Sway

Phaser, Phaser | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emperor Norton
• ASIN: B000088NTA
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,874 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Are You There?

2. Life & Illusion

3. Baby Blue

4. Sway

5. Would You Believe?

6. Northern Light

7. Can't Get You Out of My Mind

8. Sweet Marie

9. Gone Away

10. Tess

11. Postlude

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A multi-dimensional, intense album., March 4, 2002

By 

shhh. (dc suburb.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sway (Audio CD)

Phaser is undeniably one the best undiscovered bands in the United States. One may not expect a Spiritualized-caliber sound to come from Washington, D.C., the (im)famous home to Fugazi, but the enigmatic foursome outshines all current DC competition.

After their first release, "Silverscreen Daydream," Boris and Siayko Skalsky connected with guitarist Paul Wood and drummer Rich DeJong to essentially reform the band into its current state. On the quartet's "Skydive EP," crooning vocals, ambient percussion and crisp guitars create a multi-dimensional space sound that reverberates throughout the record. The layered melodies and instrumentations seem effortless, a tribute to the fabulous production.

"Sway" is more mature, as Phaser develops a more sophisticated range of sound. "Are You There?" and "Life and Illusion" melt, and the record rises on pop declarations like "Baby Blue" and "Sweet Marie," the kind "Young as Ever" promised on "Skydive." While DeJong offers all the right staccatos and crescendos, Siayko's whispers on "(Can't Get You) Out of My Mind" are peacefully addictive. The most impressive part of the album is the intensely audible development in Wood's guitar work as well as the incorporation of Boris' orchestral talents.

Phaser is almost too good to be true, but their live performances prove an indisputable talent. Compare them to the Verve, Spiritualized or Pink Floyd, Phaser's second coming in "Sway" is only reminiscent of their ever-evolving sound.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent disc for people into the shoegazer scene., April 27, 2003

By 

Clide Rockwell (Toronto. Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sway (Audio CD)

"Sway" may be 10 years too late or distanced far enough from the shoegazer scene to distinguish itself. The composition of each song is excellent, a definite breath of fresh air compared to the "neo-grunge" and "diet punk" that presently dominates the American music scene. The obvious cross-references are Slowdive, Cousteau and softer songs by Oasis, however, most songs have a much more sophisticated structure than most showgazer era efforts. Highly recommended for early 1990s Brit Pop fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Album from not-so-popular band, May 21, 2006

By 

justin "storminheaven" (north carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sway (Audio CD)

The first time I ever heard of Phaser was a year or so ago when "Life and Illusion" was played on a radio music channel on my satellite at home. The song sounded very much like The Verve, and since I'm a big Verve fan, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't until a few months ago I decided to get the CD, and though I did think that the album wasn't as good as I expected it to be, this album is still quite strong. The standout tracks on here are "Life and Illusion", "Sway", and "Sweet Marie". The later two being sweetly crafted lubbaly epics that swirl around you. This band definitely has an atomspheric sound to them, with echoed guitars and vocals that seem to get lost in the music. I would definitely compare them to the more earlier work of The Verve.