I saw this band open up for Denison Marrs a while ago (it was their 2nd
song, I think) and I blown away by the emotional intensity of My Hotel Year
and I knew they would be the talk of the Florida/Georgia scene really quick.
Dave Ott's voice captivates your eyes and you can't help but fall it's
pleading. As far music goes, think what would happen if The Juiliana
Theory's vocals weren't so whiney, Jimmy Eat World was a little less
melodic, and if Denison Marrs was a lot harder. You get My Hotel Year. The
songs are in basic verse-chorus-verse format, but these are kind of songs
where you like to hear that. "If I Only Spoke Russian" has the layered
chorus-style and chugga-chugga interludes (but not sounding hardcore or
whatever). Straight-up punk rock is brought into the picture in "Sunrise at
Sixteen," but no fear, it goes back to that catchy emo-pop they do so well.
"The Center Circle" starts right off with vocals, which is different from
most song structures, but it gives the listener a change (and you can't help
but sing along). Dreamy guitars fill the air on songs like "Walking and
Dreaming" and "Ancient to Now" as you drift in oblivion. A certain
nervousness and tension is present in "Key Exchange" is that feeling we all
have (butterflies) in calling someone we're madly in love with (as well as
the frustration of not receiving same love). My Hotel Year brilliantly
displaye this in both the music and the lyrics: 'I'm sorry for calling/ to
leave this message/ you probably got the first one.' The lyrics are like
love letters so poetically written while most recent emo bands who try this
fail horribly (by sounding too clich� and sappy). The CD ends with the title
track (an instrumental) that so beautifully dipicts the title. I don't know
how to explain it, it just does. If you don't want the typical whiney/sappy
emo (*cringe*), check out a band that plays catchy emo-pop that doesn't
succomb to wussy-rock... My Hotel Year.
Lars-O-Meter: 8.7 out of 10
Favorite Song: "Key Exchange"
Record Label: (get it from the band at www.myhotelyear.com)
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