Heavy Glow: Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine Review: A Wonderful Time-Warp

Heavy Glow is a psychedelic Motown group from San Diego, California. After releasing a slew of EP’s, Heavy Glow has finally released their long overdue debut “Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine.”

The album is ever-bluesy from the get-go with “Shakedown,” “Look What You’re Doing to Me,” and “Mine All Mine.” There’s plenty of fuzz to go around and the funkified rhythms make you want to strut like John Travolta.

“Fat Cat” is a very Hendrix tune that sticks out like a sore thumb. Lyrically, the song sways with a unique swagger. Everything works from the jazz/blues guitar to the John Bonham-esque drumming. This is “Foxy Lady” for those that speak jive. When this song kicks into full gear one will feel like an action hero walking away from an explosion.

The rest of the album mixes things up from song to song for unexpected appeal. “Love Ghost” and “Hello September (Goodbye April)” are slower, Led Zeppelin-ish numbers focusing more on the overall band unity. The latter features vocals sections that sound very Alice in Chains. “Domino,” however is a quicker swing-blues number with great leads and a really fun bass groove. Combined with the playful vocal style, it’s a no brainer that this could be a hit single.

“Got My Eye on You” is another slow jazz song that is arguably the weakest song on the album. It has decent leads and rhythms, but it hardly does anything new with the exception of a tambourine. It also ends very abruptly.

The final two tracks are “Nerve Endings” and “Headhunter.” “Nerve Endings” is another fun song that also sounds like a single. The drums, vocals and bass power the song to make it unique. It doesn’t hold up as well as “Domino” in the hits department but it has the potential to be a fantastic live tune. “Headhunter” brings it home with fuzzy, wah-driven blues, cool lyrics and plenty of power. “

With plenty of potential at their disposal Heavy Glow are off to a very good start. Their blast from the past of a debut boasts a lot of nostalgia laced bliss. In short, this album is not just the lovechild of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and the Bee-Gees, “Pearls & Swine” does the time-warp again and then some.