There’s nothing empty-headed about Swainn. The Arizona Celtic punk rockers’ remastered Under a Willow Tree reveals that their allure for affecting an union between traditional Irish music and rock shaped by a punk aesthetic wasn’t misguided. Eleven songs favor full-throttle blasts of energy by far over patiently developing textures, but not enough to upset the album’s balance. Deep music listeners will discern a steady hand shepherding these songs and steering the project behind the scenes.
The track unfolds coherently. Listen to lead vocalist and guitarist Neil Jay Ward bellow a dire welcome during the chorus for album opener “Voices”, and there’s a clear line of development in the remaining running order. It isn’t a concept album or aspires to a linear narrative but explores recurring themes. “In the Morning” has several excellent attributes that help define it. Rob MacIntosh’s scattered bass accents are crucial for providing an underlying pulse during Wade Lubking’s banjo introduction. Superficial listening may have some believing that drumming for this band likely deserves endurance above all else. However, Brian Daily’s timekeeping for a song such is essential. The wide-eyed concern-free mood of the speakers in Swainn’s songs reaches an early apotheosis with this song’s lyrics. Neil Jay Ward’s singing shrugs off misfortune, and a chorus of voices joins in support.
“Home” goes into different musical territory than other Under a Willow Tree songs. Hypnotic melodic properties are one of the song’s distinguishing features and a loose confection of backing vocals fills the cut with further personality. There’s warm, fogged-over sentimentality radiating from this performance, but its inviting tenor gives it an edge for being one of Swainn’s most appealing songs. “Sink or Float” will always be one of their finest moments. It’s a blast of unbridled determination, bristling with personality, and the passionate reach of the song’s chorus will unite scores of different audiences. They’ve hit on a real winner with this one.
“Up on the Mountain” goes on longer than any other Under a Willow Tree tune and leaves its mark in various ways. It’s one of the moments Swainn blisters listeners with rock guitar without veering too far afield of their stylistic base. The chorus is one of the album’s best; the band hits a truly high exhortative peak with the audience-ready refrain. “Brand New Day” has ramshackle spontaneity, it seems to coalesce into being, and the band’s messaging is as convincing as ever. Swainn’s songs are often about teetering on the brink of disaster you can’t come back from and laughing about your faulty balance. Or they look towards tomorrow aware someone can, and likely will, yank the rug out from under them.
Swainn’s Under a Willow Tree is full of songs about flesh and blood lives, laughter, shouting, screaming and crying, and holding up under repeated listeners. This is a band singing, playing, and writing about what sticks with us, what lasts, and what makes us who we are. Let’s hope they continue doing so for many years. It’ll be an entertaining ride if they do.
Mindy McCall
