Album Review: Gold Motel - Gold Motel

Album Rating: C+

Pop acts are held to the expectation that an enormous hook makes a song, and to a point, that expectation is very valid. Songs need to "go somewhere." Post-rock has its climaxes, metalcore has its breakdowns, and pop music has its choruses. A song needs to end up somewhere, and that conclusion is usually what satisfies the listener. Gold Motel's self titled album is a showcase of the instrumental talents of the individual members, but the songs never seem to explode into anything that will implant itself in a listener's mind.

Show Review - Hellogoodbye Headlining Tour 2/7/11

I was able to go to the Vienna, Virginia show of Hellogoodbye's headlining tour with support from Gold Motel, Now, Now, and You, Me, And Everyone We Know. At a venue that holds no more than 200 people, there was no doubt that I desperately needed to go to this show. Along with the two interviews I conducted with You, Me, And Everyone We Know and Hellogoodbye, the show was an absolute blast. Every band was great in their own way, and the show was definitely one of the best I've been at.