Raise cover

Raise

Released

Swervedriver’s debut album, following what often seemed in UK indie terms like a requisite three EPs, combined the lead tracks of each of those releases with six more to create a classic case of grass-is-always-greener — where so many listeners in the US were obsessing over UK bands inadvertantly creating shoegaze, Swervedriver themselves were clearly dreaming of America. Adam Franklin’s wounded drawl sounds like a somewhat winsome J. Mascis more than once, and there’s a frayed-at-the-edges sprawl to the performances that makes for great highway-driving music.

Ned Raggett

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