Sink or Swim

Sink or Swim

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Waifs--sisters Donna and Vikki Simpson and Josh Cunningham--honed their craft playing countless gigs throughout the 1990s in their native Australia. Sink or Swim is their third album, and it features 11 selections of acoustic, and occasionally electric-guitar-driven, pop-folk. The songs include Cunningham's "Brief History," a song that's half Woody Guthrie-style talking blues and half rap, which tells the story of the band; Donna's "Haircut," a song about a breakup that blends anger and fierce joy in equal measure; and Vikki's "Danger," an enigmatic song of loss. The band's vocal harmonies are tight, and the arrangements feature plenty of strummed and finger-picked guitars, with a bit of banjo here and dab of cello there to fill out the sound. The three members of the Waifs know how to compose a catchy hook and write a lyric that touches both heart and mind, and have enough instrumental chops to deliver the goods. And really, what more do need from a band? --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

The Waitress
Lies
Danger
Without You
The Haircut
Love Serenade
Taken
Service Fee
A Brief History...
When I Die
Sink Or Swim

Amazon.com

The Waifs--sisters Donna and Vikki Simpson and Josh Cunningham--honed their craft playing countless gigs throughout the 1990s in their native Australia. Sink or Swim is their third album, and it features 11 selections of acoustic, and occasionally electric-guitar-driven, pop-folk. The songs include Cunningham's "Brief History," a song that's half Woody Guthrie-style talking blues and half rap, which tells the story of the band; Donna's "Haircut," a song about a breakup that blends anger and fierce joy in equal measure; and Vikki's "Danger," an enigmatic song of loss. The band's vocal harmonies are tight, and the arrangements feature plenty of strummed and finger-picked guitars, with a bit of banjo here and dab of cello there to fill out the sound. The three members of the Waifs know how to compose a catchy hook and write a lyric that touches both heart and mind, and have enough instrumental chops to deliver the goods. And really, what more do need from a band? --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

Great folk/alt/pop from down under!.......2007-01-12

The Waifs' latest offering "Sink or Swim" an extremely well written, diverse collection of acoustic-based songs from a great Australian band. Both the vocal and instrumental arrangement are tight and tasteful, resulting in a very listenable CD. Starting out with "The Waitress", a catchy little ditty that can't help but make you smile, followed by the cynical "Lies" that has definite celtic influences, nearly the entire CD is simply a joy to listen to. "Danger" has an early Indigo Girls feel without all the social scolding crap that they devolved into. "Without You" is a nice piece of pop craft that aims towards a top 40 audience. "The Haircut" is an introspective song with some hilarious lyrics (the masturbation references would normally be out of place, but these are actually cute without being vulgar). "Love Serenade" is a happy love song reminiscent of Nora Jones' "Little Willies" style. You can almost hear them smile while their singing it. "Taken" is a little uneven, but the instrumental hook during the verses is very infectious. "Service Fee" is a melancholy ballad about a lost love that is both pretty and poignant. "A Brief History", a spoken track, is probably the low point of the CD. Although the backing instrumental track is adequate, the song just seems out of place on an otherwise wonderful CD. "When I Die" is a sweet country ballad about the pull we all feel to return to our roots, like salmon, as our ends approach. This song should be covered by every Americana group out there. Finally, the CD's title track is a delightful gospel-tinged piece of coutry blues that would have been at home on Jorma Kaukonen's Blue Country Heart CD. This CD is my first exposure to the Waifs, and I plan to get my hands on some more. Simply a great pop-folk album with a lot of diversity and great musicianship. Buy it NOW!

The Waifs.......2006-08-27

I got into this band through Xavier Rudd's Triple J radio block hour mixed tape gig show thing. Anyway...they've been out for quite a while so Im definetly not laying any sort of ground work for them. Point is their good, really good. Their fame down under is pretty large but I think their pretty unknown here in the states. Which is too bad, because they definetly have talent. Not just talent but some serouisly skill.

Thanks MTV.......2005-12-05

the only good thing MTV has done in the last fifteen years was play a slice of London Still on some douchey show of theirs. I got to hear this band and have been with em ever since. Great album and a good follow up to up all night.

great cd.......2005-10-25

first heard this cd driving down the west coast of oz, its great to drive to and and i think goes great with any ozz road trip!

A hidden treasure.......2004-02-27

This is a brilliant recording through and through. For their youth, these three write remarkably mature lyrics, and the music is consistently excellent. Someone wrote below that the CD is front-loaded, and I couldn't disagree more. Musically, nearly every song is just perfect, though "Danger" is perhaps a little bland, and lyrically there are deeply moving high points from that front end (Haircut) well into the second half (e.g. the gut-wrenching "Service Fee"). There are elements of folk, rock, jazz, country and more here. I'm not sure it fits a genre, but this is very real, fresh music. Someone below criticized the songwriting by Josh Cunningham, and I think that was a bit off-base. He can get right to the heart of the matter about feelings about home (When I Die), and can write great music even when his lyrics are a bit pedantic (Lies) or sentimental (Brief History, on which he and the band sound like a reincarnated acoustic Velvet Underground). This is just a great listen. I may not have a lot to add to what's below, but this is one of the best CD's I've heard in the last year, and wanted to chime in with another good review. It's a great listen; you won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Sink Or Swim

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000QUUDLU
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Boomboxes And Dictionaries
I Could'a Been A Contender
Wooderson
We Came To Dance
1930
The Navesink Banks
Red In The Morning
I'da Called You Woody, Joe
Angry Johnny And The Radio
Drive
We're Getting A Divorce, You Keep The Diner
Red At Night

Average customer rating:

Sync or Swim
Wiseguy
Manufacturer: White Mare Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000KVN04C

Product Description

Tracks: 1. Kind Of Girls 2. Holiday 3. Summertime 4. Sulfer 5. Drift Away 6. Home Again 7. Too Late 8. Now 9. On And On 10. Gettin Heavy 11. Final Line 12. Cyber Madness 13. Sync Of Swim

Average customer rating:

sad songs for indie fans

Sink or Swim EP
Summer at Shatter Creek
Manufacturer: Redder Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

All the Answers

ASIN: B0002Y7IIG
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Tracks:

Something To Calm Me
Optimistic
Rebecca
Worlds Away
You Ever Changing Moods

Product Description

Recorded March 2004 at Liberty Canyon Studios, Mixed with Bruce Macfarlane, All songs are stripped down versions from the full length out fall 2004, 5 Tracks

Customer Reviews:

sad songs for indie fans.......2007-03-17

Summer at Shatter Creek writes the saddest songs you'll ever hear. Almost every song on this EP is also on All the Answers, but it's still a geeat little ep, there is not one weak track.

The music is basically guitar and keyboard with vocals, but it works perfectly in the grandest indie fashion.

Average customer rating:

SAN DIEGO HXC

Sink or Swim
Over My Dead Body
Manufacturer: Indecision Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Straight Edge | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Rusty Medals and Broken Badges
1998-2000 Discography

ASIN: B0000A4GDK
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Tracks:

Why Are You Here
Anchors Aweigh
Broken Backs
Bricks
Patriotic Cattle Call
Tunnel Vision
Dead Alive
Don't Call It a Comeback
23rd Letter
Remembrance Day
Kippax
Always and Forever
Cold Front

Customer Reviews:

SAN DIEGO HXC.......2007-07-19

definatly san diego`s finest here...13 tracks that just cruise along...songs vary from melodic punk at times to the most incredible HARDCORE frenzy...buy it

Average customer rating:

Head First
Jason DeJardin
Manufacturer: Sink or Swim
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000L4AXY8

Average customer rating:

Sink Or Swim

Manufacturer: Mars Hill
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAG0XY
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

Sink Or Swim
All I Need
Birds Of Prey
Real
Change Your Mind
Too Late
Lies They Tell
Ah Yeah
I Remember You
Love Waits

Average customer rating:

Sink or Swim
Bogside Zukes
Manufacturer: Bogside Zukes
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA7DM6
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

Highwayman
Patrick Street
Kesh/Swallowtail/Morrison's
Irish Rover
Blackberry Blossom
Whisky in the Jar/Popeye's
Wild Rover
Water Is Wide
Rant and Roar
Jig of Slurs/Athol Highlanders
Courted a Wee Girl
Fisher's Hornpipe
Parting Glass

Average customer rating:

SINK AND OR SWIM
MAD RIPPLE
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000RDFZGY

Product Description

1 Here Come The Catholic Boys 2 I Am So Not Making Out With You 3 Now It's June 4 Smoke Me Out 5 Homebodies (Don't Be Careful With Your Love) 6 Obit Desk 7 Post-War 8 Fixthebroke 9 Something To Be Said 10 Football And A Horse 11 A Question For Pat Dwyer At Grumpy's In Northeast Minneapolis 12 Done 13 This Little Light Of Mine

Average customer rating:

From Casual to Discerning Listener -- It Satisfies!
Engaging, contemporary jazz

Sink Or Swim

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00013K5ME
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Tracks:

For RPMS
Heavens Dew
San Francisco Style
Prelude in C Minor Op. 28, No. 20
Upstate
Lotus
Threes A Crowd
Nardis

Album Description

"A jazz record that grooves..." "Sink Or Swim" is an eclectic mix of jazz, rock, and classical music that explores sophisticated western harmonies and eastern rhythms.

Customer Reviews:

From Casual to Discerning Listener -- It Satisfies!.......2004-03-14

Sit back, close your eyes, and lose yourself in this richly textured production by Gian Tornatore and his talented ensemble. It is a pleasure throughout. The variety of mood and style ranges from the opening sinuous line that slides through brooding harmonies, to the bowed bass performance of the classical Chopin Prelude in C minor, to the final cut, a playful and creative arrangement of the Miles Davis standard Nardis. The bass player, drummer, and keyboardist maintain an exquisitely balanced musical conversation over which Gian Tornatore's lyrical sax swoops, hops, sings, and swings. The improvisations of all the performers display sophistication, intelligence, and style. Complex and masterful rhythmic transitions lie in wait to surprise and delight you. This is a CD that will satisfy the most discerning jazz aficionado as well as the more casual listener. I look forward to hearing more from these young artists!

Engaging, contemporary jazz.......2004-01-25

The album is intoxicating; my only warning to you is that if you put it on, you won't be able to leave your CD player until it's finished. "Sink or Swim" tells a story. The creative progressions within each number, and movements from mood to mood as the album plays, form a kind of narrative beyond words. I think the new compositions are brilliant, but equally impressive is the group's take on the very classic Chopin. It's inspiring to hear someone bring forth something new out of a piece played so many times before. I loved this album and hope the artist doesn't make us wait too long for the next.

Music Review:

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