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Rating:
It's 1984 when in Seattle the Walkabouts are formed from the meeting of Chris Eckman and Carla Torgerson. In 1984, Seattle is experiencing the early stirrings that will soon lead to the birth of grunge. Everyone, without exception, dives headlong into this new musical genre. But not the Walkabouts, who instead focus on a vigorous and unsettling folk-rock, and at times also very melancholic.
"New West Motel" is released in 1993 after the mainstream success of bands like Nirvana and when the grunge scene for which Seattle was famous is starting to fade. "New West Motel" is the band's sixth album, the one marking their maturity. A forceful, aggressive start, but thanks to Carla Torgerson's voice also very dreamy, this is Jack Candy, just under 5 minutes of an energetic and vibrant folk style that hints at progressive. After the opening of Jack Candy, here comes Sundowner, an equally energetic track, but evidently very intense, with Torgerson's interpretation becoming more melancholic. Around two minutes and ten seconds, the increasingly pulsating bass compared to the first part amplifies this sense of melancholy to very high emotional levels. Grand theft, on the other hand, is an angry track where Eckman seems prey to unimaginable fury. Eckman and Torgerson, the two founders as well as vocalists of the band, take turns on the album, but in grand theft, we have for the first time a blending of their voices in the effective chorus, with Torgerson seemingly echoing the increasingly angry Eckman.
Break it down gently begins with arpeggios balancing between folk and alternative, and it's Eckman singing again, this time with a less assertive but effective tone. Your hope shines is perhaps the album's most beautiful moment, with Torgerson expressing herself at her best supported by a powerful bass line. It's worth noting the piece's excellent guitar arrangements and the skilled touch of the musicians, who maintain an impeccable sound clarity, especially on the drums. Murdering stone is a proper ballad where Eckman's voice warms, with Torgerson in a state of grace without overdoing it. It's sweet revenge's turn, with piercing arpeggios and a very vigorous attack. Despite it all, it's not a cheerful piece but rather hides a lot of melancholy. Glad nation's death song is perhaps the album's least impactful track, at times even seeming grunge. It's time for another beautiful ballad where Torgerson seems to penetrate us like a knife—the piece in question is long time here, culminating in a brief but intense guitar solo, heavy as a stone. Woondertown is the album's most folk piece, visibly moving, with Torgerson's extraordinary interpretation.
Drag this river is the last real burst of energy on the album, alongside the exciting snack mountain blues. Findlay's motel is a very tranquil ballad where Eckman's voice seems to linger in the air. The album closes with unholy dream; the last great ballad showcasing Torgerson, supported by an excellent piano piece that could easily be the soundtrack to the end of a love story.
In short, a must-have album.
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 Grand Theft Auto (05:41)
In this town
The blood will make you rich
Yeah, in this town
The blood will make you rich
In this town
I will do you one better
I'll change the truth
When I change the weather
In this town
The blood will make you rich
And when you're down
You can buy the Jesus pose
'Cause in this town
All roads lead to this
And when you're down
I will kill it again
I'll give ya something
To forget about him
In this town
All roads lead to this
And come tonight, yeah come tonight
We'll take a ride
And come tonight, yeah come tonight
We'll see the lights
You will lead and I will follow
You will lead me, down to the hollow
You will lead me down
Grand theft auto
You will lead me down
In this town
We have got the Midas touch
Yeah in this town
The gold will make you blush
Some of it's cooling
And some of it's glitters
All of it's cold
And it gives me the shivers
In this town we've got the Midas touch
And come tonight, yeah come tonight
We'll take a ride
And come tonight, yeah come tonight
We'll see the lights
You will lead and I will follow
You will lead me, down to the hollow
You will lead me down
Grand theft auto
You will lead me down
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