"Shock" is the seventh studio album from the American new wave band, The Motels. This album was released on March 27, 1985, by Capitol Records. The album was produced by Richie Zito, famous for his work with artists like Eddie Money, Cheap Trick, and others.
The Motels, formed by lead singer Martha Davis in the 70s, experienced significant success during the early 80s. Davis's prominent and distinctive voice, combined with the synth-pop textures of the band, helped to establish The Motels as a band of note at the time.
Throughout the album, the lyrical themes tend to trend towards uneasy passages of lost love, betrayal, and estrangement, coating their tracks with a distinctly melancholic vibe. The album's title track "Shock" was released as a single and charted in the top 20 in the United States, signaling a successful reception.
"Shock" encapsulates the 1980s style of synth-driven pop/rock, which delivers a truly ethereal listening experience. The song arrangements on the album carry a complexity and depth that speak to the band's evolving maturity and experimentation with their sound, while still retaining the uniqueness that initially propelled them to fame.
As one of the more noteworthy releases of The Motels, "Shock" has an important role in the discography of the band, capturing their distinctive style and marking a significant point in their journey as a band.
