Swearing At Motorists
Postcards From A Drinking Town (Collected Singles From ’96-’02)
Secretly Canadian [2011]
Emerging from the same lo-fi Dayton scene that produced Guided By Voices, Swearing At Motorists perfected the art of the quick hit. Until now, many of their minute-long gems were nearly impossible to track down. Postcards from a Drinking Town changes that, compiling 31 tracks from 7″ singles and compilation appearances that chart the band’s early evolution and relentless creativity.
The highlights come fast: standout covers like Great Plains’ “Letter to a Fanzine” and Guided By Voices’ blink-and-you’ll-miss-it “Volcano Divers,” along with the two songs from their split with Spoon. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find rarities like Stumble to the Zero Hour (2000), Tuesday’s Pretzel Night (1996), and the cassingle The Academy Award for Best Actress (1996).
What makes Postcards from a Drinking Town so fun is how it captures the band’s knack for squeezing melody, grit, and humor into 40-second bursts. It’s essential listening for longtime fans, but also a great entry point for newcomers looking to discover what makes Swearing At Motorists such an underrated force. More than just a collection, this one reminds you why it’s time for a new LP—here’s hoping 2011 brings it.
Key Tracks: “Before The Flood” / “Valentine’s Day Massacre” / “No More James Dean” / “Letter To Fanzine”
Artists With Similar Fire: The Replacements / Guided By Voices / 84 Nash
A lifelong fan of new music—spent the '90s working in a record store and producing alternative video shows. In the 2000s, that passion shifted online with blogging, diving headfirst into the indie scene and always on the lookout for the next great release. Still here, still listening, and still sharing the best of what’s new.
- Christopher Anthonyhttps://thefirenote.com/author/canthony/
- Christopher Anthonyhttps://thefirenote.com/author/canthony/
- Christopher Anthonyhttps://thefirenote.com/author/canthony/
- Christopher Anthonyhttps://thefirenote.com/author/canthony/
