Motorists: Surrounded (digital outlets)

 |   |  <1 min read

Motorists: Surrounded (digital outlets)

We known absolutely very little about this Toronto-based three-piece.

But after enduring the angst of Imagine Dragons ("I find myself in pieces, there are pills on the table" in the opener of their latest album) and a bunch of other artists whining about their lives or creating some fake image of themselves, there was something refreshing (if a bit early REM-familiar) about this band who open their debut with the title track about just getting out of the city and away from cars, creeps, bars, houses, nosey neighbours and so on.

But they don't moan about those things, just tick 'em off while they – Motorists after all – get in the car and drive away from it all. Then get away from the country, the commune . . .

Simple, huh?

Thereafter they serve up thoughts about social and emotional isolation but mostly sound like they're very happy to be playing in a band rather than bemoaning these trying times, and they deliver a dozen songs in fewer than 40 minutes. You do the maths.

Touches of motorik drums, the tautness of the Feelies/early Talking Heads and Nineties pop'n'jangle make this one of those absolutely non-essential albums you can simply enjoy for its small but easy delights.

.

You can hear this album on bandcamp here



Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

British Sea Power: Valhalla Dancehall (Rough Trade)

British Sea Power: Valhalla Dancehall (Rough Trade)

After their interesting digression into providing a soundtrack to the 1934 film Man of Aran by Robert J Flaherty (and letting that remarkable and bleak film find a new audience with the CD/DVD set)... > Read more

Artisan Guns: Coral (Warners)

Artisan Guns: Coral (Warners)

Unlike so many young bands who leap quickly onto record, this Auckland band (once described as "young" but now "mature" might better) have progressed slowly and steadily towards... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

THE BARGAIN BUY: Earth, Wind and Fire, The Box Set Series

THE BARGAIN BUY: Earth, Wind and Fire, The Box Set Series

It's easy to forget -- because you don't hear much about them anymore -- how huge Earth Wind and Fire were: 20 Grammy nominations; terrific albums that crossed over between funk, rock, dance and... > Read more

THE BARGAIN BUY: Willie Nelson, The Box Set Series

THE BARGAIN BUY: Willie Nelson, The Box Set Series

There's certainly no shortage of Willie Nelson compilations in the world, and the guy is still turning out albums . . . although his recent Band of Brothers is the first to contain mostly new songs... > Read more