Buzz: Elliott's debut LP hailed "new and noteworthy" by iTunes

Travis Elliott's Swandive is featured prominently on the bottom right of iTunes' "New and Noteworthy" rock section.
ITUNES

"I'm using these songs as coping mechanisms for various relationships I've had–- it's a hell of an outlet," explains local singer-songwriter Travis Elliott of his recently released album, Swandive. Apparently someone agrees with him–- his sultry, emotional full-length debut snagged a spot on the "New and Noteworthy" list in the iTunes "Rock" store on Monday, July 19.

"I'm very happy for Travis," says Swandive producer and local musician Lance Brenner. "It's nice to see a good record getting some of the attention it deserves."

The seven-track album is featured alongside 25 other "noteworthy" albums by the likes of Jefferson Airplane, Judas Priest, and Alice Cooper–- yet it isn't the first buzzworthy release Elliott has put out. His premiere five-track, self-titled EP stirred up local acclaim when released in 2004; critics hailed his raw, expressive songwriting and expansive instrumentation, and Elliott became a fixture in the local acoustic music scene. As a "full expression" of the ups and eventual downs of an emotional relationship, Elliot says, Swandive evolves those characteristics, which he believes helped the album gain such prominent iTunes real estate.

"It's definitely an honor," he says. "The fact that it's up there is really, really cool."