In a time when most bands are trying their hardest to disassociate themselves with the ’emo’ label, trying equally as hard to establish themselves as a relevant and credible pop-punk band, recent Mightier Than The Sword signees THE HOTEL YEAR are dragging themselves (and the listener) back to the mid-to-late 90s. The reissue of It Never Goes Out would easily slot into a variety of genres prominent at the end of the last century, ranging stylistically from lyric based emotional singer-songwriting fares to loud and explosive multi-vocal pop-punk.
Upon listening to the opening track off this nine track release, it would be easy to assume that the remainder is full of fast and punchy punk, however ‘It Never Goes Out’ displays a unique structure, following the initial force with four (or 5 depending on how you wish to class ‘I’m Gone’) down-tempo numbers. These tracks rely heavily on the strong vocals and lyrical skill of all three vocal performers; a number of the lyrics indicating the mentioned transportation back to the ’emo’ heyday (note: “It got way too serious when you showed me your damaged wrist” taken from ‘An Ode to the Nite Ratz Club’, or the entire lyrics from the beautiful, if not slightly dated, ‘Lonely Hearts Club’).
The unpredictability and oddly off-kilter shifts in tempo and style throughout the album demand interest and investment in the record by the listener. ‘It Never Goes Out’ creates an authentic DIY atmosphere which separates the band from its peers. So important is this atmosphere that it would be an immeasurable shame should The Hotel Year be lulled into a world of over-production on future releases. Behind the underlying ambience and time travelling attributes of the record, there remains a strong vocal and musical performance which deserves to be discovered by a new generation. The future looks bright for The Hotel Year.
BEN TIPPLE