release date: 1994
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,80]
producer: Craig Leon
label: Replay Records - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 1. "Vanity" (4 / 5) - 2. "I Died in My Teens" (5 / 5) - 3. "Shudder" (4 / 5) - 4. "Modest Us" (4 / 5) - 5. "Reddening Star" - 6. "Swirl Like You" - 7. "Chandelier" - 10. "New 5" - 11. "They"
Studio album debut by Danish grunge rock trio Psyched Up Janis (founded in Sønderborg '89) released on Replay and produced by American musician and producer Craig Leon. The band consists of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Sune Rose Wagner, bassist Jakob Jørgensen, and drummer Martin Bjerregaard. Wagner and Jørgensen were old school friends playing in various bands before founding Psyched Up Janis. Initially, the drummer was Lars Meyer, but after relocating to Copenhagen, Bjerregaard became the band's stable drummer and the trio recorded this full-length debut.
The album was well-received by national critics but the release was unfortunately largely overshadowed by the debut albums by two other bands battling in being the most popular alt. rock band: Dizzy Mizz Lizzy and Kashmir, both of which, I consider minor to Psyched Up Janis, who simply did not take part in much of the promotional part of selling their music. However, Psyched Up Janis was simply my kind of a band, and their music was mistakenly unwelcomed by the public and the radio stations. Imo, this very album consists of tvelwe blazing compositions - of which nine are actual highlights. Swell is the band's masterpiece. They would go on to release another three studio albums before disbanding and none of these are poor or mediocre by any standards but they simply failed to attract much attention - again their musical trend simply appeared less competive when comparing to the aforementioned bands. Psyched Up Janis were unfortunate to stay true to a Seattle-wave, which they shared more traits with than what happened on the national scene. In this regard, I think Psyched Up Janis and especially its front-figure Sune Wagner had eyes and ears more tuned in on what took place on the other side of the Atlantic.
Swell is a Danish cornerstone and a recommended listen for anyone interested in 1990s grunge rock.