MOTORPSYCHO

You know, I didn't expect them to release a new album this early in the year, since usually it happens much later. That said, who cannot complain about a new Motorpsycho release? It's basically tradition at this point. Last year with Neigh!!, I felt like that album was likable, but certainly a step down from what the band had made prior. However, I was still cautiously optimistic when it came down to their next album. Keyword cautious, cause I didn't quite know if they'll double down on what they had on Neigh!!, or go to richer endeavors. Oh boy how glad I was when this dropped, because along with it came my caution crumbling down into just pure optimism.

Motorpsycho's...Motorpsycho (It feels weird to say the band's name twice when the album is named after themselves) is probably their first big BIG release in a long while, since The All Is One. Big, as in a masterpiece! Been a hot minute since Motorpsycho made peak like this again, and boy howdy is it incredible!

Despite having a career spanning over 34 years, they still manage to make some very original music, and honestly this record feels like a manifesto of all their great moments bundled into one package.

For example, you get some really fun and trippy psych rock tunes with tracks like Laird Of Heimly and Dead Of Winter. Motorpsycho's psych rock movements are always really strong no matter the album, and this recent endeavor is no exception. Y'all know how much I love those psych rock/pop tunes they made during their more extensive psychedelic workouts in their albums from the early 2000s, and the psychedelic tracks off this record are like a modern example of what they had done during those days.

Honestly, shoutout to Stanley (Tonight's the Night) especially, cause that song has a structure that gives me Go To California vibes. Obviously a lot shorter, but that guitar solo at the end felt very much like something that could come from Phanerothyme.

Though, the real treat here is the progressive rock. While on the Neigh!! review, I did say that I didn't really jive with the band stepping back into more proggy familiar grounds, I do think them doing it on here is a lot more acceptable, mostly because, well, it sounds fresh! Whenever I listen to songs like The Comeback, or Three Frightened Monkeys, my mind wonders how they can still manage to push the progressive rock envelope to new heights. The prog songs honestly sound like a mix between the harder edges of The Crucible or Heavy Metal Fruit, with some of the more jammy sides of Little Lucid Moments and Still Life With Eggplant.

Oh yeah, speaking of jams, this record has a prog epic! Been a bit since we've seen a proper 20 minute Motorpsycho score. Neotzar (The Second Coming) is just superb honestly, certainly a highlight for me and for most people as well. I mean, they never really missed on an epic, aside from that one time with Jaga Jazzists, but even still who cannot complain about a properly amazing Motorpsycho jam? It's creepy, it's weird, but I think Neotzar is one of the best tracks Motorpsycho has made in a long while.

Honestly all the long songs here are highlights for me. Lucifer Bringer of Light is such a good opening, especially how the band implemented more krautrock grooves into it. Gave me some really strong Amon Düül II vibes, which I think is always appreciated. Cannot go wrong with some good ol' psychedelic infused repetition.

But also, one of the real top of the line songs on here has to be Balthazaar. When I first heard it, specifically the intro with that crunchy, almost video game-esque tune at the start, I already knew that we were so back. I am listening to the song right now as a matter of fact, and it still hits as hard as it did when I heard it the first time. I can already tell that I will listen to this track more times than I can count this year. It's just too good honestly, almost addicting.

However, I think one of the strongest highlights, in fact maybe it is the strongest, is Kip Satie. Now, you may be asking, why Kip Satie? Well, while it's certainly not my favorite track on here, hell I'd say it and Bed of Roses are the weakest here, it was the track that made me realize something...no matter what Motorpsycho will still be Motorpsycho.

Now that may sound obvious, but hear me out. While it's true that pretty much every band under the sun changes things up every once and a while, maybe every new album if you're lucky, I find that Motorpsycho still always felt like themselves even with lineup and musical changes.

Even if they make long winded prog rock jams, they're still Motorpsycho.

Even if they make live albums that have excessive noise complaints, they're still Motorpsycho.

Even if they make ambient albums for imaginary films, they're still Motorpsycho.

Even if they do country covers of their own songs, they're still Motorpsycho.

Even if they do hardcore and sludgy grunge music. They're. Still. MOTORPSYCHO.

That is why I think this record is simply called Motorpsycho. Motorpsycho will forever be Motorpsycho. Whether it be on Lobotomizer, or here and now, Motorpsycho will always be Motorpsycho. They're a band that infinitely changes, like a butterfly that has phoenix mechanics. No matter the album, no matter the song, no matter the momentum, Motorpsycho will still make songs that FEEL like Motorpsycho, because they are Motorpsycho.

I suppose Motorpsycho, with Motorpsycho, is Motorpsycho. All as one, as it should be. Anyways yeah this album is pretty good you should check it out or something.

Best tracks: Lucifer Bringer of Light, Stanley (Tonight's the Night), The Comeback, Bathahaazar, Neotzar (The Second Coming), Three Frightened Monkeys

"Worst" tracks (but they're still pretty good): Kip Satie, Bed of Roses

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