The Swell Season

The Swell Season is a soft-spoken duo made up of Irishman Glen Hansard and his considerably younger, Czech-born ex-girlfriend, Markéta Irglová, both of whom also starred in the hit film Once. With the release of last year's Strict Joy, The Swell Season attempted to go from movie band to feel-good one-hit wonder to full-fledged franchise. But they were wise about it; perhaps recognizing the limitations of a boy-girl duo, Hansard invited his other band, The Frames, to back him and Irglová in the studio and help expand their sound. The pair has been mostly quiet this year, but recently stepped out of the shadows to issue a download-only cover of Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free," whittling away at the disco-soul hit to heighten the song's inspirational message in an acoustic, more delicate setting.

Updated 06/28/2010