SW/MM/NG – Feel Not Bad (ALBUM REVIEW)

[rating=6.00]

As the dog days of summer are upon us, it’s prime time for looking back at sundrenched afternoons, early evening bike rides and humid mornings. And there’s no better soundtrack to do just that than the debut LP Feel Not Bad from Arkansas band SW/MM/NG (pronounced “swimming”). It’s a dreamy pop soundscape to accompany you as you soak up the last bits of hazy freedom.

A clean and tailored eight tracks make up Feel Not Bad, a poignantly titled collection as it literally leaves you feeling not too shabby at all. It’s ethereal, but there’s substance, and it floats, but it’s also down to earth. Opening track “Unknown” introduces you to front man Brian Kupillas’ Chris Martin-esque wail, though unlike Martin, Kupillas’ voice revels in its imperfections and it sounds as though he is giving himself completely over to the song. It’s less controlled, and you can almost picture him singing with his eyes closed. This is one of the prettiest tracks on Bad, full of a kind of longing and sadness that’s still sweet enough to soundtrack a summer romance.

The guys in SW/MM/NG often sound like a British import, with a bit of that Smiths melancholy, and those driving and sharp Cure melodies. “Some Dreams Do Come True” is one such song in which the electric guitar bounces around gleefully in the midst of a sad tune. “I got no reason to believe/but I feel it when I breathe…I don’t wanna lose myself to belong here,” Kupillas sings, and although he doesn’t sound self-assured, he makes us want to get behind him wholeheartedly. That’s a standout characteristic of this band and the songs that make up their LP; there’s a sense of uncertainty that rings of youth, but never immaturity.

“We Do it All the Time” thrives in its repetitive lyrics, elevating it to an emotional dance floor number. “Younger” follows suit, feeling almost like a companion track, and with a melody so pretty, it’s practically beckoning for a magical swim at twilight. These songs are fun, yes, but still have that tinge of gray to remind us of their common bummed-out-ness. This is another aspect of their sound that might remind you of that quintessential British pop rock that always seems to be just a little bit glum. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take away from the appeal—instead it adds to it, keeping Bad from turning into an overly idyllic hipster rooftop party soundtrack.

Oddly enough, the least gloomy tunes on Bad are the slower ones. “All I Want” and “Oils” move at a chiller pace more of a mellowed out surf guitar vibe. “Oils” ambles kind of lackadaisically never reaching an obvious endpoint, almost Modest Mouse-ish, with its subtle and soft harmonies. In fact, much of the second half of the LP feels a bit more hopeful, as if the sun was going down through the first four tracks and coming up for the next four. “Slow Den” is vocally powerful and so pretty, and the way it builds gives it a much-needed drama. “Good to Be” is a fitting finale to this first taste of a band from which we’ll definitely be hearing more soon. “It’s good to be home,” they sing, and we feel every note.