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Swank

Think For Yourself Movement (1999)
Fueled By Ramen Records

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Contributed by: Mark Williams
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 29th 2001

Original. I could stop there, but I'll elaborate a little more.

I bought this cd at the FBR warped tour booth in a 3 cd for 5$ deal! This cd is worth way more than that. The guy at the booth told me they sounded like Rocket From the Crypt, but I bought it anyway. It took me a few days to get to it, but boy was I in for a treat.

Swank hails from Harrisonburg, VA, and their music is stifleingly different from anything I've heard. There is definite punk quality, but they throw in horns(no not ska), metalish riffs at times, and even a hint of emo(curse that word). To top that off, they have a few slow jazzy parts, and even a swing part or two!Both styles fit perfectly in the songs they are used in. Very cool, very different bass lines, which along with the horns, are the stand out to Swank's music. The lyrics are just as original and odd as the music, but they are well written and send an excellent message. See "Tooth and Nail" for an example.

At first, I thought Swank sounded remarkably like a Fugazi with horns, but the more I listened, the more their originality shined through. This cd can rock out, cool you down, and confuse you all at the same time. I highly recomend Swank to anyone who wants to hear something they haven't heard yet.

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coldjuly (August 3, 2001)

the southeast punk/hardcore scene is on the rise im telling you...avail, ann beretta, hopesfall, hot water music, hell, I could go on forever but I wont.
Im finding much of the music im getting into now actually comes from the southeast USA.

layawayplan (August 2, 2001)

I heard one Swank song on a free Fueled by Ramen sampler....I thnk it was Mayflower. One of the most oddly entertaining songs I've ever heard. If FBR doesn't get screwed over at the border this year, I may have to pick this up.

FuriousGeorge (August 2, 2001)

I couldn't agree more. I'm from Swank's hometown and I used to go see them when they were just a bunch of high school guys. Even though they still had a really original sound back then they got criticized for this album by a lot of people because this album is real different then anything they did before. But any of that criticism is complete crap, this is one of the most amazing albums I own. I was a bit disheartened when I saw how cheap they were selling the CD's at Warped Tour to get rid of them, but I guess its not that bad since its obviously turned some people on to them.

Anonymous (August 1, 2001)

i normally don't do this, but i have to reassure everyone that this cd is one of a kind and truely amazing. swank rules.- fathead

sickboi (July 31, 2001)

Swank rocks out with their cocks out. You can't fuck with the VA music scene believe dat!