EP Review: Swagger

For those who like a bit of good old-fashioned rock, the aptly named Swagger EP from Phil Stoodley would be a very good place to start! From the booming drum intro on Shame Shame to the closing notes of Breaking All The Rules, this is a package that satisfies, and never comes close to overstaying its welcome.

Shame Shame sets the tone of the project, with its loping beat and crunchy guitar riff, the sound instantly catching the ear. Comparisons inevitably come up short, but one that comes to mind is the Santana of the ‘Supernatural’ era, particularly the likes of ‘Smooth’.

Keeping the energy alive is Vampires, it’s lyrics taking a more philosophical bent, alongside a complex riff that holds your attention, having a nicely sustained dramatic tension and a delayed resolution.

Third track Wanted Man brings a Western feel, reminiscent of ZZ Top, with lyrics that could’ve come straight from Johnny Cash, before bursting in to a chorus that’d do The Black Keys proud, backing it all up with a blistering guitar solo. Little Criminals repeats the formula of complex riffs and a full sound, while easing the pace a little. Just a little, mind!

But it’s in the final track, Breaking All The Rules, that the dramatic shift comes. An intro dialed back in both speed and intricacy sets up a romantic tale, of a sort (tagline “Hey what’s your name, Hey what’s your game, Let’s drink until we’re insane”), for a tune that demonstrates the artist’s versatility. A Fleet Foxes reminiscent bridge builds the complexity up a notch, while the pace remains relaxed-a dichotomy that reflects that which lies at the heart of the lyrical content-is this a lifestyle that’s being celebrated, or one that the protagonists would escape if they could?

A satisfying end to an all-too-brief sampler of an artist clearly comfortable in his skin, one who’s gathered a top-flight crew to help him in the journey. This is one worth checking out indeed, and I get the feeling that a live show would be quite blistering! Highly recommended.