Thom Swift

“…an honest and heartwarming collection of songs…a master craftsman plying his trade.“ - ArtsEast.com

“offering deep, earthy vocals over acoustic, sparsely arranged folk and blues tunes. An enjoyable album produced in such a real, rootsy way, you’d swear Thom was playing in your living room.” - Times & Transcript - Moncton, New Brunswick

“Into The Dirt features some of the hallmarks of Swift’s style, crafted over two decades of performing: A deep, emotional voice, relaxed finger-picked folk blues, a little delta, a little ragtime…it includes some of the best songs he’s ever written.” - Telegraph Journal - New Brunswick

“…impressive guitar work and soulful baritone voice.” - Canadian Musician

"A wicked picker..."
- Cape Breton Post - Nova Scotia

“masterfully produced Into The Dirt sonically alludes to what might happen if Tom Waits and Mark Knoffler ever put themselves in the hands of legendary Canadian producer Daniel Lanois. An impressive, rewarding listening experience for those who enjoy tonally-textured song and soundscapes, classily performed.” - JazzEast Rising Magazine - Nova Scotia

· "... textured and truthful..." - The Chronicle Herald - Nova Scotia

"...Swift's voice cuts loose with healing power."
- The Coast - Halifax, Nova Scotia

"Blue Sky Day features a masterful grasp of varied roots styles. His debut record Into The Dirt earned him accolades right across this great country of ours: Blue Sky Day proves that it was more than luck that drove that success. With a voice reminiscent of Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, Swift confidently works his way through a melange of blues, rock, roots on these 12 tracks."

- Here Weekly - New Brunswick

"No matter how you look at Swift and this record, he comes up aces. He's a skilled tunesmith, a great lyricist and a fine guitar player. And that earthy baritone voice of his sounds like honey on the rocks." - The Charlottetown Guardian - Prince Edward Island

“Into The Dirt is a rich and layered collection of songs. It is a not strictly a blues record. There are elements of folk, country and world music blended in with Swift’s earthy vocals.”

- Chronicle Herald - Nova Scotia

"Swift dives into the project with dark, brooding, pop-inflected tunes that sit atop rich, multi-textured arrangements, elevating each composition beyond anything seen as fleeting. Swift’s vocals move well forward in this effort, proving himself a formidable vocal talent capable of commanding a stage. Consider the powerful opening track – “Straight” –a father-to-son reflection on life and a deceptively complex arrangement beyond its initial ‘gather ‘round the campfire’ folkish feel. “Into The Dirt” portrays the cycle of life – as bleak a mood-setter as its title suggests – aided by thick slabs of guitar, Arsenault’s thudding percussion yet nicely elevated by Cousins’ harmonies. Davis’ didgeridoo adds a sinister overtone to “Healer Man” while the guitar lines build on a blues hook towards a haunting, gospel feel. By “My Dog”, Swift returns to familiar turf: this upbeat, backporch blues track demonstrates his prowess on vintage ’30 National Steel – one of the disc’s greatest tracks, as is its other instrumental, “Hacketts Cove Rag”. Cue “Dust” – a rich soundscape that recalls a meeting between Nebraska-era Springsteen with Daniel Lanois, tempered by other-worldly guitar and Arsenault’s near-menacing percussive effects. Likewise, the dreamy “Mother’s Arms”, its guitar-based orchestration augmented by the addition of banjo and didgeridoo. “Glory Bell” is a delightful, drunken blues haze of slide guitar and B3, perfectly paced for Swift’s insights on life – yet it almost derails with its too-complex arrangement. Not so the disc’s true shot at glory, “Crying Shame”. This is a hummable, slide-driven, hook-setting track that capitalizes on Swift’s talented stable of players with near-perfect results. Try to stop singing this feel-good keeper over and over again. Rarely does accompaniment sound this delicious. Swift’s slightly schizophrenic penchant for musical diversity – with all its resulting mood swings – is realized in the rollicking “My Sweet Baby You”, as Richardson’s ragtime piano and Swift’s rich baritone combine for a number that reveals Swift’s far-ranging tastes and skill sets. A somewhat quirky end to a richly reflective and highly autobiographical release, it provides a clean break from the nine originals that precede it. And a bit of fun to cleanse the palate."
- Blues Revue, United States
- Blues Revue - United States

“…rich, textured songs.” - Socan Words & Music - Canada

"With a rich, diverse new album, Thom Swift stakes a reputation as of of Atlantic Canada's top musical talents. Often pigeonholed as a bluesman, Swift isn't really that easy to categorize. His musical styles run the gamut. And while many artists struggle to find their niche, he's embraced his musical diversity with his new album Blue Sky Day. "
- Halifax Magazine - Nova Scotia

“…Swift writes from a well-earned place of domestic contentment, tapping his folk, jazz, funk and blues chops for a dozen great tunes." - Penguin Eggs - Canada

“...his always-expressive vocals are at the forefront of his solo career every bit as important as his sophisticated guitar-playing...”
- Roots Music Canada

"...a world class singer/songwriter album.”
- The Daily Gleaner - New Brunswick