No 'Letdown' from Swift

Bloomington's own Secretly Canadian has released yet another gem. Having found countless needles in the haystack of the vast musical landscape, the label has managed to procure a collection of artists who are capable of piercing your perceptions and altering the way you understand music. Richard Swift's latest effort, Dressed up for the Letdown, is the label's latest release that is destined to make its way from 2nd Street and into your iPod. \nFrankly, the album is a joy from beginning to end. Relying on the quality of the songs alone and not on slick production techniques reeking of Protools and other digital manipulation, Dressed up for the Letdown deconstructs the notion of assembling albums in a digital environment and makes the creation of albums seem human again. Interesting, however, is the fact that Swift sporadically uses electronic elements like a vocoder to contrast with the old-fashioned feel of some of the songs. This is just one example of another quality that makes the album particularly intriguing.\nDressed up for the Letdown is an album that is conflicted and filled with dualisms. Throughout the album themes of the traditional and modern, cheerfulness and gloom, and distance and intimacy among others all manifest themselves in both the lyrical and instrumental content of the album. Just like the production of the album strips away the overly smooth and sometimes superfluous digital quality present in music today, Swift's songs get to the point and reflect undeniable elements of humanity. Through his music, we see the frailties, conflicts, doubts and struggles that make life what it is. As with life, if the album were perfect and predictable, it wouldn't be worth the time.\nNothing about the album is theatrical or overdone. The guitar gently strums and plucks along while the piano jauntily pounds out rhythm and melody to complement the plaintive percussion and Swift's own aching style of singing. Occasionally, a well-placed horn or string section will join the mix and accentuate the moods that have developed. The whole album unfolds in under 40 minutes, but it's 40 meaningful and enjoyable minutes that warrant repetition.\nWrap your hands, ears, mind and heart around it album and take pleasure in the simplicity and warm hooks that this album provides. Within the 10 songs there is a wealth of elements that are subtle and rewarding if an attentive ear is lent to the endeavor. So please, put on a nice shirt and get Dressed up for the Letdown.