Description:
Hotel Lights is the stunning debut from Ben Folds Five founder Darren Jessee, with assistance from members of Sparklehorse, Archers Of Loaf and Fountains Of Wayne. With a hushed beauty midway between Nick Drake and The Court And Spark, their music is richly layered with melodious keyboards, crisp guitars, soft pianos and a generally laid-back feel. Jessee`s vocals are as distinct and endearing as the songs themselves. His warm, warbled tenor is similar to a mellower version of The Shins or a more heavenly Will Oldham. But it`s his lyrics that set him apart from his peers, with an honest, storytelling quality.! He writes about the "Marvelous Truth", laments the golden age of `70s radio hits, and repeatedly touches upon the holy trinity of great pop records: love, loss, and starting over. (Bar-None)
