Editor’s Note: From Albumism’s inception back in 2016, we’ve remained unabashedly and unequivocally passionate about our mission of celebrating the world's love affairs with albums past, present and future.
But while our devotion to the album as an art form has remained steadfast, as evidenced by our deepening repository of individual album tributes and reviews, we’ve admittedly seldom taken the opportunity to explicitly articulate our reverence for the virtues of artists’ complete album repertoires as a whole.
Hence why we’ve decided to showcase what we believe to be the most dynamic discographies of all time in this recurring series. In doing so, we hope to better understand the broader creative context within which our most beloved individual albums exist, while acknowledging the full breadth of their creators’ artistry, career arcs, and overall contributions to the ever-evolving musical landscape.
We hope you enjoy this series and be sure to check here periodically for the latest installments.
SWING OUT SISTER
Studio Albums: It's Better to Travel (1987) | Kaleidoscope World (1989) | Get in Touch with Yourself (1992) | The Living Return (1994) | Shapes and Patterns (1997) | Filth and Dreams (1999) | Somewhere Deep in the Night (2001) | Where Our Love Grows (2004) | Beautiful Mess (2008) | Private View (2012) | Almost Persuaded (2017)
When I spoke with Swing Out Sister’s Andy Connell (arranger/composer) and Corinne Drewery (singer-songwriter) in 2018, the latter commented about trying to categorize the fluidity of the British duo’s music, explaining, “Well, I think that jazz and sophisti-pop...they kind of work. But, I always feel that there has to be more than one description because there are so many different ideas in different places in our music. I think that cinematic jazz probably describes best, but I don't think you could ever say it's one thing because our inspiration doesn't come from just one thing.”
Beginning in 1986 with their acclaimed debut collection It’s Better to Travel (1986), Swing Out Sister’s signature blend of old and new school pop was (and is) something wholly unique to the pair. As Connell and Drewery moved through the subsequent follow-ups—each album more daringly executed than the last—Swing Out Sister hovered somewhere between broader exposure and cult status. Regardless, their commitment to lush, expansive productions and refined lyricism has never abated. In short, this pair is the crackerjack musical act you’ve never heard of, but once you do, you’ll be a fan for life.
Quentin’s 3 Favorite Swing Out Sister Albums of All Time:
1. Somewhere Deep in the Night (2001)
2. Filth and Dreams (1999)
3. Shapes and Patterns (1997)
LISTEN & WATCH: