This album, Swerve, is (simply put) a ton of fun from start to finish. ODDLY are living it up on this debut, hailing from Kyoto, Japan, as another reminder that Japan has an impeccable music scene for sure. Even with as playful and straightforward as this record is, however, there’s some themes within the lyrics that seem to speak on themes of both emotional turmoil and, as I hear on their top-played single, “Alligator”, a context that seems almost political in nature. As we walk through the tracklist, this album gives a sense of familiar ’90s alternative, while giving its own new standard to music that fits in a variety of sub-categories for what ‘rock music’ is considered, while still touching on elements of punky, noisy, and even shoegazey goodness.
There’s a few different things I appreciate about this record. One is how the narration, or main vocals I suppose, switch between Naoko and Tomoyuki from track to track, even incorporating vocal work from their drummer, Keita, as well. The different voices, as well as how they harmonize in spots on different songs, make for a good dynamic that makes and already catchy vibe about the sound all the more interesting. Even as easily accessible as this style of rock could be chalked up to be, it never really feels ‘predictable’, so to speak. We just recently lost the pillows, as they decided to call it quits after a 35-year legacy, but having this record and a band like ODDLY around feels like it’s keeping the sort of alternative rock legacy they set forth alive and well, with this record giving me nostalgic throwbacks to something by the aforementioned.
Amongst my personal favorites in the tracklist are “Lozenges”, “Zero”, and “Artificial”. The latter, “Artificial”, being one that lyrically seems like it’s a statement about neglecting the meaningful things in your life in an obsessive pursuit of something much more grandiose and far-fetched, this track makes for a good example of the band’s prowess of writing well-composed hooks, while conveying deeper messages to resonate with listeners. There’s plenty of grunge and bass-driven beats to make you feel like it’s the mid-’90s again, but the subject matter feels very real-time and in-tune with the human experience, especially as of late. In short, ODDLY is clearly a band of forward-thinking songwriters who both know the value of simplicity, while also not being afraid to shake things up musically as well. The result is something that will scratch a nostalgic itch, and simultaneously make you feel like you’re onboard with the next big, upcoming thing in alternative rock music.
With this being another band whose record I’m reviewing is a debut full-length, it is reminding me that 2025 is a year of high potential, as much as it has been a year of tension for other reasons (mostly, perhaps, for those of us living here in the United States, anyway, but the collective sigh goes worldwide, no doubt). Even in the darkest days, music remains victorious as a wonderful thing that duals as an outlet and source of serotonin, and Swerve serves no exception to that, provided as yet another piece of that audible therapy we find ourselves in need of more often than not. If you like good alternative, grungey, shoegazey rock music that is good for getting lost on a long walk or drive through the city to? You best swerve on over to Bandcamp, or a platform of your choosing, and give Swerve a spin or ten!
