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by Craig Hartranft, 11.28.2011
Rising from Oklahoma via Arizona is Motortrain with their American plains brand of hard rock. Begin with a foundation of classic rock, add ingredients like AC/DC, Supersuckers, or Nashville Pussy, and then season it with tasty, yet subtle, flavors of blues and southern rock, and you'll get the sound of their debut EP Straight Six.
Above, Motortrain: cowboy hats optional, beer not so much.
This short six song album offers some heavy and sweaty barroom rockers, most everyone filled with melody, hooks, and slick guitar work. You can probably take a pass on the opener namesake song as it's merely heavy and rumbling. Motortrain hits their groove with Backyard Brawler, a raucous little number. Bombs Away seems slightly mild compared to the others. The final three, however, She's Hot, Bad Girls, and Goin Goin Gone, can have you tapping your toes and smashing beer cans on your forehead. That latter tune is likely the best with it's strong southern feel.
From the start, Motortrain's intent was a minimal production, only two guitars, bass, and drums, and no studio theatrics. On the positive side, this gives the entire EP a raw, handmade edge. On the downside, the album also sounds strangely muffled as though weighted down by a fog. Nevertheless, if your like your hard rock heavy, rowdy, and catchy, Motortrain has your groove. Recommended.
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If your like your hard rock heavy, rowdy, and catchy, Motortrain has your groove. Recommended.
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