2 out of 5

Label: single track, bandcamp download

Producer: Dave Doughman

Hwaaa so like okey half of any given Swearing At Motorists album are songs that sound like sketches, or just Doughman singin’ about girls off of a catchy riff, but these moments are generally bolstered by such sweet pop-rock moments in between that it works.  I shouldn’t really be questioning a free track release, and Dave even puts on the page: “heard this in a dream last night, woke up and recorded this demo version as fast as i could” so… we’re admitting to it being just a shadow of a song.  But you know how there are those stories of Kurt Cobain strumming Teen Spirit (or whatever song) on an out of tune, shitty guitar and it still sounded like magic to whichever magician told that tale?  Yeah.  Even those sketches on SAM albums generally hint at something that then pops up more fleshed out later on, but some are just sorta ideas, throwaway tracks.  And St. Pauli feels that way to me.  The recording is nice b/c its so raw (unless that background noise was mixed in, or maybe this was a re-recorded song, who knows), and I do honestly appreciate an artist who’s just willing to share his ideas.  So, uh, appreciate my damnation of them.  Woop woop!