Radio raves

To these relatively impartial ears, the fact that Boston has two stations playing a decent mix of current music, and trying to beat each other at bringing new bands to town, is nothing to complain about. But what gave the night its true mark of indie integrity was Sebadoh leader Lou Barlow, who offered the most eventful and enjoyable set of all that I saw. Playing with an ad-hoc combo billed as Deluxx Folk Implosion (related to his thrown-together band on the Kids soundtrack), Barlow delivered a set heavy on interesting song ideas, chaotic spirit, and lack of evident rehearsal. The Sebadoh-type hooks were in there somewhere, though the songs averaged 90 seconds apiece and the band's clatter verged on hardcore, with Barlow cavorting with abandon up front. If I didn't know better, I'd say that they were trying to be like Guided by Voices (now there's a three-word definition of what 'BCN really needs to start playing before it pronounces itself alternative).

Also seen and heard: Janet LaValley doing her current loud-and-fun thing while prospective producer Jerry Harrison, ex-Harvard student and former Talking Head, watched from the wings. The Gigolo Aunts playing a guitar-heavy set that seemed designed to trash their wimpy-pop image once and for all (best new song: "I Hate You"). Fledgling lead singer Eileen Rose looking so pleased to be playing for a full house that she positively shimmered -- or maybe that was the silver-sequin blouse. And preceding Garbage, Seven Mary Three, this week's most obnoxious example of ersatz alternative music. A hundred bucks says they were a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band before the alternative trend hit.

SWANK ALBUM

That's not to say that there's any kind of cocktail ambiance in Swank's music -- strong beer on tap is more like it. But you have to forgive them for indulging their sense of humor after being part of Malachite, a band never known for yuks (unless you thought that "Digging Your Own Grave" or "(Fuck Me) In the Cemetery" was somewhat humorous -- my hand's up). Core Malachite members Justine Covault (bass/vocals), Janet Egan (guitar/vocals), and Gay Hathaway (drums) have been casting around for a style since they became Swank. On last summer's EP, Gutless Crap for Drunk Teens, they settled on a slightly friendlier version of Malachite's metal snarl. But with the new album they've moved toward a different sound, one they would likely have dismissed as wimpy during Malachite days. True, the guitars are still mighty loud, and Egan doesn't sound as if she'd be giving up her wah-wah pedal any time soon (co-producing with Frankie Butkus, the band get a fuller trio sound than they did last time). But they've discovered the magic ingredients they'd previously been a little short on: hooks and melody.

The album's best track by far is its most poppish. "Down on the Lawn" marks the first time that Egan and Covault have harmonized, and it sounds like a gutsier version of Veruca Salt (the first chanted chorus, which is the word "forsythia" if I'm hearing it right, reminds me of the abstract hooks on the best parts of the Salt album). Also surprising is the six-minute "Sea Hag," a semi-psychedelic epic that sounds as if it could be a lost Orangutang track, nautical imagery and all. The rest of the album is more-standard metal, but the band sound sly and spirited, and you have to like the obvious pleasure that Egan and Covault take in delivering their wiseacre lyrics. As long as they continue to write lines like "Put your lips on my ass and suck," I will continue quoting them. In short, it's only Swank and Swill, but I like it.

COMING UP

Shiva Speedway and Vitapup play a holiday gig at the Middle East Saturday, Howie & the Sour Vagrants do the same at T.T.'s with guests Talking to Animals, and the Peecocks do their Christmas debauchery at the Plough & Stars. And Jocobono and Birdbrain are at the Rat . . . Raising the musical question "Can there really be two good bands with `blues' and `Spencer' in their names?", the Henry Spencer Blues Band plays every Sunday at the Phoenix Landing. Also Sunday, Tabu Ley Rochereau plays the House of Blues . . . Recommended and free at Charlie's Tap Monday: Eric Martin & the Illyrians on a double bill with Thing from Venus, the new band with Therese Bellino (ex-Lazy Susan) . . . And WMBR's Bats in the Belfry invites some of its fave bands to Bill's Bar on Tuesday.