Skytop Motel – No Vacancy – Mad Indie Media

Skytop Motel a harmonious three-piece from the beautiful & distinguished, historic town of Rockaway NJ have released their debut album, “No Vacancy”. This album features great tracks including a few that were previously released as singles; such as the opening track Surfer Suite as well as their tracks Old Man & most recently release Princess. Skytop Motel has been on the radar here at Mad Indie Media with the editors since releasing a demo track which would later become their track In Stone appearing on their self-titled EP released in 2018.

Something about this band’s sound is so unique in their way of blending vocal harmonies in a warm & classic way similar to the timbre of The Beach Boys yet they include intricate vocal trill in a Brendon Urie type style meshed with contemporary indie stylings is fresh and invigorating. This album is full of complex vocal warbles, unique and variated drum patterns, interesting guitar tones & bright vibrant bass. The vibe of this album varies throughout there are many mellow songs but there are some songs that surprise the listener with Skytop Motel offering a more aggressive sound in addition to their dreamy indie-pop base. 

The album starts us off with 2 familiar tracks previously released singles Surfer Suite & Old Man 2 phenomenal compositions and a strong start to this 10-track album. Surfer Suite which was released Aug. 2019 has an upbeat beachy vibe and Old Man released in (CW – the month it all went to shit) Mar. 2020, is a more subdued, chill, and relaxed song.

The third track is an interesting break from the reverie with a waltz song that is vastly different than the first 2 tracks. Or so we think, the second verse of the song while maintaining the waltz temp breaks out into a boppy, danceable chorus with interesting bass leads the song moves forward into an intriguing instrumental interlude. The band teased the album release by putting out this track earlier this week.  

Vacancy is an interesting shift from the sound one may come to expect to hear from this band. This track is very upbeat and offers power-pop vibes, much like that of a Weezer song. Ascending sustained vocals ring out over vibrant and powerful drum and bass sprinkled with clean palm-muted guitar riff. There’s an experimental bit that includes a pretty freaky sounding laugh which is unique because although many Skytop Motel songs include interludes none quite push the “weird” boundary quite as far as this track. 

Karl’s Lunar Fiasco is a nice even midpoint of the album ambient guitar effects cascade over a friendly drum beat, a sleepy doldrum voice slowly cascades over the beat in the descending pattern which beautifully compliments the instrumental makeup of this song, which of course is complete with a trademark energetic guitar solo that builds as it goes with interesting pedal modulation and soulful playing. 

Sword begins with an almost prog-rock riff which breaks out into that smoothly delivered chill vocal delivery and pop progression that we have come to know and enjoy from this band; but don’t let that fool you because this may be the heaviest track on the album breaking out into a heavy riff screams erupt and we see a different side of the band until yet again they break out into a familiar Skytop Motel sound reminiscent of many prominent Indie rock bands. This song pulls the listener in many different directions. 

I’m in Love erupts into what sounds like a full-blown choir while Princess brings us back into a fun upbeat song with a dissonant keyboard progression laying over it. Melodic vocals pair with a snappy bass and drum beat as the energy builds. The closing track Unspoken has an R&B vibe to it with a calm guitar part, chill drum beat and cool yet soulful vocals which eventually becomes something quite different almost like the end experimenting with similar sounds found on Doppelganger by Fall of Troy; the band edges on the side of hardcore but lets the song go in a relatively mild manner. 

No Vacancy is absolutely an album worth listening to and there is no doubt Mad Indie Media will be spinning this album well into 2021. Skytop Motel is comprised of bandmates and brother Dan & Owen Taggart and Ted Orbach. No Vacancy was recorded between 2018 – 2020 and was largely self-recorded and produced with some help from Cynthia Hunt(engineer): drums and additional guitar tracking on Old Man at CCM studios. Album Art by Anna Taggart (@annatagg.art) All songs and lyrics were written by Skytop Motel. Follow Skytop Motel on Instagram & Facebook, listen to them on Spotify, buy their music at Bandcamp, and PREORDER THEIR MERCH HERE. 

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