Swearing at Motorists
Last Night Becomes This Morning
(Sonic Unyon)
They are called “the two-man Who” by some critics, but that description is a grave injustice to Dayton, Ohio’s Swearing at Motorists. This duo incorporates so much into its sound that it moves beyond the obvious early Who influence. There is power-pop all over the record, but there is also early Elvis Costello and Let it Be and Tim-era Replacements. It’s a magnificent disc recorded in halls, studios, hotel rooms, the tour van and a Berlin train station. Featuring 15 tracks in less than 30 minutes, it’s an audio narrative fit to stand alongside Henry Rollins’ Get in the Van. It is a chronicle of life on the road without pop success or recognition. This is amazing songwriting, worthy of the fame and success it has yet to receive.
—Trevor MacLaren
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
