Louden Swain
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Louden Swain

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"the perfect power-chord pop-rock gem"

By Todd Beemis

One of the most egregious criminal acts in music this year was how America greeted the release of Cheap Trick's most recent album with a collective yawn. Idiots. That record rules.

And now here to give me some company in my worship of all things Cheap is Louden Swain (named after that wrestler Matthew Modine played when he was still acting and not going to parties in New York sponsored by some new oak-aged rum ... or something).

From the first of its 12 tracks, Swain's newest release Suit and Tie pokes musical fun at the die-yuppie-scum lifestyle of corporate drag, getting married, having kids, divorce and male sexual enhancers sold on TV.

But instead of being cliche and boring, the music that Louden Swain wraps around these themes makes them engaging and familiar. In other words, I caught myself tapping my feet and thinking, "Man, I can relate to that" more often than a few time while listening to the record.

Standout tracks are led by the perfect power-chord pop-rock gem "Gina Knows." Others in close succession are the title track, "Real Life" and the let's-channel-Steven-Tyler party trick otherwise known as "Long Way."

Louden Swain can be damn proud of this record. And even if right now there aren't thousands of Budokan girls screaming that they want the band to want them, it really just seems a matter of time until they are. - Indie-Music.com


"catchy riffs and witty lyrics"

It’s nice to see a band move forward over the years. Louden Swain’s latest, Overachiever, reflects the L.A. based band’s growth as musicians and songwriters. Each track on this disc mixes the rawness of indie rock with the carefree attitude of 80’s bubble-gum metal. Think Foo Fighters, Weezer, and The Vines combined with catchy riffs and witty lyrics ala The Vandals. It’s easy to get caught up in the animated spirit of this high energy E.P. “Codependent” and “Only Lyin’” are the big standouts. Judging by Louden Swain’s performance on Overachiever, I’m willing to bet their live show is wildly entertaining. -NIN - bitemezine.net


"a finely-crafted slice of radio-ready modern rock"

Surprisingly tuneful and spry, Louden Swain's OVERACHIEVER is a finely-crafted slice of radio-ready modern rock. What's more, the trio uses a tried-and-true formula to reach rock nirvana: simple arrangements utilizing the guitar/bass/drums template and adorned with honest-to-god melodic hooks. Lyrically, tunes like "Neurosis" and "Only Lyin" are a bit childish, but their bratty ruminations serve the music well, emphasizing its playfulness and bright melodic interplay. - Skratch Magazine


"Mental instability never sounded so good"

This band is having a pretty good laugh at me. “Hello, Louden,” I addressed a recent e-mail, not realizing that Louden Swain is a rock band and not, as I thought, a solo folk singer/songwriter. (The band is actually named after the Matthew Modine character in the 80s movie Vision Quest.)

It’s their kind of humor, anyway. Louden Swain is one off-kilter group of individuals with a knack for rebellious, dark-humored, yank-the-rug-out-from-under-you songwriting. Songs like “Cast Off” are really kind of sick, but it’s hard to be judgmental when I’m laughing. In this particular track, a car crash victim is lying in a hospital bed, developing a crush on his nurse, and thinking,

Her breath smells like gum
juicy juicy fruit
If my jaw wasn’t wired, I’d have me some

Everything about this band feels like trying to run in an earthquake. Mental instability never sounded so good. Lead vocalist Rob Benedict can do raging shouts and gasping high tones on one breath, sounding like someone you don’t let get between you and the door.

The lyrics are wickedly smart and scary, but the music drives this CD. “Only Lyin” is surprisingly poppy after the squealing guitar sounds of the intro, and I like the explosive primal scream of the chorus of the title track.

But the standout is “Codependent,” where the frantic music bounces off the padded walls of the obsessive lyrics. Just as we’re feeling freaked out for the guy, he sings, “The doorbell rings, but I’m not answering. I can’t find the words or my pants.” The fact that this again makes me laugh is a big sign that I should never volunteer at a psych ward. - indie-music.com


Discography

Suit And Tie - 2006
Overachiever - 2004
Prom/Undergrad (CD Single) - 2002
Able-Legged Heroes - 2001

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Bio

RE: Louden Swain Gets Down to Business with “Suit and Tie”

Please be advised that effective immediately, Louden Swain is bringing it. This threesome of native Midwesterners, who’ve taken their name from Mathew Modine’s character--the quintessential underdog--in the 80s teen wrestling movie “Vision Quest”, are ready for the next rung on the ladder of success. With their new CD Suit and Tie, the group has firmly established themselves as a band that means business.

Singer/guitarist Rob Benedict, bassist Mike Borja, and drummer Stephen Norton met and started making music in the late 90s. As their fan base grew, so did the maturity of their songs and with 2003’s EP Overachiever, the band began to attract attention. The critically acclaimed 5 song EP featured “Only Lyin’” was placed on MTV’s The Real World and soon after CMJ Magazine named the band one of the Top 50 Unsigned Artists of the year. By 2004, they were filling local clubs with people singing along to their favorites like “Cast Off” and “Prom”. Lead singer Rob Benedict’s acting career also added recognition to the band, with roles in the CBS drama Threshold, and the films “Waiting…” and “Kicking and Screaming” with Will Farrell.

But what to do next? At end of 2004, they sat down with Grammy winning engineer and producer Clark Germain (U2, Iggy Pop) and began recording three new tracks. The enthusiasm over this venture generated a period of immense creativity for the band. They buckled down and spent the next year in the studio jamming and writing, fueled by a new sense of purpose. 12 tracks later, they had a full roster of new songs--more emotional and charged than anything they had done to date.

Whereas Overachiever dealt with scenarios and characters (the hospital patient and his unrequited love for the nurse on “Cast Off” and the neurotic boyfriend on “Codependent”), Suit and Tie addresses more personal life dilemmas. The songs deal with a range of issues, from being trapped in corporate hell (“Suit and Tie”, “Rock Song”) to screwing up good relationships (“Gina Knows”, “St. Louis”, “Blind”), to mustering the courage to break out of the routine and do something with yourself before it’s too late (“Real Life”, “A Lot to Learn”, “Operator”). The songs rock harder (“Rockit”) and dig deeper (“Walk it Off”). Sonically, the band explores new realms, adding a string section on “A Lot to Learn”, and utilizing more complex vocal harmonies through out the album. After finishing the album, the band sought out guitarist Billy Moran to complete their line up and bring an added dimension to their live shows.

With catchy, relatable lyrics and charming style, this is the band you want on your team. Poised for a hostile take over of the oft-mundane business of life, Louden Swain is ready to shake out the fat cats, tear down the cubicles, and add a new sound and excitement to the daily routine.