B-Side Guys

Kathy Bates Motel’s “Broken Taillights” cruises down memory lane with the top down, wind whipping through its hair. This indie pop road trip anthem captures the bittersweet aftertaste of a relationship that’s run its course, all through the quirky lens of a roadside game.

Joe Lonie and his merry band of musical misfits have crafted a sound that’s equal parts nostalgia and forward momentum. The instrumentation shimmers like heat waves off asphalt, creating a dreamy backdrop for Lonie’s wistful vocals. It’s as if Lana Del Rey decided to cover an Elliott Smith song while driving cross-country in a convertible.

The lyrics paint vivid snapshots of a romance in rearview: “All our big plans were there laid out / Like the highway into the sunset.” The titular broken taillights serve as both literal roadside distractions and metaphors for the small fractures that eventually lead to a relationship’s breakdown. It’s a clever device that adds depth to what could have been a straightforward breakup narrative.

What sets “Broken Taillights” apart is its refusal to wallow in post-breakup misery. Instead, there’s a sense of liberation in lines like “All disappear into the air / And we are free to breathe again.” This isn’t a song about heartbreak; it’s about the relief that comes with letting go of expectations and embracing the open road ahead.

Kathy Bates Motel has managed to create a song that feels both intimately personal and universally relatable. “Broken Taillights” is the musical equivalent of a long drive with no particular destination – a reminder that sometimes the journey is more important than where you end up. As the final notes fade out, listeners might find themselves reaching for their car keys, ready to hit the road and start counting broken taillights of their own.