Motor Ace

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(1998 – 2005)

Motor Ace were an Australian alternative rock band. The lineup consisted of: Patrick Robertson (vocals/guitar), Damian Birchall-Costin (drums), Matt Balfe (bass/backing vocals) and Dave Ong (guitar/backing vocals).

The group was formed in 1998 and released three studio albums before disbanding in late 2005. Motor Ace received heavy radio rotation in Australia especially at Triple J early in their career as well as promotion for their touring schedule. This resulted in their debut album, Five Star Laundry debuting at #4 on the ARIA album chart. Death Defy, one of the Singles from Five Star Laundry, featured as the theme song to the popular Australia television show The Secret Life of Us.

Their second album, Shoot This was similarly successful, debuting at #1 on the ARIA chart, although the album was not as well received among fans due to slower pace of the album. The lead single to Shoot This, Carry On was their most commerically successful single reaching the top 20 in the singles chart. In 2003, Motor Ace went on a hiatus that lasted more than a year. The band returned with a new album in 2005, Animal which marked a change in sound for the band as the songs were more emotive, and less straight upbeat rock. While Animal received good reviews in the press, the album was by far the least successful commercially as it dropped out of the ARIA top 40 after three weeks. Following a national tour, Motor Ace announced that they would split at the end of the year with final dates announced.

Tagged as:

australian, rock, aussie, alternative rock, alternative
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Five Star Laundry
Motor Ace
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Shoot This
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Animal
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American Shoes
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Top Tracks

1	Carry On	50
2	Death Defy	32
3	Chairman of the Board	24
3	Five Star Laundry	24
5	American Shoes	20
5	Lorenzo	20
7	Hey Driver	19
8	Criminal Past	15
9	Budge	13
9	Keeping Secrets	13
11	Pieces	12
12	Opportunity	11
12	Tomorrow's Gone	11
14	Siamese	10
15	Feathers	8

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american_shoes wrote:
Friday morning

Five Star Laundry is one of the greatest records ever made by an Australia band. Neither Shoot This nor Animal compare. Siamese is my favourite. [2]

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hectorial85 wrote:
November 2009

I think either Pat or Dave was playing guitar for Neon on one or more of their tours.

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Rocknwrestling wrote:
June 2009

Chairman of the Board was on regular rotation when I was in Oz...haven't heard it for a while.

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antigravity wrote:
June 2009

Just for anyone reading (not too many I imagine), it's actually Dave doing the vocals on 'Here Comes the Rain'.

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antigravity wrote:
May 2009

I don't think anyone loves Motor Ace as much as I do... :P Just a quick question to anyone that knows... Who does the vocals on 'Here Comes The Rain'. I have a feeling it's Damien... Either way its a damn good track...

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gruva75 wrote:
March 2009

Five Star Laundry is the best! I know every song by heart. Still on high rotation for me. Siamese is my favourite.

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outtaphase wrote:
March 2009

Five Star Laundry is still one of my fave albums. So many great tracks, reminds me of high school.

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EvermoreRocks wrote:
February 2009

they ares so unpopular now

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Taco_Chopper wrote:
January 2009

my favourite band at the moment. three good albums, and probably also the three best albums you're going to hear from an australian rock outfit for another twenty or so years.

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antigravity wrote:
January 2009

Animal was a great album. Sucks they broke up afterwards... Animal was Motor Ace when they finally worked out who they really were.

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chadlinski wrote:
December 2008

After almost 10 years, five star laundry is still my favourite album!

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irocklikehp wrote:
October 2008

Really like Animal. Such a nice album.

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EvermoreRocks wrote:
October 2008

i think they broke up =[ i was in tears almost when i found out.

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Leigh_ wrote:
September 2008

ceera, can seriously relate to that! they were just THE band. first concert i ever went to was a motor ace concert. and years later animal was just amazing. they're genius, in terms of composition and their layering too ahhhhhhh. wow. anyone know what they're up to these days??

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ceera wrote:
September 2008

i really fucking loved this band when i was younger. now when i listen to the songs (which isn't that often anymore) i can't help but think back to those days and smile... kinda embarrasing how obsessed i was with them but it was fun nonetheless.

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slay0987 wrote:
September 2008

rediscovered 5 star laundry. still <3

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PirateXxEsque wrote:
July 2008

I've been meaning to get a proper album of their for awhile (as opposed to a few songs), and I got Animal for $5 at JB.

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pringa wrote:
July 2008

they played at our school once, which was pretty cool.

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jj-chub wrote:
July 2008

Just over 100,000 plays? What is this? They are a fantastic band! I really can't understand why no one knows about them... I am gonna go around to other bands and promote Motor Ace...

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idioteque04 wrote:
May 2008

five star laundry was amazing, shoot this was basically an oasis album, which is vey bad. i never herd animal tho

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