Lifetime Ago Motel
iNtu, 2021
8/10
The New Jersey resident Keith Kenny has been through the wringer lately, as this 5th album was penned over 3 years that saw Kenny married and divorced, all while trying to make ends meet as a touring musician. On the positive side, he’s got esteemed drummer Sim Cain playing drums on Lifetime Ago Motel, where the autobiographical songs poured out as everything around him was seemingly falling apart.
“Move Along” starts the listen with Kenny’s inviting vocals in the rhythmic and warm rock’n’roll climate that’s all about finding a silver lining, and “Ends Meet” follows with spirited harmonica making a big impression in the breezy, Americana influenced display.
in the middle, “IDGAF” gets quirky, experimental and kinda spacey in a New Wave sort of way, while “The Letter” lands in acoustic singer-songwriter territory as Kenny channels his inner folk troubadour. “Waiting For The Kill”, the album highlight, then delivers a percussively strong, melodically radiant, and, eventually, more firm display of thicker rock tendencies.
Approaching the end, the light synth buzzing of “Moonchild” pairs with charming acoustic strumming, and “Drifting In Time” exits the listen with a heartfelt instrumental where Kenny’s guitar prowess is as soothing as it is memorable.
Essentially the soundtrack of a creative mind struggling and coming out a different, more robust person, Kenny is a highly talented singer-songwriter, and his genre skipping approach and strong wordplay make Lifetime Ago Motel a valiant effort that commands your attention.
Travels well with: They Might Be Giants- My Murdered Remains; R. Stevie Moore- Afterlife