weeping strings and the chimes of a clock start “Punchline,” the opener of The Motel’s new album, Last Few Beautiful Days. Leader singer, songwriter, original member Martha Davis is in fine voice, maybe slightly more limited than in her MTV-heyday when this band was kicking hits like “Only the Lonely” and “Suddenly Last Summer” out of the park. But the band-guitarist Clint Walsh, drummer Eric Gardner, bassist Nicholas Allen Johns and sax, piano and clarinet player Marty Jourard-provide some nice counter keyboard melody, soft guitar work and a steady beat for this first tune and weave their tight 80’s-sounding tapestry throughout.