Salt Lake City band Atherton's inclusion on the "Laguna Beach: The Real OC" soundtrack might have earned the band some widespread attention, but with any luck, people will find their way to the band's new disc, "Skyline Motel," a winning set of country-rock sure to please fans of Ryan Adams and Son Volt. Rarely do you hear a "local" CD that sounds so good, productionwise, and the boys in the band take full advantage with some fine songcraft on tracks such as "Sing You a Song" and "Washington Square."
Dan Nailen, Salt Lake Tribune
and from the Salt Lake City Weekly ...
Skyline Motel is an apt title for such a sparse, dreamy, smooth and distinctly Western album. These spare songs of love and roaming clearly originated in the desert, not east of the Mississippi in the green avenues of Nashville or Memphis. Atherton certainly channels alt-country giants Ryan Adams and Wilco, but—as with most truly great records—the more you listen to Skyline Motel, the more you realize Atherton's sedate songs hail from a slightly different metaphysical region. A seldom-traversed spot on the alt-country map which produces music much less jagged, desolate and achy than the songs of Ryan Adams and Wilco, and much more serene, collected and comfortably remote. Atherton's sweet cup of perfectly brewed coffee or Ryan Adams and Wilco's bitter tumbler of whiskey: Take Your Pick.
When I was at Kilby last week, I saw you were going to be opening for Kevin Devine again. I'm so stoked! It's been far to long since I last saw Atherton live.
Just thought i'd let you know that Skyline motel has a huge influence on me on a weekly basis. I probably listen to it three times a week. Love it. Thanks. COME TO DENVER.
i think i can safely speak for everyone when i say, I hope Saturday is the first in a long line of Atherton With Pyro, Smoke, & Pyro Smokin' Dancers shows.