• Artist: Jason Collett
• Flags: Lyrics are included with the album
• Rating:
• Styles: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country-Rock
• Track Picks: "Choke Cherry," "It Won't Be Long," "Little Clown"

Review

Toronto man about town Jason Collett unfolds his sleeve to reveal a happily bleeding heart on this collection of material from past releases (four of Motor Motel's tracks are culled from his 2001 release, Bitter Beauty). Collett's voice isn't mind-blowingly amazing, but it is brimming with warmth, and he has a cigar box full of stylistic implements with which to accompany it. Together with a gaggle of talented pals, he sells his material at a reasonable and honest price -- it's like a set of pleasantly this-or-that rockers on a late-night left-of-dial radio station. "Tiny Ocean of Tears" is glorious, jangly pop with double-tracked vocals and a splashy snare, while ballads like "Little Clown" and "Choke Cherry" drift in cigarette smoke and resonate with earthy, economical instrumentation. It's in these more moody moments that Collett really shines. "It Won't Be Long" -- his collaboration with Hawksley Workman -- is fragile with its vintage keys and strummed acoustic guitar. "You can tell yourself it's nothing serious," Collett sings in your ear. "But you're in love." And yet, his weary words could be cutting through the hushed air of a bedroom still charged with the afterimages and realizations of a three-hour fight. These whoop-de-dos of emotion keep Collett's straightforward style consistently interesting. Sure, "Gabe" and "Lucky Star" are a bit like throwaways -- the former is vacant in that Pete Yorn sort of way, while the latter is an easygoing jam, like a spontaneous cover of "Dead Flowers." But they shimmer and shimmy respectively, and feature great guest work from Toronto locals like Andrew Cash, Mia Sheard, and Kersti McLeod, and Patrick Gilmour of Ruby Drake. In the end, Motor Motel Love Songs is as graceful as the fading light of day, and as comfortable as the predictable old creaks of a trusted pickup truck. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Bitter Beauty		Jason Collett	Jason Collett	(3:39)
Little Clown		Jason Collett	Jason Collett	(3:24)
Tiny Ocean of Tears			Jason Collett	(2:31)
It Won't Be Long			Jason Collett	(3:21)
Gabe		Jason Collett	Jason Collett	(3:39)
Choke Cherry			Jason Collett	(3:20)
Honey I Don't Know		Jason Collett	Jason Collett	(2:48)
Lucky Star			Jason Collett	(2:38)
All I've Ever Known			Jason Collett	(2:52)
Airport			Jason Collett	(3:07)
Blue Sky		Jason Collett	Jason Collett	(3:27)
Stormy Woman Salty Girl			Jason Collett	(3:06)
Motor Motel Love Song	...		Jason Collett	(3:38)

Credits

Andrew Cash (Guitar (Electric)), Andrew Cash (Vocals), Andrew Cash (Producer), Andrew Cash (Casio), Patrick S. Gilmore (Vocals), Peter Chapman (Piano), Mia Sheard (Vocals), Henry Kucharzyk (Strings), Henry Kucharzyk (Glockenspiel), Lenni Jabour (Piano), Lenni Jabour (Harmonium), Todd Lumley (Organ), Brett Zilahi (Mastering), Kevin Fox (Cello), Catherine Stockhausen (Photography), Daryl Smith (Bass), Daryl Smith (Engineer), Daryl Smith (Mixing), Howie Beck (Drums), Howie Beck (Tambourine), Howie Beck (Producer), Howie Beck (Engineer), Hawksley Workman (Piano), Hawksley Workman (Drums), Hawksley Workman (Guitar (Electric)), Hawksley Workman (Producer), Hawksley Workman (Engineer), Paul Taylor (Bass), Gavin Brown (Drums), Brendan Canning (Organ), Jason Collett (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jason Collett (Bass), Jason Collett (Piano), Jason Collett (Vocals), Burke Carroll (Pedal Steel), Leslie Feist (Vocals), Denis Telmen Bradette (Photography), Josh Hicks (Drums), Kersti McLeod (Vocals), Louise Upperton (Design), Louise Upperton (Layout Design), Chris Staig (Guitar (Electric))

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