Swimmer - Surreal | 90s Rock Revisited

It’s the final winter of the 20th century. “My Name Is” by Eminem is climbing the charts, “Fight Club” is about to make us all question the IKEA nesting instinct, and the alt-rock scene is transforming. Maverick Records, Madonna’s eclectic record label known for artists like Alanis Morissette and Deftones, is signing unconventional acts with big ambitions. Enter Swimmer and their debut (and only) album, Surreal. It’s a record as enigmatic as the band’s frontman, Anday McCarron, who disappeared as quickly as he arrived, leaving an album that’s the equivalent of a hidden mixtape from your most eclectic friend.

But what made Surreal worthy of a bidding war among 11 record labels? What pulled bands like Fuel into their orbit only for audiences to scratch their heads at their glam-rock-meets-alt-experimentation?

The Maverick Magic—and Misstep

Swimmer embodied contradiction. Formed in 1998 in New York, the band quickly caught the attention of industry bigwigs and aligned themselves with Maverick Records’ alt-glam ethos. They weren’t grunge revivalists or radio-friendly arena rockers. Instead, Surreal straddled influences: dreamy shoegaze, glam theatrics à la Spacehog, and emotional alt-rock akin to Our Lady Peace or even Muse’s earliest days. But their look—glamorous, art-rock personas straight from a surrealist dream—left audiences confused when they opened for post-grunge heavyweights Fuel.

McCarron, with his falsetto quirks and dramatic flair, wasn’t interested in blending in. And it cost them. Touring fizzled. Maverick moved on. Yet, Surreal still has its defenders, especially those who stumbled upon promo copies in record-store bargain bins.

Surreal: Drama in Layers

The album itself is a slow burner. It opens softly but grows into a sweeping symphony of delayed guitar effects, thundering bass lines, and choruses designed to gut-punch listeners with McCarron’s soaring vocals. It’s an emotional rollercoaster: songs like “Because Today” deliver loud-quiet-loud dynamics that tap into raw vulnerability. Tracks like “Kicked in the Head” flirt with shoegaze and post-rock textures but stop just shy of genre commitment, keeping the band’s identity enigmatic.

Yet, Swimmer didn’t play it entirely safe. “Dirty Word,” the lead single, is an odd choice for 1999’s modern rock radio climate, but it grooves with understated hooks that hint at potential pop crossover appeal. What Swimmer lacked in polish, they made up for in drama and emotional conviction. It’s no wonder fans who clicked with the record back in 1999 still call it a worthy listen today.

A Band Out of Time

Swimmer’s fall was inevitable: too glam for the late-90s post-grunge crowd, too alt for mainstream radio, and lacking the grit to resonate with heavier Maverick peers like Candlebox. Despite this, Swimmer’s Surreal feels ahead of its time, embracing the kind of lush experimentation that would later define bands like Keane or Coldplay in the early 2000s.

And then there’s the ultimate mystery: Where did McCarron go? The band’s enigmatic leader vanished into obscurity, leaving no Discogs credits or LinkedIn trails. In a way, his story mirrors the record itself: fleeting, enigmatic, and stubbornly outside the mainstream.

Revisit the Mystery of Surreal

Whether you’ve owned Surreal since 1999 or just heard of Swimmer for the first time, this is a band worth rediscovering. It’s the kind of album that rewards patience—big choruses, surprising arrangements, and plenty of heart for listeners willing to sit with its quirks.

Ready to dive deeper? Hit play on the podcast on the top of this page to hear our full breakdown of Surreal, complete with listener reactions, forgotten stories, and the ultimate question: is Surreal a worthy album?

Songs in this Episode

• Intro - Playing Jesus

• 19:12 - Dumb

• 21:12 - Because Today

• 30:11 - Kick In The Head

• 34:59 - Spaced Out Hat

• 42:50 - Dirty Word

• Outro - Surreal

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