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Backwards & Forwards

by Swoon

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1.
SWIM AROUND WITH YOU You know exactly what you want Now you've got me and you can't Say it wasn't what you'd planned to find All I really want to do is swim around with you It feels so good that All I ever want to do is swim around with you Through deep blue No I'm not letting go not swimming alone I can't let you go can't swim out alone I know exactly what I want Or so I thought 'til I saw A charcoal diamond in the raw then it struck me All I really want to do is swim around with you It feels so good that All I ever want to do is swim around with you Through deep blue No I'm not letting go not swimming alone I can't let you go can't swim out alone All I really want to do is swim around with you It feels so good that All I ever want to do is swim around with you Through deep blue
2.
The Chapter 02:57
THE CHAPTER You give me love but can't take it For more than an hour or two The beautiful should stand naked Not curl up beside the truth The chapter's ending I feel so tired Misunderstanding your heart's desire You leave the room wide open By walking the finest line No promises were broken The feelings were justified The chapter's ending I feel so tired Misunderstanding your heart's desire The chapter's ending I feel so tired Misunderstanding my heart's desire Ah forever | Love takes time More than ever | In my mind's eye The chapter's ending I feel so tired Misunderstanding your heart's desire
3.
SAFE AT ANY SPEED An examined life sooner values virtue But sweetness takes time when half starved in late bloom The brave make mistakes I've my share to swallow When love leads astray senses leave me hollow too slow My head is spinning wondering what it's worth Though I'm just an ordinary girl The more that I try to hold on The lesson less is more is all I got Were signals too fast or slow to see Is it ever safe at any speed The fates kiss my palm carving lines that wrestle With nature alarmed strong-willed hearts can't settle too full My head is spinning wondering what it's worth Fleeting past where conscience is concerned The more that I try to hold on The lesson less is more is all I got Were signals too fast or slow to see Is it ever safe at any speed My head is spinning wondering what it's worth The more that I try to hold on The lesson less is more is all I got Were signals too fast or slow to see Is it ever safe at any speed
4.
Hero 04:18
HERO In your mind life was skipping on fast forward Over time signs unnerved you the blindfold lowered I didn't have the heart to tell you then What happened never vanished round the bend I hadn't learned to navigate the curves In golden days you always were my hero In the calm dogs were sleeping and I let them lie While the harm was deceiving the last hope would die I didn't have the heart to tell you how What happened somehow managed to allow I hadn't learned to navigate the hurt In golden days you always were my hero my hero What could I have done to help You to resurrect yourself Could you have stepped up to the plate Burdened by unforeseen weight I couldn't come to the rescue then I couldn't come to the rescue I didn't have the heart to tell you then What happened never vanished round the bend I hadn't learned to navigate the curves In golden days you always were my hero my hero
5.
A THOUSAND WORDS Reckless and down on your luck Fancy being free Glimpses of sunlight above Tease me with small shimmerings from memory It's worth a thousand words As light fades and colors turn to dusk The night sways I can't escape your touch Vision with vanishing hope Lonely in your eyes Reasons that carry me home Tumble down to realize what really shines It's worth a thousand words As light fades and colors turn to dusk The night sways I can't escape your touch
6.
CRASH AND BURN Out of the blue the clouds revealed a burning crush I didn't want these things I feel no need to rush Heartstrings attached the balance shifts with no return Back in a bad familiar place I'll never learn Weighed down by silence | The mind chatters nonsense I'd much rather know what's on the ground Or I'll crash and burn out Sheltering skies now fluctuate from cold to hot I can't resolve these distant shapes wandering lost Your soothing voice cures anxious eyes time to relax Then silence comes all dressed in white and I flash back Weighed down by regret | The mind shudders forget I'd much rather know what’s on the ground Or I'll crash and burn out [Give me the down and dirty or I'll crash and burn] Just give me the down and dirty or I'll crash and burn out Crash and burn out Crash and burn out Crash and burn out
7.
DON'T LIE DOWN The hard truth disappoints Slices through the thickest noise A bullet with no sound You shouldn't need to turn around To know where your friends stand When love's put to the test A betrayal feels just like death Has staked you to the ground You shouldn't need to turn around To know where your love stands Walk with me you don't have to bend surrendering all Truth runs deep once you understand you'll never lie When your trust is destroyed Staying true is your best choice Don't let it break you down You shouldn't need to turn around To know where the truth stands Walk with me you don't have to bend surrendering all Truth runs deep once you understand you'll never lie down Walk with me you don't have to bend surrendering all Truth runs deep once you understand you'll never lie never lie down Don't lie down don't lie down
8.
SCATTER ALL THE ASHES Break through the pattern in the dark Searching for the truest mark Swallowing pride Apart trouble bottled up will stay Distance won't elude harm's way Night crawling with lies Farewell tender night I've got to scatter all the ashes There's too much static from the past Interfering flickers cast Everlasting desire Are there any sparks that linger on That whisper to me soft and strong And can offer a smile Farewell tender night I've got to scatter all the ashes I've got to scatter all the ashes I've got to scatter all the ashes Swirl round ashes surround Too much static in the dark lurking Tender sparks linger on I've got to scatter all the ashes
9.
New Frontier 03:25
NEW FRONTIER Sometimes when I'm lying in bed Music will echo through my head Swirling round in full stereo sound Lately I don't really care What I sing strange people stop and stare Throwing caution to precarious winds Look past cold shoulders Recast dark corners Strike invisible And now I've opened up my eyes and opened up my heart Some say I'm a ne'er-do-well A lifetime of waking from a spell Saving grace finds alternative ways The spotlight has a magic glow Its long fade illusions letting go Well worn wishes embrace carousel kisses Look past cold shoulders Recast dark corners Strike it beautiful And now I've opened up my eyes and opened up my heart It's a new frontier I've opened up my eyes and opened up my heart To a new frontier Now I've opened up my eyes | And opened up my heart It's a new frontier
10.
Masquerade 03:04
MASQUERADE Look into my eyes tell me that you see everything Underneath confidence that masquerades what's wrong Not what you'd expect that I'm surely invincible Along the seams vulnerability stitches up the strong Careful the thread could unravel Offer your arm to lean on Gentle I'm too tired to travel Farther unfastened undone Masquerade the masquerade the masquerade is on Take me in your arms knowing that I'm susceptible Don't suspect the heart stops giving when it starts to bleed Steely cool resolve compensates for deep weaknesses Don't be fooled I've tucked the ragged edges up my sleeve Careful the thread could unravel Offer your arm to lean on Gentle I'm too tired to travel Farther unfastened undone Masquerade the masquerade the masquerade is on Look into my eyes tell me that you see everything Underneath confidence that masquerades what's wrong
11.
BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS Put the fire back before you find inertia having the final laugh You're a passerby living behind your backseat passenger passive eyes Life still waiting for later Frozen inside stuck backwards and forwards Your thoughts are with me There's more than meets the eye It costs you dearly Too old and young to die Stuck backwards and forwards You're stuck backwards and forwards You're stuck backwards and forwards

about

The moody melodies, lush vocals and edgy guitars on Swoon's sophomore album Backwards & Forwards stay true to an underground sound that is distinctly their own. Once again, songwriter Minnie Cho's disarmingly potent lyrics turn provocative phrases at odds with the music. Sultry vocals and harmonies float on grungy guitars and a driving rhythm section for catchy melodies with staying power. Or, as one fan put it, "Seems every song leaves you singing it back to yourself afterwards."

Nominated for an Indie-Music.com Top 25 New & Notable Award, Backwards & Forwards was released in February 2011 with college radio promotion by Tinderbox Music.

"Be prepared for heartfelt, deep pop-rock with an easily accessible big sound and remarkable lyrics."
~ Roman Game, Curator, Small Beast

"I really dug [Backwards & Forwards] and wished I had written the album's title track myself."

~ Chris Collingwood, Fountains of Wayne

"The songs are so melodic, polished and just plain enjoyable!"

~ Eugene Foley, Foley Entertainment, Music Industry Consultants

"New York quartet Swoon make catchy pop-rock tunes inspired by '90s indie and alternative."

~ WLUR Radio Blogspot

"[Swoon is] a band that's my kind of band, a simple four-piece band that does some deep cerebral kind of rock songs led by a woman named Minnie Cho. They have good catchy melodies, very strong lyrics. The band has serious credits and a rather serious...accessible sound. What a great sound they have."

~ Dan Herman, Radio Crystal Blue, Novus Ordo 3/6/11 Podcast

"Swoon have a nice brooding pop sound...Minnie Cho's understated voice is, like the melodies, pleasing and delicate, but with an intriguing edge....a nice counterbalance to the grungy guitars"

~ Neil Diamond, Mr. Neil's Blog, Swoon at The National Underground

credits

released February 22, 2011

Minnie Cho | lead vocals, guitar
Matt Rhoden | lead guitar
Kristy Knight | vocals, bass, keys
Gary Ciuzio | drums, bass, vocals

All words and music by Minnie Cho.
All songs arranged and performed by Swoon.

Additional bass arrangements by Chris Aston.

Piano and piano arrangement on Masquerade and guitar solo and arrangement on Don’t Lie Down by Gary Ciuzio.

Additional guitar and guitar arrangements on Don’t Lie Down by Eric Barlow.

Cello and cello arrangements on Masquerade and Don’t Lie Down by Catherine Bent.

Percussion by Godfrey Diamond, Gary Ciuzio, Kristy Knight.

Produced, recorded and mixed by Godfrey Diamond at Perfect Mixes, Brooklyn. Additional recording at Headgear Recording, Brooklyn, assisted by Kyle Boyd.

Mastered by Mark B. Christensen, assisted by Raphael Fiorda, at Engine Room Audio, NYC.

Creative direction and artwork by Minnie Cho.

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