Hailing from Flint, Michigan, the Swellers are four average dudes who come from an environment in which upbringing is reflected in your attitude and getting out of dodge isn't as easy as it seems when high school finally ends. The working-class town was one of the focal points in the documentary film Bowling For Columbine Flashdance Roger and Me and for the Swellers' sophomore full-length (and Fueled by Ramen debut), Ups and Downsizing, is a coming-of-age record about everything going on in their own lives -- and seeing it all from the sidelines as well.
What is most charming about the album is its clearly stated identity and articulate lyrics that rely on telling a story about something we are all quite familiar with, but haven't heard before. After