Alright everyone strap in because this is going to be a wild ride in a 2007 Toyota Rav 4 (you’ll understand why that’s funny soon).
On Oct. 16, “Midwest Motel Rock” band (self-proclaimed genre), Trauma Illinois released their second album, “Pink Motel.” This album contains eight songs with a play time of 27 minutes.
Trauma Illinois is based all the way in-, drum roll please-, Ohio? Despite their band’s name, they come from Cincinnati. Their name received the seal of approval from none other than Fall Out Boy. The popular rock band visited the same hospital where bassist and vocalist Jack Johnson was recovering from a car accident shortly after Trauma Illinois’ formation.
“Trauma Illinois – sweet band name,” wrote Fall Out Boy in a ‘get well soon’ card according to their Cincy Music profile. From that moment on, the name was set in stone.
By Johnson’s side are guitarist and vocalist, BB Jordan, and drummer and vocalist Garrett Crider.
The album opens on a high with prominent drums, upbeat vocals and heated seats. The opening track titled “2007 Toyota Rav 4” (this is where the Midwest comes in) was released on May 22 and was a great tease for this album. The beat is infectious and the lyrics have been stuck in my head for months.
Opening the album with “I just wanna know what your voice sounds like” was the perfect way to get a feel for theirs. This song softens the expectations held for a relationship. Maybe “the bumper’s falling off, but the seats are warm” and that is what is important. It may appear to be old, imperfect, falling to pieces, but when you take the risk and go for the ride, you may find a pretty great mixtape to soundtrack your next chapter.
While this album is what I would define as a “no skip,” and I would love to go into depth about every track, I am going to stick to my favorite few. So we’ll move past two more early singles, “PROST!,” a cheers to friends and memories, and “BEG FOR IT,” a song about yearning, love, longing and intimacy. Let’s discuss the title track.
“Pink Motel” was my introduction to the band. Back in September 2025, my phone screen lit up pink as I was doomscrolling instead of doing my homework. Three guys in a sea of pink balloons singing about falling in love. With its intensity, vibrancy and earworm lyrics, I quickly took a liking to the band. It is not often I hear one song and feel the need to listen to an artist’s entire discography, but here, that was the case. “Pink Motel” feels so versatile and genuine. It is love at its foundation.
“I think you’re fun / Chaotic and a bit unusual / I dig that girl.” Simple yet effective messaging to tell someone you love them for their quirks. The song is not simply about love, it portrays being so in love you cannot find the words.
“We fell in love in a pink motel / I’d kneel but I’m on the floor drunk again / And I can’t find the words to tell you / I think I’d rather show you.”
Allow me to move on from singles, however much I would love to speak on the devastation lining the lyrics of “Villain” behind a beat you can dance to.
Of the eight tracks, three were newly released with the album: “Mismatched Socks,” “Runny Eggs,” and “Blame it on the ADHD.” Of these three, “Mismatched Socks” really stood out to me. However, my favorite lyric of the album lies within the desolation of “Runny Eggs.”
“When I was alive / I couldn’t wait to watch the sunrise / Couldn’t wait to feel the sunshine / Watch you sleep in.” A lot changes over time, things end, people change and leave, pieces of you die, but you continue to live on through your grief and heartbreak.
Sometimes, you find that person that will never leave, and they redefine your definition of love.
“I used to think I knew what love was / I used to dream about the day I’d fall but now / I’m falling and I’m scared to hit the ground,” I too dream that day and the day I’ll find joy in doing the simple ‘life’ things with someone. “Kitchen messing / New York prancing / Mismatched socks,” everything is perfect when you’re with people you love.
“Wouldn’t it be nice? / Be the guy holding her so tight / For a lifetime or two,” I love the vulnerability and genuine emotion in these lyrics. I have always been told that the goal of loving someone is not to do something exciting every day, but to love doing the mundane things with them. Laundry, cooking, dishes, silence, anything. I feel this song captures that extremely well.
To rate this album, I would give it an easy 10/10. I love the genre blending and the sincerity mixed with tasteful vulgarity. If you’re a fan of rock music and Midwest emo, this album, and this band as a whole, is the one for you.
