Comments for William B. Swygart

Comment on 4Music/TMF Liveblog – LIVE!!! by Sophie

Sophie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:09:59 +0000

swygart: a man capable of describing even the most annoying pop tunes in fantastically witty ways. love reading your descriptions, probably more than i’ll ever love half of these songs! hurrah!!

Comment on Do-do doom doom. Do-do doom doom. by Kat

Kat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:21:10 +0000

I do understand what you mean about Leona – in that she’s not bringing anything to the fore that no-one else has already done. She’s really unlucky to have begun her career several years after Beyonce started her solo career (though the question of whether Leona’s career would have existed without Beyonce’s is a pertinent one). Leona has such a wonderful voice, and is doing everything right – but is missing the arrogance and ridiculousness that makes Beyonce come up with a concept like Sasha Fierce which is just simply amazing. Leona can’t afford to take that kind of risk, because British pop stars get slapped round the face if they try to get above their station.

Comment on Do-do doom doom. Do-do doom doom. by Frank Kogan

Frank Kogan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:04:52 +0000

tenousness = tenuousness

Comment on Do-do doom doom. Do-do doom doom. by Frank Kogan

Frank Kogan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:02:31 +0000

I think you’re right about Taylor being in a rut. “You’re Not Sorry” has a whomp! of emotion but needs a more distinctive melody. Strange thing is that Taylor’s spare acoustic live version of Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” was way better than Rihanna’s own version, Taylor’s tenousness making it both more vulnerable and more angry; whereas her new stuff (four tracks in four months, but “Love Story” seems to be the only one that’s getting promoted, the others kinda getting waved as teasers) sounds as if she’s taken Rihanna style r&b but then evened it out so as to diminish the r and the b, the sound being a monochromatic brightness. I think Rihanna would do them better, since actually being in r&b, she’d put space and variation back into them.

Comment on Drunk again by Josh

Josh — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:01:35 +0000

“left with watching Ian Dowie and Darren Peacock jostling by the corner flag and we were happy with it…”

Ha, amazing!

Comment on Tindersticks, “Can We Start Again?” by Ian Mathers

Ian Mathers — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:18:09 +0000

Great minds thinking alike, etc.

http://fractional.blogspot.com/2007/11/so-many-arms-reach-from-my-memories.html

Comment on These are songs I would like you to listen to by jukeboxjunior

jukeboxjunior — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:31:28 +0000

‘Closer’ is masterful. I don’t know how it happened, I’m not sure I WANTED it to happen (had him pegged as smoother than a gloss-finished lounge lizard), but it’s one of the year’s top pop moments. Nice to see someone giving the nod to The Bird And The Bee too. I’ll dance to it.

Comment on These are songs I would like you to listen to by Ian Mathers

Ian Mathers — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:46:44 +0000

So many great songs, and such good writing too. Fantastic post, Will.

Comment on 25 Years of Swygart – 1998 – Spice Girls, “Viva Forever” by Other Will

Other Will — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:27:51 +0000

I did the exact same thing with the Cornershop record. I really should dig that out again and see what I think of it now, it was an odd one. I seem to remember one track being based around a Burroughs spoken word thing. Plus, I’m starting to think that Tamperer song was the best thing about ‘98. There’s something about that lasting oddity with the lyrics.

Comment on 25 Years of Swygart – 1999 – Ricky Martin, “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by cis

cis — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:03:24 +0000

my brother just bought me a flat eric! i don’t really know why.