Swim Deep’s latest album, Emerald Classics, comes with consistently groovy guitar riffs, but that’s about it. Its goal is to transport listeners to an 80s-esque, feel-good, heartfelt fantasy.
For the most part, however, the 10-track album doesn’t — and it takes an acquired taste to enjoy the few noteworthy moments.
Swim Deep has experienced consistent ups and downs in terms of its membership. The British indie pop group formed in 2011 with front man Austin Williams, Tom Higgins and Wolfgang J. Harte. Harte left a year later and was replaced by Cavan McCarthy. After merely touring with the band for a year in 2013, James Balmont became a full-time member in 2014. At the same time Swim Deep announced in 2018 it was finishing its third album, it mentioned the departure of Robinson, who joined in 2012, and Higgins from the band. Robbie Wood and Tom Fiquet took their places, and hopefully no more problems come to light for the current five-piece.
After the release of Mothers in October 2015, Swim Deep took four years to produce a subpar album. “Sail Away, Say Goodbye” lasts way too long and doesn’t get any better during its four-and-a-half minute duration. “World I Share” is tolerable, but it tries too hard to be optimistic. The concluder, “Never Stop Pinching Myself,” despite its meaningful lyrics, is sonically bland and not the best way the band could’ve ended the album. When an album only contains 10 tracks, it’s a problem if more than half of them are deficient.
However, there are three songs that hold replay value:
3. “Bruised”
The guitar riff is nothing short of infectious, and it indefinitely steals the show. In *“Bruised,” Williams explores the notion of turning the unfortunate moments of life into optimistic takeaways. He adds it requires strength to confess you’re struggling: “It’s one thing to admit when you’re feeling down / But to talk about it is something else / ’Cause heaven knows that heroes talk about heroes’ thoughts.” The track fades out with gorgeous violins, and it’s sonically the best on the album by a landslide.
2. “Top of the Pops”
Top of the Pops was a British television show that broadcast the top music hits weekly. Swim Deep’s “Top of the Pops” is Williams’ ode to his mother, who he wants to thank for sacrificing so much for him. Accompanied by a lovely sitar, gorgeous harmonies and subtle violins, the lyrics are as endearing as they come: “I wanna show you New York City in the snow / I wanna buy you a new car that just goes / I know life ain’t often great for you / I know what it’s like at the end of the queue.” “Top of the Pops” showcases Williams’ stunning vocal range, and it’s an irreplaceable track.
1. “To Feel Good”
Renditions of classics don’t always work, but when Swim Deep decided to do it with Rozalla’s 1992 hit “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good),” the band created magic. The album’s opener begins with a church choir and catchy drums before transitioning into spoken word from Williams. Listeners are taken to a conversation when Williams tells his boss he’s going to pursue music before showing him a song, and it’s a heartwarming moment: “And he, he must be one of the good guys; he smiled and just laughed along / He said ‘good luck’ like he meant it when he signed off my forms / And as I’m walking away, he said, ‘Don’t forget me when you’re famous.’” “To Feel Good” is a track fit for any mood, and it’s the best on Emerald Classics.
Rating: 2/5
