The Heavy—consisting of Kelvin Swaby (lead vocals), Dan Taylor (guitar), Spencer Page (bass guitar) and Chris Ellul (drums)—are an English band formed in 2007, and although they’ve been around for over a decade, I wouldn’t come to know them until watching the opening sequence to Gamebox’s Borderlands 2. I instantly fell in love with the track and the band, and since going into Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode during this pandemic lockdown (what else is a girl to do?), I’ve had a chance to revisit their music, dig out some of their old tracks, and listen to more recent albums.
“Girl,” from their first studio album, Great Vengeance and Furious Fire, instantly struck a chord with me. Although a modern spoken word piece, it feels like a natural fit to follow the Mamas and the Papas track on this playlist. In all honesty, my first impression was that it had a bit of a Kinks’ flavor with the bassline, but much to my pleasant surprise and discovery, the song samples Terry Reid’s “Superlungs My Supergirl,” off of his self-titled 1969 album.
A super track with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, it’s a playful frisky song to listen to as you drive through city streets.
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About the Curator - Jane Asylum
When my mother wasn’t walking around the house belting out early 60s’ girl-band lyrics, she was collecting compilation albums, specifically from K-Tel. She may not have had the most refined taste, but she enjoyed variety, or at least that’s what I recall. I poured over them all, preferring some sounds to others. And when I found the perfect song, I’d play it over and over until ready to perform my latest theatrical dance incarnation.
With my family all gathered on floral grey sofas in our basement apartment, I’d set the vinyl on the turntable of a brown fibreboard stereo and not-so-carefully lower the needle. It would pop, screech, and crackle before any music spilled from the weaved-wheat speakers. My toes would press, lift, and sweep through the blue-green shag carpet, my arms would flail, and the music would bass and treble through my soul.
I’m no longer that 6-year-old doing private-audience interpretive dance routines, but my passion remains just as intense. I have no special superpowers as a curator — just my love of sounds and lyrics that transport, transform, move, and make your body groove.