Growing up in rural places, I knew many farmers, gardeners and ranchers. A common through line between all these folks was the understanding that a person’s work only amounted to what nature, or more often, God, would allow that season. You might do everything right, from tilling to cultivating, but a wicked hurricane can come through to rip up your cotton and leave you humbled. But despite acts of God and nature, the farmer would be back out there prepping for the next season nine times out of ten.
Motel Radio’s The Garden embraces this mentality in its message and sound. It’s where pretty stoner rock meets folksy twang, creating a moody kaleidoscope of synths and pedals. There’s an apparent influence from indie superstar Tame Impala and, by extension, this creates a vaguely high-hippie vibe throughout the record. The influence is also evident in the home-studioesque fuzz of the production that feels incredibly clean and professional.
However, moments on this record become overwhelmingly bright and sunshiny, as its lyrics occasionally devolve into generic, feel-good platitudes. But poetry still abounds on this record, specifically on tracks like “Stress,” “Outta Sight” and “Always.” The latter track has some Phil Collins-type shit going with drums and synths heightened by vivid lyrics.
“Me and My Sunshine” stands out as the most melancholy track of the album, accurately describing the come-and-go of depression and the constant struggle it creates. The sympathetic verses accurately capture the experience but are let down by a lackluster chorus. A deeply layered bridge helps anchor the song, but the repeated refrain doesn’t hook. It does the opposite by letting ears wander out of the song like listening to TV static.
The Garden captures a positive mood with a vintage style that I think many can enjoy, but the album falls short lyrically in places. You can get into this record if you’re a fan of Esther Rose or The War on Drugs. Pretty, optimistic indie rock is a saturated field, but Motel Radio does it with class and care.
