06

The Hotel Alexis
The Shining Example Is Lying On The Floor

What a beautiful little offering this is. The Hotel Alexis is Michigan acoustic singer/songwriter Sidney Alexis’ latest project. I came across them whilst searching for an example of ‘local’ music when I was living in Ann Arbor. Although (unlike Iggy Pop) Alexis is not in fact from Ann Arbor, I decided Michigan generally was close enough. Good choice.

Every track here swells the soul with soft and thought-provoking melodies, simple but ever-changing. The subtle use of piano and strings augments Alexis’ lovely slide guitar sound and his restrained (oh so mid-western) voice. I guess The Hotel Alexis can be easily compared to Sufjan Stevens, or Elliott Smith, or even to the better stuff by Badly Drawn Boy, but this album has its own sound and its own place. Also, it will never sell as much as any of those artists, because it is too shy and personal for mass consumption. The overall lyrical theme is a life affirming (if not always easy) need to move from a state of depression towards a more enlightened, happier, existence. ‘Comeback Kid’ epitomises this, and is obviously about a major test that Alexis felt he got past in his life. The album highlight though is the amazing ‘Dapper Dan’, which includes the lovingly simple refrain of “ain’t this life sweet?”

An utter gem.