The Swells

The Swells

2003 hasn't started out so well for the Swells. The Austin quintet's first live performance in a year was a Privilege-sponsored fiasco, and for some unknown reason, they didn't get accepted into SXSW while many lesser local nontalents did. With the release of their third album, The Waymarked Ways, the year is about to get a whole lot better. There have been changes since 2001's sublime Yesterday's Songs, most notably the departure of bassist Alison Cabral, who was replaced by Chris Foley, formerly of Transona Five. There's also a newfound willingness to experiment. The Swells produce dream pop, pure and simple, with the emphasis on dreamy. Yet "One of the Ones," which kicks off The Waymarked Ways, is the band's loudest song yet and possibly their hookiest. A drum machine crops up on the relatively peppy "Talking to Snakes," while "Through and Through" uses a hokey sitar line as its fulcrum. The variety works in their favor, because the smooth, Slowdivelike song-swirls that make up the majority of the album are quite hypnotic. Frontman David Malerba has become a more assertive vocalist and a stronger songwriter. His acoustic-driven "Fool for So Long" and "Turn to Rust," the latter featuring the harmonies of keyboardist Rachel Staggs (who sings for Experimental Aircraft), are two of the album's highlights. The Waymarked Ways winds up with "Parting Words," a five-minute slice of morning dew that serves as a launching pad for a screeching guitar squall. The Swells are glancing up from their shoes a bit, and the returns couldn't be more ... well, swell.