By Paul T. Mueller
In the Meantime, the first full-length effort from Texas-Tennessee mashup Motel Mirrors, finds its four musicians mining a sound that incorporates classic country and rockabilly. Bassist Amy LaVere and drummer Shawn Zorn form a solid but unobtrusive rhythm section, leaving guitarists Will Sexton (a longtime Austin mainstay who’s married to LaVere) and John Paul Keith, of Memphis, to carry the twangy melodies. It’s an appealing sound, well suited to the album’s 12 songs, which mostly focus on familiar themes like love, loss and betrayal. All but one were written by LaVere, Keith, Sexton or some combination; the trio also handles all the vocals, often in harmony.
As is often the case, the CD doesn’t quite capture the dynamism of the Motel Mirrors’ live show. That said, standout tracks include “Things I Learned,” LaVere’s ode to both independence and love; “Let Me Be Sweet to You,” Keith’s bouncy plea for a second chance; and “Funerals in New Orleans,” a sad country waltz that benefits from the steel guitar of guest Eric Lewis.
Motel Mirrors started out as a LaVere-Keith duo five years ago. Judging from In the Meantime, the current quartet has a promising future.