Hotel Books - "Run Wild, Stay Alive" (Album Review)

Hotel Books, originally the brainchild of Cam Smith, double EP I'm Almost Happy Here, But I Never Feel At Home kind of hit me at just the right time. Their mix of music meets spoken words just worked on that double EP. While I enjoyed their last album Run Wild, Young Beauty it didn't click with me the same way. So I went into Run Wild, Stay Alive hoping to re-ignite what I enjoyed about the project.

Run Wild, Stay Alive is Hotel Books narrowing in on what makes them so effective musically while expanding in great ways. The spoken word elements are still present, but Cam Smith also takes more of a singing approach with a lot of these songs. That with additional vocals by drummer Kaleb Thibeau causes an instant click for me. It seems to be the best they have ever done. It's more listenable, better written, and instantly more accessible. I think by having more of a contrast with the spoken word elements, by adding sung vocals and screamed vocals, it really highlights them in a nice way. It's something HB has toyed with in some ways on previous releases, but it all comes together on Run Wild, Stay Alive in a really positive way.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this album. I was a little worried with the quick turnaround from 2015s Run Wild, Young Beauty, but I was hoping the quality would still be there. It seems any worries I had dissipated on first listen. I definitely enjoyed the album. I still hold a special place in my ears for I'm Almost Happy Here, But I Never Feel At Home, but this is easily the best release Hotel Books has ever created. Check this one out!