CD Review

Artist: Twilight Hotel

Title: Highway Prayer

Publicity: Killbeat Music

Released: January 29^th 2008

3 ½ Stars

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

Sheryl Crow and female lead singer of Twilight Hotel, Brandy Zdan have something in common – they both have greatly charismatic voices. Both Crow and Zdan may have a similar essence to their voices with the same ‘take it or leave it’ approach to their vocals, but Zdan sounds like she swallowed a bit more honey than Crow, creating a silkier and gentler dimension to her voice.

Highway Prayer is the second album released by love match Twilight Hotel couple Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury. She’s all soft edged and enigmatic, he’s all guitar playing counterpart best suited for a Jim Jarmusch soundtrack (Slumber Queen). They make a delightful team, less Sonny & Cher, or Roxette, and more June and Johnny Cash with harmonies galore. Twilight Hotel does hover somewhere between folk and rock (Iowalta Morningside) with a twist of Canadian east coast thrown in for good measure at times (The Ballad Of Salvador & Isabelle).

Twilight Hotel have already become known for their debut album Bethune so Highway Prayer was anticipated to up the game a little. In truth, this is a delightful album, the songs are rich with texture, but it really feels as though Twilight Hotel are just on the verge of fully conceptualizing their own unique sound that will make them become more than critically acclaimed. Highway Prayer doesn’t seem to be that album. The real magic in Highway Prayer is Zdan’s illuminating and spiritual voice that is captivating. I would have liked to hear her really throw herself into a song vocally that would show her true range and capabilities. Such demure and safe songs as these in Highway Prayer don’t quite showcase that emotive and dynamic voice she has to offer.

This is a great album by all accounts, but it does feel that Twilight Hotel are standing on the safety of the cliffs edge deciding whether they could actually fly or not if they leapt; I believe they could.

1. Viva La Vinyl
2. No Place For A Woman
3. Impatient Love
4. Highway Prayer
5. Slumber Queen
6. Iowalta Morningside
7. The Ballad Of Salvador & Isabelle
8. Shadow Of A Man
9. The Critic
10. If It Won’t Kill You
11. Sometimes I Get A Little Lonely
12. Sand In Your Eyes