October 2008
Andy Swan leads the Toronto pop outfit The Michael Parks (formerly Detective Kalita), but even this prolific band can't keep up with his songwriting output.

In late 2006, Andy took a brand new batch of songs to Ottawa to record his second album. It turned out decidedly country, and laid to 2" tape sounds as if it was made decades ago when country met rock. The shadows of Kris Kristofferson, Shotgun Willie and George Jones loom large throughout.

With Rolf Klausener (The Acorn) on bass, John J. Higney Jr. (Two Minute Miracles) on guitar and Jon Bartlett (Rhume) on drums, Andy has crafted a brilliantly subtle album, where his simple, honest lyrics and vulnerable tenor voice get to shine in the spotlight. Other guests include Jim Bryson, Dave Draves, Andrew Vincent, Jake Bryce (Recoilers), and Kyla Dowden (duet singer on “Maybe It’s Love”), this amazing local 20-year old Joan Baez-a-like we found on MySpace.

Ottawa is the best thing Swanny has ever done. It effortlessly reels in its listeners and has you humming its songs for days on end. “Can I Pay You With Sunshine?” is the new “Snowbird.”

“The band that most agreed stole the afternoon.” – Grant Lawrence, CBCRadio3
“I suspect singer Andy Swan was more than a little drunk.” – Frank Yang, Chromewaves.net

Going to Havana?