New West Motel Explained

New West Motel
Type:	studio
Artist:	The Walkabouts
Cover:	New West Motel.jpg
Released:	1993
Genre:	Alternative rock, alternative country
Label:	Sub Pop
Producer:	Ed Brooks, The Walkabouts
Prev Title:	Scavenger
Prev Year:	1991
Next Title:	Satisfied Mind
Next Year:	1993

New West Motel is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band The Walkabouts. It was released in 1993 on Sub Pop Records.^[1] It is a double album, where all songs are credited to Chris Eckman or/and The Walkabouts except for a cover of Texan cult musician Townes Van Zandt's "Snake Mountain Blues".

Critical reception

Jason Ankeny writing in a positive review for AllMusic said that it features "edgy juxtaposition of blistering guitar workouts and plaintive acoustic cuts."

Track listing

All songs written by The Walkabouts, except where noted. All lyrics written by Chris Eckman, except where noted.

1. "Jack Candy" – 4:41
2. "Sundowner" – 3:38
3. "Grand Theft Auto" – 5:41
4. "Break It Down Gently" – 3:36
5. "Your Hope Shines" – 4:14
6. "Murdering Stone" – 3:18
7. "Sweet Revenge" – 5:44
8. "Glad Nation's Death Song" – 4:21
9. "Long Time Here" – 4:19
10. "Wondertown (Part One)" – 1:23
11. "Drag This River" – 4:02
12. "Snake Mountain Blues" (Townes Van Zandt) – 5:47
13. "Findlay's Motel" (string arrangement by Mark Nichols) – 6:36
14. "Unholy Dreams" – 5:21

The album was produced during November and December 1992. It was engineered at Clearwater Productions, Gig Harbor, Washington and Bad Animals Seattle, Washington.

Personnel

The Walkabouts

• Terri Moeller – drums, percussions, backup vocals
• Bruce Wirth – violin, lap steel guitar, mandolin, vibes
• Glenn Slater – piano, organ, noises, accordion
• Michael Wells – bass, harmonica
• Carla Torgerson – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, percussion
• Chris Eckman – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars

Bravura String Quartetstrings on "Findlay's Motel"

• Steven Toda – violin
• Dave Beck – cello
• Gregg Rice – violin
• Sam Williams – viola

King Jesus Disciples

vocals on "Your Hopes Shines"

• Roosevelt Franklin
• Johnny Gray
• James Young

Additional musicians

• Mark Nichols – conducting of the string arrangement on "Findlay's Motel"

Technical

• The Walkabouts – production
• Ed Brooks – production, engineering
• Kevin Suggs – assistant engineering
• Joe York – assistant engineering
• Jim Haviland – chief technical advisor
• Tony Kroes – pre-production for Second Nature Productions
• Gary Smith – pre-production for Fort Apache
• Paul Kolderie – pre-production for Fort Apache
• John Saba – guitar technician for Stephens Stringed Instruments
• Michael Taponga – drum technician

Design

• Ben Thompson – cover design, cover painting (digital)
• Tony Kroegs – cover painting (analog), band photo
• Kevin Gibson – band photo, shot at the Five-O Tavern.

Release history

Source! Region! Date! Label! Format! Catalog

Germany	1993	Sub Pop Records	2xLP	SP 81/252
			CD	SPCD 81/252, RS-CMD028^[2]
	February 19, 1993	Glitterhouse Records		GRCD 252^[3]
United States	1993	Creativeman Disc		CMD-028
Greece	1999	ΠΟΠ + POK (Magazine)		GRCD 252

Notes and References

1. The Walkabouts at Discogs
2. Web site: Sub Pop, The Walkabouts, New West Motel . 2012-11-13. Sub Pop Records.
3. Web site: Glitterhouse, The Walkabouts, New West Motel. 2012-11-13. Glitterhouse Records.