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3.0 out of 5 stars
Frankie gets Lit in... Las Vegas? (3.5 stars), August 4, 2003
The first two bands that came to mind after hearing "Fall" and "Chemical Girl" were Frankie Goes To Hollywood (the `relax / don't do it' song) and Lit. I realize those two groups have little (or nothing) in common, but if they were to come together to produce a song, it would most likely sound like anything from Vegas DeMilo`s Motel California. By the number of reviews for this album, it's obvious these guys aren't a force in pop-rock music yet. And let it be said from the very start: this CD is far from perfect. There are a few exceptional tracks, but other than that everything is pretty simplistic and sounds too parallel. None of the songs really distinguish themselves, and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed. An overview:1. Fall - 5/5 - considered a single, though you'd be hard pressed to remember it. The beats and lyrics within are excellent; it comes off sounding better than pretty much everything else here. 2. Chemical Girl - 3.5/5 - an adequate song with some intriguing electric work. The shouts of `oh... goddxmn... that wasn't smart of me' take the cake. 3. Dusted - 3/5 - this one's also more average and not quite as enjoyable, lyrically and musically, as the previous two. Still decent. 4. Radio - 4.5/5 - rather straightforward, reminding us what we hear on the radio isn't always what we should be hearing. Very cool and relative. 5. All I Ever Wanted - 3.5/5 - more of a slow song that manages to differentiate itself. It's good to hear something different; though it doesn't always flow. 6. Acid King - 3/5 - another rocker that's comparable to "Chemical Girl". Once more, it's amiable, but it just doesn't stand out. 7. Payback - 4/5 - strange beats and cool, aggressive lyrics make for one of Motel California's better tunes. It's very catchy from start to finish. 8. Slow Kiss - 3/5 - too similar to "All I Ever Wanted". It's another decent song that just might catch your hear. 9. Teenage Pornstar - 2.5/5 - an overused basis and uninteresting lyrics make for, quite possibly, the weakest song on the album. Kind of funny... 10. Whatever Happened To Jane - 3/5 - read what I wrote for "Slow Kiss". Ditto. 11. My Brilliant Career - 5/5- saving the best for last is a popular tactic for bands. Kudos to Vegas DeMilo for using that tactic here. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be paradoxical or genuine; it's great either way. Although there are only two tracks with a five-out-of-five ranking, none of the songs here are at all bad. They just don't sound any different than the previous ones (that's also my only complaint with Lit). "Fall" and "My Brilliant Career" posses great lyrics and great sound; most of the others have one or the other, not necessarily both. I first heard of Vegas DeMilo when I was searching for comical Christmas songs on Audiogalaxy. That's when I came across "...Toys For Christmas", which has since become one of the funniest and best Christmas rock songs I own. And it was after hearing that mirthful tune that I decided to look into the band. I would recommend this to fans of Lit especially. And if you are looking for new and (possibly) up-and-coming bands in the pop-rock scene, Motel California is certainly worth checking out.
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by Vegas DeMilo 
