Motel Motel :: New Denver

Drew Zackary, citizen of earth and Old Denver, fights sleep to jot down his thoughts on Motel Motel's debut LP, New Denver.

Sounds Like: New wave hipster psych- folk Americana with neither's existential terror or humor . . . and C-grade story-telling skills.

Recommended if You Like: Eunuchized Nick Cave, Squirrel Nut Zippers on Bezodiazepines and PBR, or open mic night for folk-lovin' hipsters . . . and sleeping.

Personal Reaction: Few bands practice and have visions of large orchestrations. And few bands of any experience level have such a grasp on what the arrangements should sound like recorded. This album is a great recording: great vocals, a keen understanding of the chordal structures of the lost traveling americana from the 20s, and a good mix of stringed intrumentation and other under-used instruments in rock. It's perfectly recorded and well thought out. Obviously made by people skilled in playing and passionate about making music they love.

Yet for the genre, it's sub-par. The exception is the excellent song "Tammy's Bodega", in which the protagonist sings, "you'll swim through menopause before you see me again". But there's something in his tone; the way he sings--you just feel like he's being cute. The song turns into a Who-esque breakdown with disco beats, which is fun, but not worth the price of admission. I felt like the lead singer was lying to me throughout the album. Did he have a broken heart? Was he telling me a story? Either way, one gets the impression he still has a trust fund at home and cold beer in the fridge backstage.

Band :: Motel Motel

Album :: New Denver

Song :: Tammy's Bodega

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