THE MIGHTY SWINE

Considering the stacks upon stacks of CDs that are sent in for review, occasionally it is an album cover and a band name that causes one to spin a disc, at least as far as independent releases and albums on tiny labels are concerned. Precious time does not allow a spin of every disc received. If any critic dealing in high volume CD traffic tells you different, then he/she is lying. Such was the case with THE MIGHTY SWINE's self-titled debut album. As it turns out, such selection methods are riddled with faulty logic.

Formed by bassist/vocalist Mike Skimmerhorn (ex-CJSS/CHASTAIN) for the sole purpose of playing loud guitar rock, THE MIGHTY SWINE accomplishes that purpose, albeit to often mediocre results. The style is straight up riff-heavy rock with basic song construction and generally effective, if middle of the road, soloing. Skimmerhorn's vocals are not exactly pitch perfect, but are a bit better than tolerable. The first several songs — "Everlast", "Layin' Down the Law", and "Human Sacrifice" — are fairly strong, even approaching sizzling in the riff/lead department. A drumming style that is basic to a fault; the awful '80s drum production makes it seem worse than it is though. A couple of other tunes like "Your Own Creation" and "Lost" aren't bad either. But the rather odd acoustic/electric detour of "Madam Adam" goes south quickly and the chorus of "My Luv 4 U" is irksome at best, even though the tracks' swing is moderately attention-grabbing. "Why Tell me Why" just doesn't work. The cover of CREAM's "Sunshine of your Love" is at least passable.

Even with the misses, THE MIGHTY SWINE has a generally likeable in-your-face quality and there are moments you can hear what is most likely a strong live act, the kind that would go over well in a packed bar where the beer flows like a river. Whether that's enough to justify the purchase of a very average rock album is debatable.