Album Review

As if a solo album followed by a jaw-dropping reunion tour with his former outfit Swervedriver and an EP and tour with new project Magnetic Morning were not enough, the recently quite prolific Adam Franklin is unleashing yet another new batch of songs, the full-length LP Spent Bullets.

For those not familiar with Swervedriver, the band was one of the great lost rock outfits of the 90’s. They merged the spaced-out guitars of the shoegaze scene with the driving intensity of the Stooges and released a beast of rock ‘n roll not copied since. In the 90’s they had a small but rabid following which has only multiplied over the years.

The last two Swervedriver albums were certainly toned down when compared to the first two, and Adam Franklin’s recent solo work is a logical extension of where the Swervedriver sound may have progressed to had the band remained intact. Swirling guitars still abound, but now instead of rampaging rockers, Franklin chooses to pen lush, orchestrated pop songs. This results in tunes which are not as immediately accessible as Swervedriver at their most hooky, but which slowly sink their teeth into you after repeated listens.

The disc gets going with what is probably it’s most driving offering, “Surge,” which sounds as if it could have easily been a leftover from the final Swervedriver album. Not incredibly heavy, but far from soft, it shows that Franklin is still not afraid to turn up the amps and deliver the rock. The next song, “Teardrops Keep Falling Out My Head,” takes the tempo down a notch and sets the pace for the rest of the album. “Bolts Of Melody” follows and is a slowly building, hypnotic epic, showcasing Franklin’s skills as a guitarist, and his undeniable knack at milking a melody for all it’s worth.

My personal favorite on this record has to be the fifth track, the haunting “Winter Girls.” I’m curious as to whether or not Franklin has ever considered collaborating with the French synth-pop duo AIR, since this song is absolutely drenched in their sound. It shares that same slow, spooky, clean delivery which made Talkie Walkie such a great album. And you know a song’s a keeper when it sounds like it could have fit perfectly on the Virgin Suicides soundtrack.

The second half of Spent Bullets continues on with pretty much the same vibe as the first. “Big Sur” is a notable excursion here, especially the contrasting noisy verses paired with stripped down tidy choruses. Add to this a wah-wah pedal driven solo and you have the ingredients for one intriguing pop song. “Champs” finds Franklin dipping into a bit of that Spaghetti Western vibe that he’s been hinting at since “Duel” on Mezcal Head back in the 90’s. Of course this time it’s notably more subdued. “End Credits” utilizes a piano for a slight vaudevillian tinge – it’s certainly the most obscure track on here with it’s old-timey feel, but it’s far from a throw-away.

The only negative that can be drawn about this album is that so many of the songs slip into the same dreamy landscape that the whole effort comes across as being a bit on the “samey” side. Fans of Franklin’s (especially those who adored the final two Swervedriver releases) will surely bask in this album’s other-worldly feel, while casual admirers may love it at the beginning, but grow tired of it by the end. Either way, it’s impressive that Franklin is still churning out songs of this quality so far into his career.

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