Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel is an album that is so often under looked it kills me inside. This was the Doors fith and in my opinion one of the finest.
The Band
Jim Morrison-Vocals
Ray Manzarek-Keyboards/piano
Robby Krieger-Guitar
John Densmore-Drums and Percussion
Roadhouse Blues -One of the most famous Doors songs. Starts of with a catchy riff and some harmonica. Jim has some strong vocals in this song and Robby has a pretty good solo. There is also a part where Robby will play a little lick then the harmonica will repeat it. This is one the best driving tunes ever with a catchy chorus and a nice blues rythym during it.5/5
Waiting For the Sun-Starts of with a smoth bassline and a pyschidelic guitar riff. After each line Jim sings the music becomes heavier and faster but it is short lived as the music becomes softer for Jim to sing the next line. The music stays heavier as Jim takes control of the song with an excellent vocal presence. The music goes back to the usual mellowness as Jim sings one more verse and then it ends on the heavier side.4.5/5
You Make Me Real -This song starts off with some very quick and "bouncy" piano playing by Ray which is sooon followed by Robby playing the same thing. Jim comes in with strong vocals and at the end of the first verse he is nearly yelling. At the end of the chorus Ray and Robby share centre stage as Ray lays down some really quick rythym chords and Robby solos over them. Things are going so speedy they cant really keep up and the solo just stops out of no where. After a short pause the "bouncy" piano comes in once again. After the second chorus there is another guitar solo except this one is better and longer. After the second solo there is a little instrumental break where you can hear Jim yelling stuff in the back ground but it isn't very clear. 4/5
Peace Frog -This funky song is my choice for the best song on the album. It starts of with a quick distorted guitar with lotof muted notes that continues through the whole intro. After the guitar riff is played 3 times John gives a quick light beat on the drums and then a quick, powerful yet cathcy bassline finds it's way into the song. Then two more times and there is an upbeat organ playing with them. Jim sings the verse very well and during the chorus the tempo slow down for a few seconds while Jim is singing and Robby does a pretty good job playing a few quick notes while Jim is singing. Then the song goes right back into the groove they started with and Jim sings the next verse. After the second chorus the band goes into a different but short lived groove as Robby lays down a terrific solo that stops abbruptly after a few seconds and turns into this incredibly slow tempo song which is mostly just a drum beat and Jim saying this short poem.
"Indians scattered on dawn's highway
Bleeding ghosts crowd
The young child's fragile eggshell mind"
That doesnt last for long though as Jim starts singing again. During the rest of the song Jim uses the word Blood to start of ten lines. The lyrics of this song puzzle me and you should check them out sometime.5/5
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Blue Sunday -This is a very slow paced song. It is organ lead with a soft bassline and light guitar work by Robby. This song is mostly for Jim and his poetry but it features a small instrumental break. This song is only 2:13 minutes and ends very quickly. The softly sung lyrics are nice but they aren't that good.3/5
Ship of Fools-Has a cool bass line at the start and Jim starts singing his lyrics. This song sounds kind of like a pirate song at the start but becomes "darker" as the song goes on. Robby has an ok solo but nothing special. The bass and the singing is the only real good thing about this mediocre song.3/5
Land HO!-Like the last song this track also sounds like a pirate song except even more so. The lyrics are about Jims Grandpa who is going crazy because he is on land so he wants to get he's shipmates for a new voyage and find a new land. It has a catchy rythym and Robby does some good work doing the fills during the verses.4/5
The Spy -Starts off with a very light slow paced guitar riff with some really deep piano chords and a nice bass line. Jim sings about how he is a spy in the house of love. The lyrics make me think that he is an extreme stalker.:lol:.The lyrics point that out again and again while Jim is singing about all the stuff he knows about the girl.A nice mellow song with funny lyrics.5/5
Queen of the Highway-This track has one of the best grooves I have ever heard. It is about how the how to bikers get married and have kids who are hippies. Good bass in this song but the guitar is lacking in my opinion. Ray does a fine job on the keyboards. Jim does an amazing job on the vocals and the lyrics tell an cool story to them.5/5
Indian Summer-This, like Blue Sunday shows the lighter side of the Doors. Robby does a good job at fingerpicking even though he never used a pick you can sure tell it in this song. The drums, bass and keyboards are very low key in this song and are pretty hard to pick up. Another poetic song.3.5/5
Maggie M'gill -This song starts of with a pretty catchy guitar riff. Jim is nearly yelling while he sings his strange lyrics. This song features an ok organ solo but nothing amazing. The lyrics are funny in this song too telling the story how Maggie's father was a dead rock star and left her the will. Jim also states he "Has been singing the Blues ever since the world began.4/5
This is in my opinion(which changes alot) the Doors best album and it is a must own for all fans of Classic Rock/Acid Rock/The Doors.
EDIt I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5 because 3.5=great on the new rating system I think.
