Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. This could be said about Foy Vance, an Irish author who was supporting act for many superstars (Elton John, Sheeran, Groban), but never experienced an epic success of his own. Maybe the best is yet to come. According to his latest album, I am more optimistic about it.
The Wild Swan has many auspicious characteristics. Foy Vance recorded a substantial cosmopolitan rock and roll album. A little bit of southern r’n’r and soft ballades, and a little bit of folk accents and Van Morrison influences makes this album a cool thing to have in your collection.
The opening track Naom Chomsky Is A Soft Revolution nourishes a swamp rock vibe worthy of Creedence, but everything turns in the opposite direction with down-tempo Coco. This song brings back to mind the old pun Cotton Eyed Joe. In Bangor Town, Foy surprises us with the growling side of his vocal and delivers his best interpretation yet. Burden showcases his ability to lead you through the nuanced bass and a little bit of gospel influence.
She Burns did not touch my G, and the third section of the album follows the same lackluster path. Be Like You Belong and Unlike Any Other sound like exercises of a man who wants to write a song like Adele does.
Ziggy Looked Me In The Eye refers to Bowie’s alter ego and Marc Bolan’s hit Children of The Revolution. At the very end of the record, Fire It Up brings back the flame from the first part of the album.
The Wild Swan is not perfect, but is has more scores than flaws. It has a nerve, and the nerve might just be what Foy Vance needed to come out of the shadow.
