Stan Swiniarski

Album Review
by George Peden
He’s a singer, songwriter, musician, and a producer. He’s also
unknown, but give him time. Stan Swiniarski is working on
that. With his debut, Mexico, a life-soaked mix of 13 tracks, all of which he penned or copenned,
and with his trophy swag of local songwriting awards and recognitions, he’s ready to
make it happen.
Honing his craft over several years with performances in and beyond Nashville, the singer from
Massachusetts is refreshingly different. How, you ask? Well, his subjects, style, and lyrics
don’t fall for a predictable conveyor belt attitude, sometimes the hallmark of those clutching for
immediate recognition and quick hits. Rather, Swiniarski dabbles with a generous writing style,
one that isn’t all hooks and melodies, but one that steals your interest purely with its foundation
of message and music.
"It Ain’t A Party" offers a catchy swing-style and is the lead track. With the lively feel of a
tickled piano and some smooth guitar licks sure to excite, the track fires with its tag of ":It ain’t
a party till the cops show up." The cut highlights the versatility and mold-breaking style of a
guy who swears he loves country music. It shows.
Somber moods find inspiration on a stroll to work along a crowded and faceless city block.
"Concrete Daisy" probes street life. With its cold isolation, suffering and hard-fought daily
elements, Swiniarski looks at the life of a young street woman, huddled and alone, with
nothing, save an empty paper cup. It’s a dark and powerful tune, but it’s more than that – it’s a
pointer to the serious side of a writer with a concerned social conscience.
A song for thinking lovers is "Mexico". With its rich image of sand, waves and the weather, it’s
a pale backdrop for the trip – a shattered romance only eased by a one-way ticket. Swiniarski
may have a pain craving Tequila as the answer to the bust-up, but his vocals don’t wallow and
whimper in defeat.
Relaxed, confident, and with a note-rich voice, it’s one of the appeals of this guy likened to
Lovett and Key West’s favored son, Jimmy Buffett. It’s a consistent style heard across other
standout tracks on his Up Cellar Music release. Tracks like "Instructions" with its wished
manual-for-living, and the tale of assimilation heard in lyrical conversation on "They Called Me
An American," while the telling truth of being an "Overnight Sensation" is anything but, on this
new country pleaser.
You may not know the name yet. But Stan Swiniarski has the style, musicianship, and, more
importantly, the song catalogue to overcome any recognition problems. And, because of that,
we here at CountryReview.com are proud to introduce him to you.
April 2004
4/17/2004 http://www.countryreview.com/artists-i/stanswiniarski/ - George Peden - countryreview.com

So Who Is Stan Swiniarski?...Stan Swiniarski sounds like the guy down the street you meet at a local gathering or a company picnic.

By Keith Hannaleck, 9/29/2004



Artist: Stan Swiniarski
Title: Mexico
Genre: Country-Rock-Pop
Label: Up Cellar Music

Stan Swiniarski sounds like the guy down the street you meet at a local gathering or a company picnic. Well, that could happen but this Stan has a lot more going for him than an every day event like that. His album Mexico offers 13 tracks of country-rock-pop gems to tickle your fancy and bring a tear to your eye.

Normally I cannot stomach music like this, seriously, and that is because of the main stream over kill of artists like Shania Twain and the like, however this man has his act down and its all natural, you get the real deal with none of the frills.

One song after another made me smile, laugh, and get all filled up with emotion on the verge of tears. "Instructions" is about the mystery of women and how men don’t have any hope of ever understanding the opposite sex. "Bud" is a riot! Stan sings about how he could deal with the divorce but not the kidnapping of his four-legged friend. He waxes prophetically about the how the dog kept him warm at night while he slept on the couch after a fight. "I’m Home" was the clincher for me, I just fell apart inside, thinking about my childhood and how my kids will fondly remember their time as children. This is real life stuff folks and the music is simply a perfect fit for every song.

If you like Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Rogers or similar artists, you will love Stan Swiniarski. This guy has gotta be the real deal, he didn’t even change his name. Great American music from the heart delivered right to your door, it’s just like having a milkman again, and that brings back such sweet memories. Thanks for all the great music and memories Stan you really touched my soul.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
September 22, 2004
- www.muzikreviews.com

Possessing an engaging voice and an uncommon songwriting talent, Stan Swiniarski just has to be headed for the bigtime in country music, despite the fact that he lives in the northeastern part of the United States and doesn't seem to show much inclination to leave it. When you hear songs like "Instructions" and "Learnin' To Love" you'll be Googling to check my info, certain he's from Nashville, or at least Bowling Green, but I'm right.
The CD packaging doesn't include credits, which is a shame, because I'd love to sing the praises of some of the musicians on this wonderful album, particularly the pianist and pedal steel guitarist. Whoever you people are, bravo.
Swiniarski's got something going here that far too many of today's country artists can't touch, and that's the ability to make every song interesting, including his ballads. He spent several years cleaning up at songwriting contests all over the upper right of the country, and they didn't hand him those trophies for nothin'. My guess is Mr. Swiniarski has a stockpile of songs to last three or four careers. Quality stuff. I'm a very tough sell when it comes to modern country, and I even like this guy's ballads. The ballads. Unsure if I was pleased or terrified, I turned on "young country radio" for half an hour. Nope, it's just this guy.

© 2004 - DJ Johnson
- www.cozmik.com

Now while his last name might not be the easiest to pronounce, his music is. Jumping rock-n-roll that takes lessons from blues and Americana for a roots rock explosion is the recipe that is found throughout “Mexico”. It recalls what everyone loves about those heartwarming country artists that marry easy listening with the very roots of country music. Yep, this is porch-rocking, smoky salon, bar rock that is what we all love about Nashville. Come on folks, let’s all head to “Mexico”.

- J-Sin
- www.smother.net

Artist: Stan Swiniarski
Title: Ain’t That Love
Genre: Country-Pop
Label: Up Cellar
Website: Stan Country
Available on CD Baby

I have made it quite clear in my reviews how some country music just grates my nerves, you know, the mainstream overproduced more-pop-gloss-and-polish-than-anything type of so called country music. There are not too many artists that are the real deal anymore…with the exception of down to earth folks like Stan Swiniarski. Call em’ what ya like, the Polish cowboy, indie artist, the bottom line is that the man is talented, and he sings and plays from the heart. Stan is a working man and a family man, just like many of us. So what makes him any different from you and I? There is one thing, he sings and plays music that will bend your heartstrings.

Ain’t That Love is exactly what the title says it is. This album is about the love of a family and what it all means, especially the title track. My sweet lord, I was getting chills all over and I almost broke out in tears listening to that song. It is all about being a little boy, growing up, then having your own son to look up to you the same way you did your father. Stan sure has a way with words and gets his feeling and thoughts across quite clearly, mainly because you can understand what he is singing, and the music that backs all of his wonderful lyrics on this album is a stronghold of sound built by him and his crackerjack band. It is definitely country music, with a pop twist to sweeten the pie.

After hearing one song after another, it is not hard to realize just how sincere this man is when he constructs a song. Every song I could relate to in some way, it was easy. Stan pulls up a chair in your living room and sits right beside you, wraps his arms around you, and gives you a big old bear hug with his wonderful music. With all the reality of life that he dishes out in his songs, like parental awareness in “Little Eyes Watching” and the unfairness of adults that have spilt up, always putting their children in the position of who they like most, mom or dad, in “Both Sides Of The Coin.” It makes you realize how our roles are reversed whether it is by our own choice or unfortunate circumstances beyond our control. Adults turn into children and the children force their parents to grow up and be more considerate and caring for everyone that is part of picture, while making them look in the mirror and realize how selfish they are being. Along with the heartaches and tears in these songs, there is plenty of humor and joy, such as “Drinkin’ Cap” and “Just Add Baby.” The entire range of human emotions and then some gets coverage amongst the 12 tracks on this CD.

Yes there are some strong realizations about life in the music of Stan Swiniarski and it’s a hell of a lot of fun to listen to, and how knows? You may learn something along the way.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

- Keith Hannaleck

So Who Is Stan Swiniarski?...Stan Swiniarski sounds like the guy down the street you meet at a local gathering or a company picnic.

By Keith Hannaleck, 9/29/2004

Artist: Stan Swiniarski
Title: Mexico
Genre: Country-Rock-Pop
Label: Up Cellar Music

Stan Swiniarski sounds like the guy down the street you meet at a local gathering or a company picnic. Well, that could happen but this Stan has a lot more going for him than an every day event like that. His album Mexico offers 13 tracks of country-rock-pop gems to tickle your fancy and bring a tear to your eye.

Normally I cannot stomach music like this, seriously, and that is because of the main stream over kill of artists like Shania Twain and the like, however this man has his act down and its all natural, you get the real deal with none of the frills.

One song after another made me smile, laugh, and get all filled up with emotion on the verge of tears. "Instructions" is about the mystery of women and how men don’t have any hope of ever understanding the opposite sex. "Bud" is a riot! Stan sings about how he could deal with the divorce but not the kidnapping of his four-legged friend. He waxes prophetically about the how the dog kept him warm at night while he slept on the couch after a fight. "I’m Home" was the clincher for me, I just fell apart inside, thinking about my childhood and how my kids will fondly remember their time as children. This is real life stuff folks and the music is simply a perfect fit for every song.

If you like Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Rogers or similar artists, you will love Stan Swiniarski. This guy has gotta be the real deal, he didn’t even change his name. Great American music from the heart delivered right to your door, it’s just like having a milkman again, and that brings back such sweet memories. Thanks for all the great music and memories Stan you really touched my soul.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
September 22, 2004

Rating-8/10


- muzikreviews.com

Review by Jonathan Widran
Massachusetts isn't the first place you might think of as a place to cultivate the next great country singer-songwriter, but this bright, heartfelt and witty lyricist and vocalist—who brings to mind Lyle Lovett, Jimmy Buffett and (why not?) Toby Keith—has been a local hero in New England for some time. He's won the New England Songwriter Competition, was a finalist in the WOKQ New England Country Star Search, and has won numerous New Hampshire Country Music Association Awards. Great pedigree, but it's the songs that must win us over, and they do, in spades. The perky and playful title track isn't quite up to par with James Taylor's song of the same name, but it's still a snazzy, down home track pondering the good life South of the Border—with great harmonies to boot. “It Ain't A Party" is a crisp country-rock hoedown that will get the bar hopping. He takes some lighthearted looks at love (the lost dog tale “Bud," “Instructions") and the sweetness of a childhood home (“I'm Home"), then tackles weightier topics like the experience of the American immigrant (“They Called Me An American"). Swiniarski is as strong a presence as any other male on the Adult Contemporary Country scene, and will hopefully soon travel the distance between the Northeast and Nashville

- allmusic.com

Stan Swinarski, Mexico (© 2004 UpCellar Music)
On this disc, the award-winning singer songwriter has assembled a baker's dozen of tunes which fall in the country-western arena. Unlike the music by the current cast of stars in the country field, Swinarski's music leans more toward the old days, swinging along the lines of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. A number like "Instructions," for starters, has humorous lyrics, and a good swinging feel. On the title track, though, he leans more toward Jimmy Buffet in style and substance. The end result is a disc that, while not innocuous, is easy on the ears, and unthreatening. Swinarski may be a cowboy, or have leanings in that direction, but he's not the fist-swinging bar-fight type, he's the clean-cut one who tips his hat to the school marm. And while some of the tunes get a bit too syrupy for my tastes, when he does swing, as on "It Ain't a Party," you can't help but shake along. On "Learning to Love," a song penned by Swinarski, he paints a picture of the pitfalls of learning what love is all about for a young girl. And it's a real purdy song as they say. At this moment in time, however, I need the up-tempo stuff. I need to swing. But that's my problem. You can check out Swinarski at www.upcellar.com.
- NY Rock Street Beat (www.nyrock.com)

Mexico is ultimately an optimistic album, cheerful in lyrics and tune. Even the more painful tunes, like "Concrete Daisy" and "One Red Rose," speak to the power of change or the sweetness of life before loss, rather than get lost in a moment of present despair.

Like much of the country genre, Mexico glorifies the smaller moments in life, preferring family life to superstardom, lingering over an old family house or waxing poetic about the family dogs. Americans feeling cynical over the current state of their own country may snort at the enthusiasm of "They Called Me an American."

It isn't considered insightful or sophisticated to voice such earthy optimism, of course. But a divorce rate hovering around 50 percent does nothing to reduce the sort of passions in "One Red Rose." It may sound a bit sappy, but there's wisdom in remembering that we are more than the grim statistics; that there is optimism, hope, enthusiasm and human touch despite all the problems in life.

Swiniarski's sound veers between country and pop-folk, living somewhere in the same neighborhood as Lyle Lovett or Robert Earl Keen, but with a bit more polish and more production. A lot more in the way of production, actually. The album sometimes gets a rather slick finish that contrasts poorly with the tailgate humor of a dog's story in "Bud" or the simple triumph of lasting love explored in "Easy." But even in its most pop moments, Mexico is devoted to doing what country does best, telling the story of everyday moments with sincerity that makes them something more.

by Sarah Meador
Rambles.NET
1 October 2005

- Rambles