My Amazon Reviews: The Motels "Shock"

Going Into Shock
3 Out Of 5 Stars

The final Motels album of the 80's was also their slickest. There were still plenty of great songs and Martha Davis' amazing voice. But "Shock" is also loaded up with drum-machines and very dated sounding synths. There's very little organic sounding to the album. That doesn't mean the songs are forgettable, there are a few that rank with the band's best. The top 40 single "Shame," the dance ready title track, and "Icy Red," which could have given the late 80's Heart a run for their money. But for my money, Martha's solo album, "Policy," was a better album.

Now onto the reissue itself. Culture Factory is doing a service by getting many of these out of print albums back onto the market. But like so many of the reissues of older albums, they lift the volume well past what it needed to be. They did the same to The Romantics' debut. I don't find the volume to be anywhere near the tragedy a few of the other reviewers here have noted. If you were never able to procure a copy of this in its limited release long ago, or the BGO release, this version of "Shock" will do just fine. Get it before it goes out of print, too.