Songs about war and religious faith were not exclusive to U2 in the '80s. Liverpool, England's the Wild Swans ventured into U2 territory on their 1988 debut album, Bringing Home the Ashes, while sustaining their distinctive sound. The haunting voice of Paul Simpson injects every track with emotional weight; whether he is trying to convey joy or sorrow, his icy baritone chills to the bone. His vocals combine Scott Walker's lonely croon with the brooding angst of Ian McNabb from fellow Liverpudlians the Icicle Works. Simpson's dramatic voice vividly illustrates the stories in his songs. Bringing Home the Ashes is about somebody coming of age, growing up in an age of war and trying to find comfort from God and love. The Wild Swans were never promoted as a Christian group, but Simpson's lyrics profess a profound devotion to his religious beliefs. In