The Motel Life – We All Left Something Behind

Band breakups are always hard for band mates and fans alike. A countless number of my favorite bands (including the ones that went on “hiatus”) have disbanded, leaving me with a feeling of loss. How can a band break up when their music was so great? After mourning the deaths of these bands, however, great things start to happen. Musicians and sometimes former band mates regroup, grow and write music again. This is the process that The Motel Life has gone through and because of this shows a lot of strength on their debut EP We All Left Something Behind.

Originating from California, The Motel Life creates alternative pop. But it’s nothing like what the snobs at Pitchfork would listen to (even though the title track sounds like it could be part of The Shins catalog) but rather what the folks at Alternative Press would recommend. This is partly because We All Left Something Behind is understandably in the middle ground between where Michael Escanuelas, Judcody Limon, Nick Camancho, Anthony Lujan and Al Hernandez came from and where they are moving towards. Their sound is definitely more grown up than the other similar bands on the scene right now, but still maintains a certain youthful vitality.

With all that taken care of, “Hunting Soldiers (Soldiers Hunting)” is one of the strongest songs primarily for its dark intensity and catchiness. Escanuelas’ vulnerability and anger while shouting “I never did/I never did a thing wrong” during the chorus is chilling. Lujan’s bass line couldn’t have been a more perfect foundation either. “I’ll Find Myself Another State” is an enjoyable poppy song with call and response lyrics and a bouncy feel. There’s also a guest appearance of a mysterious female singer that adds an interesting level to the song.

The Motel Life has a solid start on this EP. As a new band with more experiences, growing talent and new creative ideas, let’s hope that they will continue to grow and write great music. Let’s also hope for that full length to come out soon too!