Review Summary: I called in sick...
The sophomore record of the Massachusetts band, The Hotelier, is a milestone record. Considered by many to be the greatest Emo Revival record of all time. 'Home, Like NoPlace is There' is an album about taking the punches. I haven't heard a record that's made me feel such brittle emotions since The Downward Spiral by NIN. I'd heard amazing things about this album, though I was cautious. Emo music wasn't really my thing, bar maybe a few certain records. Did I really want to invest in something I may not even like? Still I took the risk and downloaded the record. I sat in my room, put the album on and flopped onto my bed. With my head buried in my pillow, the first notes of the album began. My ears perked up. I listened. I smiled. I cried.
The first track, fittingly titled 'An Introduction To The Album' is a mellow track. Beginning with some faint industrial sounding ambience before a soft drone enters. Christian Holden, lead singer and bassist for the group begins his vocals. Holden has such a unique voice. He can swiftly change from a soothing theatrical Alt rock voice to impassioned screaming. Indeed, the first track is a good example of this. The first half of the track is a soft affair, led by some light guitar strumming which Holden dramatically sings and yells over. The feedback builds gradually before Holden shouts out "I just slept for years on end - ***". The drums enter, the guitars start to crescendo. Holden starts to scream out. It all reaches a head. And then it stops. Most of the songs on this record follow similar patterns. Softly sang moments interwoven with screamed vocals and guitar blasts.
Still, the sometimes calming delivery from Holden is a stark contrast to the lyrics. Let me make this clear, this is a dark album. Very dark. Through the screaming and sublime guitars, there are lyrics detailing depression, self mutilation, domestic conflict, drug abuse, loneliness, guilt, deteriorating mental health, gender dysphoria and suicide. There are no punches held here. This is an honest, often uncomfortably so record. Standout track 'Your Deep Rest' is one of the most soul destroying things I've heard in a while, somehow juggling upbeat sounding guitar parts with the most crushing lyrics on the album. 'Housebroken' contains some incredible metaphors, with a stop and start guitar part. It isn't a musically complex album. There's hardly, if any solos. There's no technical bass lines. It's a simple album. One that doesn't seem to try anything new. But that's what makes it beautiful. The LP captures a nostalgic sound. A sound of a simpler time, when things weren't so bad. The lyrics match it perfectly.
And through the bleak lyrics, there's this glimmer of hope. It's an album to give you a hug when you feel you're at the end of the line. It's an album to help you through the pain. Tears will be shed, make no mistake of that. But the sounds of this album, the feel and the lyrics, are welcoming and warm, even through the screams. It's a perfect therapy album. To give you the feeling that there's no place like home.
Standout tracks:
An Introduction To The Album
The Shape Of All Of This
Your Deep Rest
Among The Wildflowers
Housebroken
Standout lyrics:
"Your branching off had met an end from all the weight that made you bend.
And When you tried to shed your leaves you pined for warmth" - Your Deep Rest
"Who taught you how to hate your self?
Who forced you to confide in spell?
Mistook 'pathetic'
for empathy.
Cast a stone at the foe
and the stone hit me" - Life In Drag
