-esque solo and collaborative incarnations over these past couple of decades), and Swell has issued so many singles, EPs, and previously unreleased collections of music in varied formats (vinyl, mp3, CD, and even on Dropbox, essentially giving away the music), that tracking it all down is truly a challenge.

I was first introduced to Swell in 2000 or 2001 by my friend Steve. The first tune was 'Is That Important?' a catchy, droning, somewhat typical indie/alt rock cut with barely intelligible vocals buried in the mix (save for the moderately soaring chorus), delivered quite matter-of-factly. Evocative of its era (released on 1993's LP '41'), the one word which comes to mind in defining the song and its vibe is 'Slacker.'

Over the past decade or so since, I've periodically checked in on Swell's activities. Are they still together? Who exactly is 'they?' Are they touring? Any recent studio releases? Can I track down some of their past discography?

Thankfully, and ironically, the collapse of the music industry as we once knew it has afforded us a decentralized digital landscape in cyberspace to dig for Swell gems, exposing a band that never quite made it big, that kinda never 'was' in the first place.

To be fair, and more precise, there has been some semblance of a 'band' over the decades, and other than co-founder David Freel (the one consistency throughout their existence), co-founder and drummer Sean Kirkpatrick has anchored several Swell releases, meandering in and out of partnership with Freel.

Over the course of no less than 8 full-length LPs, and the aforementioned B-sides, singles, unrealeased nuggets, EPs, etc etc, Swell has steeped its sound in elements of noise pop (think a highly more sedated and muted Sonic Youth), grunge, strummy acoustic-electric indie rock, psychedelia, shoegaze, and healthy helpings of ambient and lo-fi snippets.

Not all of it original, some of it way too droning and Depresso for my liking, but all in all, I've had several Swell favorites over the years, namely: 'Always Everything,' 'At Lennie's,' 'At Long Last,' 'Comfort 48,' 'Fuc Yew,' 'Glad To Be Alone,' 'Something to Do,' 'Today,' 'Tonight,' '...A Velvet Sun,' and '20,000 Years.''

My favorite Swell tune, one that I feel best encapsulates their unique brand of Eclectica, is the track '(I Know) the Trip,' from their 1997 LP Too Many Ways Without Thinking. Great, dark, moody-broody lyrics alternate from descriptive, almost ethereal expressionism to raw, bitter, social commentary. Hypnotic bass, washes of distorted guitars, and some excellent drum fills build to a furious outro chorus complete with David Freel's dual vocal phrasing:

'Just sort of wade into the sky
 Just sort of feed into the ground
 Just sort of lying in the sound
 Just sort of failing to get by

 ...Foolish and jealous to start
 We'll probably take it too far
 No time to service your car
 As dumb, as dumb as we are

 ...I Know the Trip that You Are!'