With two records under its belt, The Western States Motel has established that it can consistently deliver memorable tunes, as well as a vibe that is somehow both deadpan and spry.  Songwriter Car Jordan creates musical landscapes that sparkle, but it's a dry sparkle.    He's a truly fine songwriter with a real gift for melody.

The standout track for this session, for me, was Trans Am, off of their just-released EP.  The version they played for us has more driving energy to it than the one on the record.  In general, fans of the music of Grandaddy or The Shins should love this band.