Though Scrawl still sounds ragged and tentative in the studio, He’s Drunk is much better than their debut, with across-the-board improvement. The band sounds more comfortable with each other and the first instances of the band’s knack for committing catchy folk-punk to tape peek through (“Green Beer,” “Breaker Breaker”). Rough production cramps some of the tunefulness, but it’s not as demo-sounding as their previous LP. One of Scrawl’s distinct features over bands of their time was their ability to handle familial relationships and friendship issues without sounding dopey; “For Your Sister” is one such example. A cover of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant’s “Rocky Top” lends a bit of cowpunk edge, and a rare occasion where Scrawl show their sense of humor (also see their Paula Abdul homage on Bloodsucker) looms on a version of “Let it All Hang Out”: “Black clothes, white white tan/ That’s the way I catch my man, uh huh.” – Andy Kellman