Album Review: The Motel Life - We All Left Something Behind

The Motel Life are a unsigned Indie Rock band from Ontario, California. Their recent “We All Left Something Behind” EP was recorded with Dave Trautz at the world famous Wire venue in Upland, California.

"Good Morning" kicks off the EP with a pleasant guitar, a near tribal-like drum beat and distant harmonies. The short tracks kicks in the last 30 seconds before ending suddenly.

Light guitars start off the title track, which is a steady paced track with nice vocals from Michael Escanuelas. The track then steps up with Escanuelas's vocals straining and a fitting guitar solo.

"Presale" is a out and out rock song. It's fasted-paced and played tightly, whilst "Ghosts" sounds reminscent of Death Cab For Cutie or even, The Appleseed Cast, with it's charming guitar playing and calm vocals.

"So Strange" follows this idea, with it's slow beat and guitar, which to an extent takes over the vocals and nearly dominates the track. However with it's sweet melody, the track is a highlight of the EP.

"Hunting Soliders (Hunting Soliders)" is very much a Brand New (The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Of Me era) inspired song, with its queit verses and loud and straining chorus. "The Country Song" funnily enough has a country sounding guitar riff. Nevertheless the good blend of lead and background harmonies saves this track from becoming terrible. It even makes the track great.

The EP ends on an acoustic note with "I'll Find Another State". Just Escanuelas's vocals and an acoustic guitar before eventually being joined by group vocals and ending with Escanuelas's and a female vocals.

"We All Left Something Behind" is a pleasant and enjoyable EP. It showcases a band with mature heads on their shoulder and can write good songs and play tightly. Perhaps the only downfall of the record, is a lack of originalty on some songs. Nonetheless this band should not be ignored or critcised for sounding like those who's have inspired them. For a small-scale band like The Motel Life, "We All Left Something Behind" is a great record from a band with plenty of potential.

3/5

More information on The Motel Life can be found here.