Daddy’s Beemer – Pucker EP (Review)

The new Pucker EP from Daddy’s Beemer starts from a familiar place for anyone who enjoyed the first EP. It’s that slacker rock, late to work and a little too high vibe where Daddy’s Beemer has found their home. They’ve decorated the place with an upbeat tempo, bouncing guitars, loose vocals, and a few holes in the walls. It’s not clean, but it’s comfortable and it feels good.

Pucker does come with an evolved sound, though. Aside from the addition of a violin (great addition) to several of these songs, the band has also tackled some more grown-up themes here. It seems to me like Daddy’s Beemer had to get that first EP out of their system before they were ready to make this one. Where the first EP relies heavily on themes of drugs and partying, Pucker picks up in the aftermath of a long night spent diving too far into self-indulgence.

If you’ve ever woken up in the morning, looked at yourself in the mirror, and thought that you’ve really gone too far this time, then Pucker is for you. When you’re digging through the hungover mess of your 8am persona and trying to find the qualities that you value in yourself, trying to figure out the things that someone might love you for, splashing water on your face and trying to get the demons to quiet down before you start your day, you’ve found yourself in a Pucker song.

These are songs about failing relationships where it’s completely your own fault and you know it. They’re songs about a lack of self-control, too much drinking, and being unable to accept yourself for who you are. It’s about trying to grow up but not being able to push through your own mental barriers. So what else is there to do? Fuck it, get me a beer.

Now I’m not saying Pucker is inherently a dark album, but it definitely shows more of the dark side of making thoughtless decisions and acting on impulse. It’s still got that fun-loving energy that we’ve come to expect from Daddy’s Beemer, the same energy that makes their first EP one of the best to come out of South Carolina in 2017, but with Pucker they’ve decided to mix a greater sense of self-awareness into their musical cocktail.

What I’m saying is you should listen to Pucker because it’s an excellent EP from one of South Carolina’s best up-and-coming bands. Stream it below and go see Daddy’s Beemer live the next time they’re in town. You won’t regret it.