Too Many Days Without Thinking (RSD 25)

Never released on vinyl since 1997, this Record Store Day edition has re-imagined artwork from Sean in the band and is pressed on Oxblood vinyl. Swell were an indie rock band from San Francisco, formed in 1989 by David Freel and Sean Kirkpatrick, with Monte Vallier joining in the early 90’s. “Too Many Days Without Thinking” was their fourth and some would say their most important record. It was recorded between 1994 and 1996 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and finally in New York with producer & mixer Kurt Ralske (Ultra Vivid Scene).

What Ryley Walker thinks about Swell & Too Many Days Without Thinking …
Swell is one of those bands,” Walker notes. “An SF indie rock band from the 90’s that kinda blipped and faded away. I really don’t know too much about their story beyond they were once signed to Rick Rubin’s American Recordings and Beggars Banquet. I’ve met maybe two other people who are obsessed with them. It’s this brilliant downer acoustic guitar-driven rock band. Not in any sort of flip-flop way. Just brainy, stream of consciousness paranoia with great riffs. I put them up there with Pavement and Built To Spill as West Coast-ish beauty. This record in particular is the shining highlight of their catalogue.”