Rainy Day Saints

Almost as wide-ranging as the bands Dave Swanson has played in are the instruments he's manned in said bands. The Cleveland rock lifer has made the rounds as a guitarist, bassist, and drummer for Death of Samantha, Cobra Verde, Speaker/Cranker, and the New Salem Witch Hunters, among others. On his latest project, he plays all three. And writes and sings. All remarkably well.

Saturday's Haze is the debut from Swanson's one-man band, an album of limber pop rock with vocals that seduce and guitars that slobber. It spans from growling psychedelia to a warm acoustic lilt: The title cut is a fleet fist-pumper that ranks among the most infectious rock songs of the year; the organ-inflected stomper "Lookout" is driven by Swanson's surprisingly heavy-handed drumming, which adds heft to the harmonies; the pretty, plaintive "Seems Impossible Somehow" would fit right into the Simon & Garfunkel canon. It's an album that'll have rockers wishing every day were Saturday.