History
Early years
Their origins sprung from Oxford, United Kingdom in 1984 with the formation of a group called Shake Appeal, named after a song from one of their main influences, The Stooges. Consisting of vocalist/guitarists Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, lead vocalist Graham Franklin (Adam's brother), bassist Adi Vines, and drummer Paddy Pulzer; Shake Appeal went ahead reproducing the sounds of American garage rock of the late 60's and early 70's. The group wrote what would become Swervedriver's first classic "Son of Mustang Ford," however after a few years the band began to fall apart when both Graham and Paddy left.
The remaining three members drafted drummer Graham Bonnar, but by this time the group's sound mutated significantly under the influence of re-invented guitar music by American bands like Dinosaur Jr., and Sonic Youth. So with a new lineup and new sound came a new name, Swervedriver. Their hometown colleagues from fellow shoegazing group Ride passed their re-recorded demo of "Son of Mustang Ford" to Alan McGee of Creation Records; who, as legend has it, played the tape for the first time while cruising the inner streets of Los Angeles in a limo. The experience caused him sign the band immediately.
First album and possible breakup
Merging the whirling qualities of the shoegazer genre with heavy distorted guitars, and lyrics often featuring cars and escapism, the group debuted with a series of EPs; "Son of Mustang Ford," "Rave Down" and "Sandblasted," before issuing their full-length album debut "Raise" in 1991. Then after a U.S. tour in support of Soundgarden, Bonner left the band; the departure of Vines followed shortly afterwards. Bonner and Vines would eventually go on to form a new group called Skyscraper. Swervedriver's final release with the original lineup, 1992's "Never Lose That Feeling" EP, appeared to be the group's last.
Release of Mezcal Head
But in 1993, Swervedriver re-emerged with the core of Franklin and Hartridge along with newly recruited drummer Jez, and released their landmark album "Mezcal Head." If "Raise" was a product featuring a love of Americana, escapism and the open highway, then "Mezcal Head" was all that, but broadcast in IMAX with Dolby surround sound. Production and sound were greatly improved, and the album gave them their most successful single "Duel," hailed as one of the premier songs of the shoegazer genre. The album clearly forged a permanent link with their American fans, and made them more popular there than in their own native Britain. During this era, the fabled b-side "The Hitcher" found a release on the "Last Train to Satansville" EP. "The Hitcher" is widely considered to be a fan favorite.
Ejector Seat Reservation & Britpop
1994 found the band adding new bassist Steve George, along with extensive touring of the U.S. (supporting The Smashing Pumpkins), Japan and Europe. However by then the shoegazing genre in Britain was dead, replaced by the more mainstream Britpop movement hi-lighted by bands such as Oasis and Blur. The massive rise of Britpop caused Creation Records to drop the band just one week after the U.K. release of 1995 album "Ejector Seat Reservation." It was never released in the U.S. where they could have capitalized on the momentum of "Mezcal Head." ESR was another leap forward for the band, incorporating a wider number of influences from Elvis Costello to Bob Dylan. It saw the group grow into rebel visionaries and received the highest critical acclaim; however without any record company support it was doomed to be their poorest selling venture. This began a period of protracted record label problems for the band which fans dubbed the Swervedriver label curse.
Final years
In 1996, Swervedriver signed on with Geffen Records with a multi-record deal, and promptly began recording their fourth album. However their contract was terminated when their A&R (Artists & Repertoire) representative was fired in a corporate downsizing. Once the legal dust settled the band was awarded their own recording studio along with the finished album, however it was still a major setback. Their fourth and final album "99th Dream" was finally released in 1998 after signing on with Zero Hour Records of the U.S., and it continued the evolution that began with "Ejector Seat Reservation." Drawing less from their earlier ‘grunge' sound, the band never the less maintained their swerving, pyschedelic guitar rifts coupled with Franklin's magical lyrics and droning vocals, and was another brilliant body of work. The group continued to draw on a broader range of musical influences; for example the title track "99th Dream" was written as a prequel to Bob Dylan's song "115th Dream." Despite this album easily containing a half dozen possible hit singles, and a successful tour of the U.S., Britain and Australia; they did not break out beyond their traditional cult following. The "Wrong Treats" EP released in 1999 would become the bands last body of work as an extant group; they announced a hiatus later that year that persists to this day. Adam Franklin continues to release albums under his new band Toshack Highway.
In 2005, Castle Music released a Swervedriver anthology album titled "Juggernaut Rides" which brought together 33 songs; including many only available on rare EPs, and four that were previously unreleased..
In Late 2007 the Creation Records web site confirmed Swervedriver was reuniting for a 2008 tour.
Origins of name
How Swervedriver settled on their name has been the subject of debate among their fans for many years. During interviews whenever questioned on this topic, the band would simply respond that it was just a name; as The Beatles were just a name (in reference to that band's simple response in many early interviews). However Adam Franklin had once mentioned the band liked the connotation of a speeding driver, swerving and ultimately losing control of their car.
Discography
Full length albums
* Raise (1991)
* Mezcal Head (1993)
* Ejector Seat Reservation (1995)
* 99th Dream (1998)
* Juggernaut Rides 1989-1998 (2005) - 2 CD set
*I Wasn't Born to Lose You(2015)
*Future Ruins(2019)
Singles/EPs
* Son of Mustang Ford (1991)
* Rave Down (1991)
* Sandblasted (1991)
* Reel To Real (1991)
* Never Lose That Feeling (1993)
* Duel (1993)
* Last Train To Satansville (1993)
* My Zephyr (1994)
* Magic Bus (1994) - from Day Tripper movie soundtrack
* Last Day on Earth (1995)
* Swervedriver / Sophia Split (1996)
* 93 Million Miles From the Sun ... and Counting (1997)
* Space Travel Rock 'n' Roll (1998)
* Wrong Treats (1999)
Laze It Up
Swervedriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swirl around in my head
I feel I'm drivin' on water
And the Beatles are dead
The beat's in my head
The beat's in my head
The sun beats down on the roadway
Career between the mountains
A road bustin' lament
That's not what I meant
It's not what I meant
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
I wanna laze it up
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
Wanna laze it up
You suck the sense right out of me
Swirl around in my head
I feel I'm drivin' on water
And the Beatles are dead
The beat's in my head
The beat's in my head
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
I wanna laze it up
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
Wanna laze it up
The lyrics of Swervedriver’s Laze It Up are loaded with contrasting notions that are both captivating and intriguing. The opening line, “You zap the sense right out of me,” portrays the singer stripped of their faculties by the person they are addressing. This person has a hold over them and is swirling around in their head. The singer feels like they are driving on water, which is impossible, and the Beatles are dead. This combination of surreal imagery is an example of psychedelic pop, with the lyrics evoking a dream-like state that is both confusing and delightful.
Throughout the song, the beat is emphasized, which is a driving force in the music. The singer is traveling on a roadway, and the sun beats down on them as they career between the mountains. The scenery is heavenly, but the lyrics betray a sense of melancholy. The line, “A road bustin' lament, that's not what I meant,” indicates that the singer is experiencing a sense of dissatisfaction. The tempo of the song dramatically changes during the bridge, with a distortion effect added to the guitar riff, which expresses the change in mood. The singer wants to know what the person they are addressing is thinking and wants to “laze it up,” which could either mean to relax or to smoke marijuana.
Overall, the lyrics of Laze It Up are a reflection of the style of Swervedriver's music, which is shoegaze, a genre that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Shoegaze is characterized by its ethereal and dense sound, with heavy reliance on distortion and guitar effects. The lyrics of shoegaze tend to be introspective and otherworldly in nature, with an emphasis on emotions and sensory impressions.
Line by Line Meaning
You zap the sense right out of me
You make me lose my sense of reality and logic.
Swirl around in my head
Your presence and influence is constantly lingering in my thoughts.
I feel I'm drivin' on water
I feel like I'm navigating through life without direction or stability.
And the Beatles are dead
The things that once gave me joy and comfort no longer exist or have lost their power.
The beat's in my head
The rhythm or pace of life is consistently on my mind, keeping me moving forward whether I want to or not.
The sun beats down on the roadway
The intensity of the world around me can be overwhelming and draining.
Glimmers heaven sent
Despite the difficulties of life, there are still moments of beauty and wonder that make it all worthwhile.
Career between the mountains
Trying to find a path in life among the obstacles and challenges that present themselves.
A road bustin' lament
An acknowledgement of the struggles and hardships that come with trying to forge a new path in life.
That's not what I meant
A realization that one's words or actions may have been misunderstood and not conveyed the intended meaning.
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
An expressed desire to understand someone else's thoughts and feelings.
I wanna laze it up
A desire to slow down and enjoy life at a more relaxed pace.
You suck the sense right out of me
Your presence and influence drains my energy and makes me feel lost and confused.
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
An expressed desire to understand someone else's thoughts and feelings.
Wanna laze it up
A desire to slow down and enjoy life at a more relaxed pace.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADAM FRANKLIN, ADRIAN VINES, GRAHAM BONNAR, JIMMY HARTRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@treylane
Zap the sense right out of you
Swirl around in my head
I feel I'm driving on water
and the Beatles are dead
the beat's in my head
Saw me down on the roadway
Glimmers heaven-sent
Could read between the mountain
A road-bustin' lament
That's not what I meant
I wanna know what yr thinking
wanna laze it up
You suck the sense right out of me
Swirl around in my head
I feel I'm drivin' on water
And the Beatles are dead
The beat's in my head
I wanna know what you're thinkin'
I wanna laze it up
@ShroudedDay
That guitar solo. Perfect chaotic flow.
@terrymaca1
the most under rated band of all time.love them still ,fucking genius !
@rullangaar
Bought this cd when it was released. Favourite song. This band deserves way more credit.
@ginasheridan2755
When I heard it on a college radio station, it made quite an impression on me. Its one of my all times faves! I consider it the"Free Bird" of the 90's,and it was only issued on a hard to find early EP.
@mattjammy9884
Sandblasted ep....their Third ep on Creation records 1991 possibly!
@pippazoo1
absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!
@stevegertz2717
UNDERRATED
@joydivisionboy1
Fucking Awesome Track, the b-sides of their early ep's contained some gems.
@badtracking
No comments :0 This is one of my fave Swervedriver songs.
@ginasheridan2755
In a big way, "the beat's in my head".