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MusicI, Swinger

Combustible Edison – I, Swinger cover

Lounge · 1994

I, Swinger

Combustible Edison

Cocktail hour

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Why it belongs in a home tiki bar

Spy-movie jazz plus tiki pastiche, aimed at people who already like a crafted drink. The closing “Theme From 'The Tiki Wonder Hour'” is on-the-nose in a useful way.

History

Providence musicians Michael “The Millionaire” Cudahy and Liz “Miss Lily Banquette” Cox built Combustible Edison out of a 1991 stage show, The Tiki Wonder Hour, first performed with a large orchestra that later slimmed to a five-piece. Sub Pop issued the debut I, Swinger on March 1, 1994 (SP244).

The CD booklet printed cocktail recipes — including the Combustible Edison cocktail — and hep liner notes. Critics heard faithful mid-century lounge and Denny-style exotica aimed at people who already liked a crafted drink, not irony-only swing pastiche. The band closed the album with “Theme From 'The Tiki Wonder Hour.'”

Along with other mid-’90s lounge acts, they helped put exotica and cocktail culture back on college radio and indie shelves. Later Sub Pop albums and the Four Rooms soundtrack followed; for a home bar, I, Swinger is still the on-the-nose revival starter.

Spotlight track

Theme From 'The Tiki Wonder Hour'

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