Wade Bowen Finds His Way On Lost Hotel
When I sat down to listen to Wade Bowen’s Lost Hotel CD, I had only heard of one of his songs - the hit God Bless This Town. Having listened to the entire album, I came away feeling that Bowen might have a pretty good future in the business. His raspy voice has a charming sound and his songwriting is excellent. Bowen wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 13 tracks on this album, which shows he can write. He sometimes focuses too much on breakup songs. If he can branch out a little and in some cases add some pop to his music, I think he’ll be fine.
Lost Hotel starts off with God Bless This Town. This song went to #1 on the Texas Music Charts, and anybody who has ever lived in a small town will feel what this song is all about. Everybody wants to get out, but then again, so many stay because they are secure there. Bowen does a lot of writing with fellow artist Brandon Rhyder, and they co-wrote One Step Closer. This is a song that deals with a relationship that’s falling apart. The first line “my windshield’s cracked, just like my heart” is a catchy lyric for me, and I really enjoy this song. Walking Along The Fenceline is another co-written by Rhyder and has a good beat to it, but doesn’t really say much. At first I wasn’t sure what the purpose of the song is really or what the message is. I think it’s about not rushing life and trying to make things happen and just living life as it comes. It’s not a complete waste, but he has many better songs.
Resurrection is a song Bowen co-wrote with Bleu Edmondson. It’s a nasty little break up song. It’s has a nice edge to it - kind of the “up your’s, I’m over you now and I’m back to living” kind of break up song. There’s a strong feel of revenge in the lyrics. Interesting writing on this song too, in that the chorus is exactly three words long. I really like this song. Perfect Silence is a nice little love song that Bowen co-wrote with Matt Powel. Bowen wrote this song about his wife and it could very well be a radio hit. It has the sound that radio seems to be looking for. “I love to dream about you and how quiet you love to be; Girl you’re perfect silence is perfect to me” is an awesome line, and the song is beautiful. Lay It All On You, co-written by Randy Rogers, is yet another losing in love song, which is almost an overkill theme of this album. In this one he talks about always taking the girl back and giving her one more chance, yet he’s out wanting everybody to believe it’s the last time, but the reality is that he knows it’s not.
The title track, Lost Hotel, is a song that sings about giving up and about redemption. It has a real nice sound to it, yet paints a picture of darkness. The lyrics to this song are so powerful “She abandonded herself into a bottle of pills; Life’s dark highway has finally run out of thrills.” That’s the giving up part, while “So say a prayer for the weary; Say a prayer for the lost; Say a prayer for the hungry; They’ve all paid the highest cost” is the redemption side of the song. This is one of my favorites on the album. It’s All Over Town is, well, take a guess. I another lost in love song. Bowen again collaborated Rogers on this song, and it is actually a well written song. I think I would like it more if it was earlier in the album and I hadn’t already heard the same type of song so many times already. Handle is a song that can become a real crowd pleaser. It has that fun barroom sound to it. The song is for a past love telling her he doesn’t need her, she’s been replaced, and he’s doing better than she is. I really do like this song. The one thing that might make it even better would be a more upbeat sound, but it’s fine the way it is too. Great lyrics in this one.
Broken Reflection is another song about redemption, salvation, and spirituality and asking for forgiveness for his past. The song isn’t necessarily one of my favorites but it’s very powerful. Crazy Enough is another pretty good barroom song about living on the wildside. It’s not a heavy hitter on this album, but it’s not bad. Lost Control of My Heart is a song about falling in love and how fresh love is in the beginning of a relationship. I think everybody has felt this before and this song will make you think back to the beginning days of past or current relationships, and regardless of how they may have turned out, you’ll feel good about those first days.
You want creativity in a country song? How about Mood Ring? This song is so cleaver. The lyrics are wonderful, but also funny. He sings about the woman who he can never please, so he buys her a mood ring so he can get a read on her. “If it turns black, I should turn back; If it turns red, she likes what I said; If it turns blue, I should leave her alone; If it turns green, she wants me I know.” And that’s just the chorus. The song won’t be a radio hit because it’s too long, and does kind of drag on after awhile, but it might be the best song on this CD. It’s a good way to close it out.
All in all, I think Lost Hotel would be money well spent. I love Bowen’s voice and his songwriting. Just a little more versatility and he’ll be in business. If you have a chance to catch Bowen live then you should do it. Either way, you should pick up a copy of Lost Hotel.
Next week - CD review for Full Circle by Deryl Dodd.
September 25th, 2006 at 7:42 am
“WALKIN ALONE THE FENCELINE” WAS NOT COWRITTEN WITH BRANDON RHYDER WHO EVER DID THE CREDITS FOR THE CD GOT IT WRONG. CHECK INTO IT. THE YOUNG MAN THAT CO-WROTE GOD BLESS THIS TOWN WAS THE COWRITER ON THIS ONE TOO.
April 25th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Can you tell me if there are any “Just For Fun” cd’s out there by Wade Bowen? I really NEED one because I want to play the song “Who I Am” at my wedding, but don’t want the live version that is on the Blue Light Live CD. PLEASE HELP!!!