Swim (EP)

Swim
EP by Feeder
Released	June 24, 1996 July, 2001
Recorded	1996
Genre	Grunge Length = 37:42
Label	Echo
Producer	Chris Sheldon, Feeder
Feeder chronology
Two Colours EP (1995) Swim EP (1996) Polythene (1997)
Original cover
Original 1996 cover

Swim was the second EP by the British alternative rock band Feeder. It was Feeder's second commercial release, but failed to have much commercial success.

The EP had influences of Smashing Pumpkins early work along with Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers and Silverchair that would follow on Polythene.

It was re-released in 2001 in an expanded form, with five B-sides from the Polythene singles. The re-release is considered to be an "album" since it contains more tracks.

Release

The 6-track EP was released on June 24, 1996 on The Echo Label, and later released in CD-format on October 12, 1998. Swim was re-released with seven additional tracks on July 30, 2001. The songs "Stereo World" and "Descend" appeared on the band's debut album Polythene.

After Feeder broke into the mainstream with their single "Buck Rogers" and "Echo Park" album, "Swim" was re-released, with five b-sides from the Polythene singles and two videos. The only difference between the original "Swim" artwork and the re-release, is the colour of the backgrounds; blue for the original and red for the re-release.

In late 2006 to coincide with the Japan tour in October of the same year, the album got its first release outside Europe.^[1]

Reception

On original release the mini-album was highly talked about by Kerrang! magazine as one of the releases of the year, but was not eligible for the end-of-year list due to being a mini-album.

The album on the week of re-release was Kerrang! magazine's "Album of the week" and their website featured a commentary from lead vocalist and guitarist Grant Nicholas on each of the 11 audio tracks at the time.^[2]

It made #15 on the UK indie chart, and #91 on the national chart.

Several tracks are featured on the original PlayStation racing simulator, Gran Turismo.

Track listing

1. "Sweet 16" – 3:32
2. "Stereo World" – 3:32
3. "W.I.T. (Women in Towels)" – 2:29
4. "Descend" – 5:25
5. "Shade" – 4:09
6. "Swim" – 3:19

2001 re-release

1. "Sweet 16" – 3:32
2. "Stereo World" – 3:32
3. "W.I.T. (Women in Towels)" – 2:29
4. "Descend" – 5:25
5. "Shade" – 4:09
6. "Swim" – 3:19
7. "Elegy" – 4:13
8. "World Asleep" – 4:16
9. "Chicken on a Bone" (1997 version) – 3:45
10. "Spill" – 2:58
11. "Forgiven" – 4:47
12. Crash (CD Rom Video)
13. Cement (CD Rom Video)

References

1. ↑ HMV.co.jp "Swim" release details
2. ↑ Kerrang!.com "Swim" review