Motel Creeps

Item: Pleasantries in the Parlor
Author: Luke Kruse

Pleasantries in the Parlor

(2004)

Reviewed by Luke Kruse

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Label independentDecapolisNovember 2004

indie rock new wave post-punk

I'll get the negatives out of the way first. The Motel Creeps come across as a bit of a poor man's Interpol. They are a New York City band. They cite Joy Division as a major influence. The lead singer's voice is deep and brooding. The guitars swirl and slide. The drums have a distinct 80's feel. Interpol is currently doing the exact same thing, and doing it better.

Another problem with their debut EP, Pleasantries in the Parlor, is that being only seventeen minutes, the disc never really has a chance to find itself. The songs are all quite a bit different from each other, and a true musical ambiance is never found.

However, that is not to say that the Motel Creeps have nothing to offer on Pleasantries in the Parlor. Pleasantries is an enjoyable listen. There are four songs of well-crafted 80's influenced rock that would be perfect for a late night drive home on a winter night. They are moody without being overbearing, and the guitar work is quite sophisticated.

I really, really find the first track, "Moon Boots," to be a fabulous song. The beautiful guitar work matches up perfectly with the dark, crooning vocals singing, "I will dance away with you, aimlessly, without form. And I will remember you, even when these bones are gone." The next song, "City Girl," unfortunately missteps into an unfortunate mix between 80's pop and a mid 90's alternative rock power ballad. The third track, "Gun for Hire," is average at best. "Ocean Storm" returns the Motel Creeps to fine form.

I would be interested to see how this band would fare on a full-length album. The strong songwriting elements are there, but the band needs to find its own voice. They just formed in April 2004, so it is no surprise that this is the case. If you just cannot get enough of bands like Interpol, go ahead and get Pleasantries in the Parlor, if only for the song "Moon Boots." Otherwise, wait for their full length to see if the good things hinted at on this EP can be delivered without some of the missteps.

2.5/4