Why aren't Sharon Middendorf and her band Motorbaby household names?
Maybe it's because when the band's self-titled debut album was released in 1998, record company executives didn't know exactly how to market Motorbaby. Middendorf didn't write or sound like Alanis Morrissette or Liz Phair - in fact, it's damn near impossible to pigeonhole Middendorf's writing and performing styles. Maybe, like so many other artists I've heard who fell through the cracks, the publicity department just dropped the ball on Motorbaby, fucking up the best chance they had, at least at the time, for superstardom.
A bit strong? Perhaps. Fighting words? You bet.
Motorbaby confuses me at times, but at least it keeps me
thinking - and, for Middendorf, that was probably half of the
battle.
The best way to describe Motorbaby would be to imagine Juliana Hatfield to front Veruca Salt after they merged with Cocteau Twins. The end result is poppy alternative with just a touch of ambient psychadelia/trance in the mix. If this were soup, it would consist of ingredients you might never think to throw together in the pot... but the end result is quite tasty.
Middendorf is the musical chameleon in this act, changing styles seamlessly and making sure the listener never questions the switch. You've got the power-pop of "Lose Your Mind," the song that immediately screams "hit single" had it been correctly marketed. You've got the throw-out-the-rules track in "Hey, Hey Now". You've got the artsy side in "One In The Same," which closes with cellos - interesting touch. You've got Middendorf vamping in praise of Ms. Dietrich in "Marlene". And you've got the power punk a la Joan Jett (or the aforementioned Hatfield) in "Stripped".
But what sets Motorbaby apart is that, even though the constant switches sometimes make me wonder what Middendorf is up to, I can't say that I ever get bored with the music. For the most part, Motorbaby keeps the energy level cranked up like the thermostat in an Alaskan hotel. (One minor word of warning, though - this is a disc which is meant to be played at louder volumes. It's not just that more is revealed to the listener when they can hear what's going on, but that when it's played at a softer level, it's easier to become distracted, and this is a disc which demands your undivided attention.)
Motorbaby is listed as being out of print, though you can still apparently order it through the band's website. If you see this disc online, snag it immediately. You'll thank me later - and you'll wonder, as I still do, why Motorbaby isn't a household name. Maybe now that the face of alternative pop has changed, some other label will give Middendorf and crew another chance at the brass ring... and maybe this time the marketing department will have a clue what they're doing.