The Swallows new CD got a great review from this week's Eye Magazine:

THE SWALLOWS

Awkward Situation
Magnetic Angel

The Swallows aren't exactly a band - more precisely, it's the nom de rock for Blue Rodeo drummer (and occasional Holy Fucker) Glenn Milchem. Awkward Situation is Milchem's third album under the Swallows moniker, and it's a much more raucous and enjoyable effort than anything the Rodeo have recorded lately; that band's lacklustre 2005 album, Are You Ready, sounds ever more tired and uninspired by comparison. A studiously off-the-cuff set of jangly rock 'n' roll ("Glorious"), power pop ("Pointa­finger") and moody Sonic Youth–style riffage ("Darkly Bright"), Awkward Situation doesn't reveal anything extraordinary or break down any new musical barriers, but it's precisely (and passionately) executed, without ever sounding derivative or over-thought-about - which is more than compensation enough. A winning effort. PI

THE SWALLOWS PLAY THE CAMERON HOUSE (408 QUEEN W) DEC 8.

http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_12.06.06/music/ondisc_5.php

I can't wait to pick it up tomorrow night at the CD release!!

And here's the review from today's Now Magazine:

Frontmen, beware of your drummer. Just because someone's relegated to the skins doesn't mean he's suppressed his rock star ambitions. Take Glenn Milchem, drummer for Canrock heroes Blue Rodeo and electro-rock stalwarts Holy *** and guitarist/ vocalist for his own band, the Swallows. Though the Swallows are definitely a side project, it gives Milchem the chance to prove he can do more than just bang ***. While there's nothing groundbreaking here, the band's third disc is still an impressive release. Most notable is the guitar work. Milchem and Jonny James have clearly taken pride in the axe-manship. The plethora of well-planned solos and fast-fingered rhythm guitar is reason enough to listen. The rest isn't bad either, although a few vocal melodies could've been reworked.

The Swallows play the Cameron House Friday (December 8).  

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/music_discs2.php

Here is another review of the Swallows new CD.  This guy liked it better.

BERNARD PERUSSE

The Swallows

Awkward Situation

Remember those Blue Rodeo shows just after Glenn Milchem joined (and just before 1993's Five Days in July softened the band's edges), when it seemed as if the formidable drummer was a cymbal's mortal enemy? These days, Milchem feeds that fire by fronting a gloriously untamed outfit when the Rodeo's not in town. The wiry guitars would be enough to place the Swallows in the top percentiles of fat-free rockers; Milchem's Neil Young-informed writing should shoot them into the elite of Canadian music, period. Soft Bomb and Darkly Bright balance sensitivity and savagery on the head of a pin, and Milchem's wild-eyed vocals range from passionate to unhinged. Calling this a side project would be insulting; call it a very fruitful parallel career. Rating 4

Jordan Zivitz

Awkward Situation is available at www.maplemusic.com.