Ednaswap

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Ednaswap

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This is the excellent self-titled first release from this greatly underappreciated band. Several of these songs appear in slightly different recordings on some of thier subsequent releases on another label, and it's interesting to contrast songs like "Torn", "Clownshow","Pale","Glow" and "Therapy" that appear here with later versions on the EP "Chicken"( sometimes misidentified as the self-titled first album on Amazon) and their second LP "Wacko Magneto"(their third release). The song "Torn",later covered by others, appears here first.

TRACKS:

1) This Is A Song

2) Clown Show

3) Acrobat

4) Ted And Joe

5) Pale

6) Blown Away

7) State I'm In

8) Therapy

9) More

10) Minor Crap

11) Glow

12) Torn

13) Goodnight Moon

Ednaswap is a really good band, and this, their debut release, is a solid album but doesn't have the energy or as many "great" songs as their follow-up, Wacko Magneto. If you're new to the band, I'd say get that one first. The famous track on this CD is "Torn," which became a big hit for Austrialian actress Natalie Imbruglia. Interestingly, ANOTHER version of this song is on Wacko Magneto too. The version here on their debut is closer to the familar cover version, while the one on Wacko is fairly different with a darker mood, more emotion, and a more raw feel. (Several songs are on both of the first two Ednaswap CDs - Clown Show, Pale, and More.) It's difficult to describe Ednaswap, but singer Anne Preven has an earthy Melissa Ethridge-esque voice with a more distict, stronger, sharper edge. What she lacks in range she more than makes up for with pure guts. The music ranges from mellow to rockin' but it all seems to fall in the "modern alternative" genre. Some of it is quite heavy and nears headbanging status, while other tunes seem more suited for adult contemporary radio. It's all good music though, and I'm surprised this band never found mainstream success because the talent is there. My favorite songs are This is a Song, Therapy, Glow, and Torn.