Swirlies

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Biography

Boston, United States (1990 – present)

Swirlies is a band from Boston that formed in 1990. Notorious for loud, wall-of-noise guitar music, as well as a twisted quiet side, Swirlies have a fondness for the phrase “sneakyflute music” to describe their endeavors. Their live shows usually culminate with the mechanical failure of some piece of equipment, or the interminable tuning of Damon’s guitar While Andrew Bernick puked his anxiety (not booze, never ever booze…) out by the side of the stage. They have been known to inadvertently break things in hotel rooms and rent-a-vans, and are particularly apt at signing somewhat undesirable (for the band) contracts with people they barely know. These activities have earned them a “bad-boy (and girl)” image in the music industry and have sent them into such a state of financial ruin that they have gone on to pursue graduate student stipends.

Swirlies released a series of EPs and four albums on the Taang! label before moving on to Bubblecore Records for 2003’s Cats of the Wild Volume 2. A handful of singles have also appeared through Slumberland, Pop Narcotic, Working Holiday and others, and the band has also released a number of cassettes, CDs, and downloadable albums on its Sneakyflute Empire label, including a rock opera addressing harbored feelings of enmity towards Meg Zamula. Orthogonal to the Zamula affair, bass player and keyboardist Andrew Bernick releases Swirlies-related material on his Richmond County Archives a label whose guiding principle is the collection and presentation of music in its natural, messed-up state (NOT to be confused with “lounge music”).
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  • painovoima

    They Spent is so shockingly good at some points. "San Cristobal De Las Casas" is one hell of a jaw-dropping composition, and it's more cute then math-y anyway.

    30 Apr 9:51am Reply

  • starvingrobot

    First song I heard by them was Version. In Harmony Retrograde Transposition. A great instrumental for sure, but I had no idea they were this good. Glad I checked them out.

    6 Apr 10:07am Reply

  • starvingrobot

    I like their noise a lot better than Sonic Youth. Also, my favourite shoegaze apart from Electro Group and mbv.

    6 Apr 10:05am Reply

  • mattmacneil

    One of the members from the Swirlies told me they have shitloads at Taang records that they're hoarding. I'm not sure if that's true or not. I emailed Taang and they said they had none, therefore the price for the LP is like 80 bucks. But yeah, one of the members said they're full of shit.

    22 Mar 9:09pm Reply

  • omgDawson

    My dad works for Blonder Tongue Labs, the company that produced the Audio Baton. The LP is probably worth more than the company at this point. I've suggested they start printing "Blonder Tongue Audio Baton" t-shirts. I think they'd sell.

    8 Mar 1:16am Reply

  • davygrohl

    probably my favorite shoegaze beside mbv and ride.

    25 Feb 11:04pm Reply

  • rafqueiroz

    this is awesome

    20 Feb 10:51pm Reply

  • NarooN

    I can't stop laughing at the naming convention of "Brokedick Car".

    16 Feb 7:59am Reply

  • Sonicjr01

    Jeremy Parker is Genius

    10 Feb 6:07am Reply

  • nachobemol

    MATH GAZE

    1 Jan 8:25pm Reply

  • Feanorr

    blondertongueblablabla is really a jewel!

    12 Dec 2012 Reply

  • justin_bc

    Is "Cats Of The Wild Vol. 2" an underappreciated album? I can't tell, I love it but it doesn't seem to get much attention.

    5 Dec 2012 Reply

  • sasha90s

    I thought it was 'Broderick Car', not 'Brokedick Car'. my bad.

    3 Dec 2012 Reply

  • BearPolar

    "heard park the car by side of the road playing at american apparel :C" Oh my.

    3 Dec 2012 Reply

  • etherealvisions

    *.*

    24 Nov 2012 Reply

  • TomH86

    LOVE THEM SO MUCH

    9 Nov 2012 Reply

  • Inuzini

    had to meet a lady friend at the mall today and heard park the car by side of the road playing at american apparel :C

    9 Nov 2012 Reply

  • doomhymns

    -

    8 Nov 2012 Reply

  • brianh44

    Enough comparisons. The Swirlies have earned their place in the pantheon of 90's music. Saw 'em in 93 with about 14 other people, and they blew the roof off that place. Nice people, to boot.

    30 Oct 2012 Reply

  • Treason_is_bad

    "Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music" + "They Spend Their Wild Youthful Days In The Glittering World of Salons" comp is < 15 bucks on vinyl. "Blonder Tongue Audio Baton" is > 70 on vinyl. YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT.

    13 Oct 2012 Reply
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