ELSEWHERE.CO.NZ
At the tail end of their emotionally probing Say Your Goodbyes here Dianne Swann and Brett Adams sing "see how much we've grown", a line that might be autobiographical about this duo which has confidently moved past rock to a place in country-framed singer-songwriter territory, while keeping one ear on a pop hook and arrangment.
So Alive bristles with fine songs by the Swann-Adams team -- although a standout is Adams' time in the spotlight on his Drop in the Ocean -- and on material like the edgy Gracious or, at the other end of their spectrum, the atmospheric Demons (with a chiming guitar which evokes some film-noir setting) this is extremely impressive.
Swann can deliver an intelligent, aching ballad with conviction (the loving Baby Come Home, the empathy of Floodgates) but most attention here will be on the country-touched songs like the title track (which was apparently used in the tele-series Hunger for the Wild, I'm glad that hasn't spoiled its echo-jangle for me), the chug'n'strum of Helensville and the pop-flavoured Say Your Goodbyes. And the throbbing First Night Without You.
In this New Zealand Music Month there are a lot of albums which broadcast on a narrow emotional/songwriting frequency, but the Bads -- with the kind of musical maturity which only comes from years accrued -- have a sense of diversity and dynamics which is very appealing indeed.
See how much they've grown?
GRAHAM REID
Added: 15 May 09
THE BADS
'SO ALIVE'
THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
APRIL 30, 2009
Rating: * * * *
Possibly the Bads doth complain too much - on their song Irritainment, they target modern television over a spot of ye olde pub rock guitar chug. But the title track to this has already had prime-time exposure via Hunger for the Wild, one of those shows attempting to make celebrity chefs out of a couple of Wellington restaurateurs not quite up to the job description.
Oh well. That song is about the only misstep on this, the second album under the Bads moniker by partners Dianne Swann and Bret Adams.
The Bads' record from 2005 first caught them grappling with stylistic issues, trying to reconcile their pop and rock pasts with a growing enthusiasm for alt-country. This one is a far more relaxed, cohesive affair which lets the songs breathe with rustic charm and fine tunes. And that's right from the title track which opens this, while, thankfully, evoking something more than whitebait fritters.
Elsewhere, with Adams briefly taking the lead vocal they head boldly into Wilco territory on Drop in the Ocean and deliver deft duets on both the rollicking country rock Gracious and the twangin' tale of woe Helensville, while Swann's solo voice gives this a lovely line in heart-bruised ballads like of Baby Come Home, Valid State of Mine (sic) and the closing Floodgates. Yes here, the Bads deliver the goods.
Russell Baillie
CHEESEONTOAST.CO.NZ
THE BADS - So Alive (Mana Music)
If you've never heard of Kiwi group the Bads, you've still heard of the Bads - it wouldn't make any sense for a record this accomplished to come from nowhere. The core of the group is duo Dianne Swann and Brett Adams - and together they've been playing since 1992. Formerly known as the Julie Dolphin (and a few other incarnations in between), The Bads' second album finds them in top shape, with a flawless country-indie-rocking-popping blend that doubtless led their appointment as Lucinda Williams' support act of choice. Swann's voice is magic (no wonder Thom Yorke recorded a duet with her!) though the voices in harmony are better still. Enjoy the Bads while we have them - it seems the whole world wants a piece of them! MC
THE NELSON MAIL
Is alt-country the new dub - embraced by many to divided opinion and accusations of faddishness? It's part of the musical mix for Dianne Swann (ex-When the Cat's Away) and Brett Adams (ex-The Mockers), who've been toiling away in several musical guises both here and in London.
Their first album as The Bads, 2005's Earth From Space, saw them uneasily straddling pop, rock and alt-country, but the follow-up is a more cohesive effort with a fresh, relaxed sound. The title track (which will be familiar to fans of the TV show Hunger For the Wild) and Helensville are models of twanging simplicity, but Baby Come Home and the excellent First Night are easily recognisable as pop songs in disguise.
The couple's rock tendencies sneak back in with Drop In The Ocean, the impressive Say Your Goodbyes and Irritainment, which draws on classic rock to attack "anaesthetic television". If you're trying to decide which Kiwi band to discover during NZ Music Month, this is a good choice.
Best tracks: So Alive, Say Your Goodbyes
By NICK WARD
SATELLITE MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
GYRO STUDENT MAGAZINE (OTAGO POLYTECH)
SIDEROOM.COM REVIEW
At the tail end of their emotionally probing Say Your Goodbyes here Dianne Swann and Brett Adams sing "see how much we've grown", a line that might be autobiographical about this duo which has confidently moved past rock to a place in country-framed singer-songwriter territory, while keeping one ear on a pop hook and arrangment.
So Alive bristles with fine songs by the Swann-Adams team -- although a standout is Adams' time in the spotlight on his Drop in the Ocean -- and on material like the edgy Gracious or, at the other end of their spectrum, the atmospheric Demons (with a chiming guitar which evokes some film-noir setting) this is extremely impressive.
Swann can deliver an intelligent, aching ballad with conviction (the loving Baby Come Home, the empathy of Floodgates) but most attention here will be on the country-touched songs like the title track (which was apparently used in the tele-series Hunger for the Wild, I'm glad that hasn't spoiled its echo-jangle for me), the chug'n'strum of Helensville and the pop-flavoured Say Your Goodbyes. And the throbbing First Night Without You.
In this New Zealand Music Month there are a lot of albums which broadcast on a narrow emotional/songwriting frequency, but the Bads -- with the kind of musical maturity which only comes from years accrued -- have a sense of diversity and dynamics which is very appealing indeed.
See how much they've grown?
GRAHAM REID
Added: 15 May 09
THE BADS
'SO ALIVE'
THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
APRIL 30, 2009
Rating: * * * *
Possibly the Bads doth complain too much - on their song Irritainment, they target modern television over a spot of ye olde pub rock guitar chug. But the title track to this has already had prime-time exposure via Hunger for the Wild, one of those shows attempting to make celebrity chefs out of a couple of Wellington restaurateurs not quite up to the job description.
Oh well. That song is about the only misstep on this, the second album under the Bads moniker by partners Dianne Swann and Bret Adams.
The Bads' record from 2005 first caught them grappling with stylistic issues, trying to reconcile their pop and rock pasts with a growing enthusiasm for alt-country. This one is a far more relaxed, cohesive affair which lets the songs breathe with rustic charm and fine tunes. And that's right from the title track which opens this, while, thankfully, evoking something more than whitebait fritters.
Elsewhere, with Adams briefly taking the lead vocal they head boldly into Wilco territory on Drop in the Ocean and deliver deft duets on both the rollicking country rock Gracious and the twangin' tale of woe Helensville, while Swann's solo voice gives this a lovely line in heart-bruised ballads like of Baby Come Home, Valid State of Mine (sic) and the closing Floodgates. Yes here, the Bads deliver the goods.
Russell Baillie
CHEESEONTOAST.CO.NZ
THE BADS - So Alive (Mana Music)
If you've never heard of Kiwi group the Bads, you've still heard of the Bads - it wouldn't make any sense for a record this accomplished to come from nowhere. The core of the group is duo Dianne Swann and Brett Adams - and together they've been playing since 1992. Formerly known as the Julie Dolphin (and a few other incarnations in between), The Bads' second album finds them in top shape, with a flawless country-indie-rocking-popping blend that doubtless led their appointment as Lucinda Williams' support act of choice. Swann's voice is magic (no wonder Thom Yorke recorded a duet with her!) though the voices in harmony are better still. Enjoy the Bads while we have them - it seems the whole world wants a piece of them! MC
THE NELSON MAIL
Is alt-country the new dub - embraced by many to divided opinion and accusations of faddishness? It's part of the musical mix for Dianne Swann (ex-When the Cat's Away) and Brett Adams (ex-The Mockers), who've been toiling away in several musical guises both here and in London.
Their first album as The Bads, 2005's Earth From Space, saw them uneasily straddling pop, rock and alt-country, but the follow-up is a more cohesive effort with a fresh, relaxed sound. The title track (which will be familiar to fans of the TV show Hunger For the Wild) and Helensville are models of twanging simplicity, but Baby Come Home and the excellent First Night are easily recognisable as pop songs in disguise.
The couple's rock tendencies sneak back in with Drop In The Ocean, the impressive Say Your Goodbyes and Irritainment, which draws on classic rock to attack "anaesthetic television". If you're trying to decide which Kiwi band to discover during NZ Music Month, this is a good choice.
Best tracks: So Alive, Say Your Goodbyes
By NICK WARD
SATELLITE MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
GYRO STUDENT MAGAZINE (OTAGO POLYTECH)
SIDEROOM.COM REVIEW