the fear of low flying clouds review

review taken from cmj

Dayton, Ohio's Swearing At Motorists is yet another angst-ridden, bedroom rock band, but, fortunately, its bedroom exudes a genuinely homey charm, rather than a contrived sense of intimacy. Guitarist Dave Doughman's passion and earnestness — not to mention his casual, yet melodically appealing vocals — elevate him to a cut above legions of similarly minded, post-GBV indie boys from Middle America. Paired with drummer Don Thrasher, Doughman throws a few fully-formed, solid tunes in amidst Low Flying Clouds' dog-eared four-track experiments and insular vocal-and-guitar performances. The overall effect is a tad unsettling, a tad romantic, but generally pleasant. Should Doughman and Thrasher take that next logical step and choose to record in a fleshed-out setting capable of further elucidating their natural songwriting talents, they might churn out something consistently remarkable.

Doughman's diverse and clever lyrics are revealed on songs such as "Reluctant Pilgrim" and "Foolish Mortal," whereas his inclination toward jangly, raw guitars and stop-start chord changes shows up on "Nice Guys Last Finish" and "Bars Close" (an alternate version of a Tuesdays Pretzel Night song).. The opening, and most powerful lines of the album set a melancholy tone. Haunting guitar notes echo over Dave's soft voice in the background of "Declaration of Co-Dependence" as he sings, "And like ice it will melt before it breaks, it's too late I'm affected/Blindly wager without knowing the stakes, as if fate had selected."

Swearing at Motorists also do justice to Beck's One Foot in the Grave ditty "I Get Lonesome," somehow managing to sound even more lonesome than the original. Without a doubt, though, the gem of Fear is "Sometimes Better Than Others," a song with the most beautifully depressing melodies and soft guitars this side of Nick Drake and Red House Painters.

The Fear of Low Flying Clouds is a close, condensed view of Doughman and Thrasher's world. The vocals and instruments on this album are so analog-warm you might think the band is in the next room.

John Wenzel

discography | reviews | lyrics

for questions or comments contact: webmaster@swearingatmotorists.com