A few years ago, New Motels released what amounted to a tease, a 5-song EP called “Domestic Life” that stood up just fine on its own but hinted at greater things to come. Those better days have arrived in the form of “Tilbury Sweat,” the group’s full-length debut that showcases a band that’s built upon the foundation of its early ramshackle sound to create a deep, fully fleshed-out collection of songs that should place New Motels on the A-list of the Philadelphia indie-rock scene.
Josh Levandoski, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, leads the guitar-jangle band through songs like opener “All-Pervading Plagarist,” where he sings in an almost Dylan-esque delivery. New Motels follow with “(My) My Radio,” mixing in some whimsical and playful sounds a la The Spinto Band, and it’s undeniably catchy stuff — and the same can be said for all 10 tracks.
“Raised By A Riot” is made up of layered guitars — aggressively strummed electric with an overlay of acoustic — and “Sienna (got it right)” is a classic pop tune with some sleigh bells for added texture. The album tends to get better as it unfurls thanks to later tracks like “Tudor Rebel,” “High On The Record” and “Miss Juanita.” “Tudor Rebel” is one of the record’s best, bopping along wistfully and at a zippy pace, while “High On The Record” is a country-rock swinger with tandem lead vocals. “Miss Juanita” is a particularly up-tempo tune and, from a melodic standpoint, the most melodically infectious “Tilbury Sweat” selection.
Recording with Bill Moriarty (Man Man, Dr. Dog, Hoots & Hellmouth, Drink Up Buttercup) was a wise move, not because of his track record but because he has honed and accentuated the New Motels sound, which is somewhere between Spoon and Pavement but with a lot more unbridled classic-rock joy. Whether any of those names used for comparison’s sake mean anything to you, however, is beside the point. Simply put, it’s a spectacular album.
Rating: W W W W W
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