On his latest album, likethehotels holds together an eclectic tapestry of styles under his singular vision. Recorded alone, “salt” examines post-punk, grunge, indie rock, and beyond through a creative lens unbounded by genre.
The opening track “cosplay rockstar” bursts forth with smoky vocals channeled through a battle-worn amp. Thudding drums and fuzzed-out guitars establish a raucous energy, building anticipation for what’s to come. It sets the stage for diverse sounds tied together by top-notch songcraft and production.
Songs like “10 & 2” and “gadarene” direct raw, driving rock with rousing hooks and intricate guitar work. The former takes off at a breakneck pace that would make any rock fan erupt. Meanwhile, the latter’s bouncing rhythms and effusive melodies evoke summertime cruising down the open road with the windows down.
Elsewhere, likethehotels delves into mellower territories, like on the yearning “Terminal 3” which in its vocals convey renewal as change comes, paired with shimmering instrumentation. “go$pel” spreads a cheerful, upbeat feel through buoyant pop-punk sensibilities.
The technical complexities of “the line” showcase the brilliant abilities on the production skills, gliding between rock, and electro-tinged hip-hop. The vocals act as the cohesive thread, conveying gorgeous emotion whether soaring or screaming. The Album’s sonic variety stems from his wide-ranging influences, from greats like Better Lovers.
Produced and mixed by likethehotels himself, “salt” sounds both lush and organic in its studio sheen. Mastering by Stephan Hawkes brings the performances to vibrant life as if bearing witness to the creative process firsthand. The album’s consistency marks likethehotels as adept behind the boards as with an instrument in hand.
Closer “in stride” wraps the record in reflective, atmospheric haze. Its glistening textures and stunningly delivered vocals connect with the emotions sewn into the song. All this leaves the listener to ponder the path ahead of them, and re-listen to the album again.
This album, released under the moniker likethehotels, completely captivated me. With the varied cuts, I had found myself continuously playing the entire tracklist from beginning to end, desiring to absorb it all the album had to offer, at least. Having harnessed “salt” alone, the artist has triumphantly come up with an impressive album that contains many rewards for the mind that’s open.
This shows that sometimes, from the smallest recordings by singular artists following their dreams can come great artistic declarations when the boundaries are pushed and styles blended. There are even additional songs with different genres waiting for you, like ‘wilderness,’ ‘halite’ and more! Make sure to stream “likethehotels” now online and see for yourself what all this exciting artist has in store with his creativity.