Product Description Recently nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary Folk category for her album LAND OF MILK AND HONEY, this stunning Austin, Texas-based singer/songwriter returns with PARADISE HOTEL. Featuring special guest appearances by Shawn colin and Slaid Cleaves. .com Warm reflections, strong convictions, and spiritual grace inform the veteran Texas-based troubadour Eliza Gilkyson's latest, Paradise Hotel. Offerings are even more eclectic than usual, with the Spanish-sung border balladry of "Bellarosa," a surprise cover of World Party's "Is It Like Today," and the hymn-like original "Requiem" extending Gilkyson's interpretive range. She sticks closer to straightforward country on "Calm Before the Storm" (with vocal harmony from Shawn Colvin) and the album-opening "Borderline," while returning to her folk roots on "Jedidiah 1777" and the title track (though the latter finds her humming a coda that evokes Bach or Procol Harum, depending on the listener's frame of reference). The album's most powerful track, "Man of God," represents Gilkyson's strongest political statement to date, an indictment of religious hypocrisy that uses Christianity to justify war, with Colvin, Marcia Ball, Slaid Cleaves, and Ray Wylie Hubbard among those offering chorus support. --Don McLeese P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Review " . . . her work is too good to be ignored. She sings with plaintive power and writes with soulful strength." -- Dallas Morning News"At times joyful, stark, and poignant, her music dances through a span of human emotions." -- Billboard"Gilkyson doesn't pull any punches...a lush and passionate voice, dark and lonely sound, ...and edgy lyrics with piercing imagery." -- New York Times"Her gift is the ability to mask razor-sharp words in deceptively easy melodies." -- Austin Chronicle"Intimate, delicate-voiced. . . her honest voice and understated, life affirming lyrics remain the core of her songs." -- People Magazine About the Artist Eliza is a third generation musician who grew up in Los Angeles knowing that her life would revolve around music. "I got into it for all the wrong reasons, more as a survival tool than anything else, but it proved to serve me more than I dared to imagine." As a teenager, she recorded demos for her father, Terry Gilkyson, an accomplished songwriter whose songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Dean Martin, Johnny Cash ("Memories Are Made of This") and the White Stripes ("Look Me Over Closely"), and whose credits include such standards as "Greenfields," "Marianne" and "The Bare Necessities" (from the Disney film Jungle Book). At the end of the sixties, she moved to New Mexico with likeminded souls, eventually raising a family, all the while writing songs, performing and developing a loyal fan base in the Southwest and Texas. She spent considerable time in Europe as well and cut numerous well-received recordings over the next two decades. In 2000, Eliza made the move to the Red House Records label, and released three highly-acclaimed recordings "Hard Times in Babylon," "Lost and Found" and the decidedly socio/political "Land of Milk and Honey," an album that was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary Folk Album. "Paradise Hotel" is here exciting fourth release on Red House. Eliza has appeared on NPR's All Things Considered, Austin City Limits and in February of 2003, Gilkyson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame. The induction places Gilkyson alongside an exclusive list of Austin Music Hall of Fame greats, including Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith, Billy Joe Shaver, Butch Hancock, Joe Ely and others. See more
O**5
an artist at the top of her game: silk, velvet, truth & groove
I first saw Eliza Gilkyson at a SXSW showcase in Austin in the late 90s. She blew me away then -- it was right before "Hard Times in Babyon" came out -- and every CD she's released since then has exceeded the one before. "Paradise Hotel" continues her winning streak, and works on so many levels: highly listenable right away and very satisfying on a melodic/groove level, but the song lyrics yield deeper riches every time I tune in and pay closer attention. Searching for words to describe how much I love this CD, I googled for reviews and found this one from the Austin Chronicle. I couldn't agree more...."Neither life nor love has spared Eliza Gilkyson its sharp edges, even if the muses have blessed her bountifully. She bore her wounds with style and grace on 2000's Hard Times in Babylon...and the acclaimed Lost and Found (2002). Last year's Grammy-nominated Land of Milk and Honey was filled with blood tears for losses redeemed and the dead remembered. It's with great relief and comfort, then, to hear Paradise Hotel and feel the new, soft skin as old scars heal. This new offering in her contemporarily flawless oeuvre is tender and cathartic to the point of jubilation, brimming with radio-polished tunes ("Is It Like Today," "Bellarosa") and exquisite traditional folk ("Jedidiah 1777"). Paradise Hotel is rife with nuances that distinguish its author's pen; on "Borderline," she hums "Whiter Shade of Pale" to her own melody. Gilkyson hasn't backed down from her hard-line political stance either. The album's showstopper is the third track, "Man of God," booming with authority and righteous rejection of the party line. With longtime producer/compadre Mark Hallman providing his intuitive and expert touch, the question then is not which of her albums is the best; it's how do you choose between silk and velvet?" 08/12/2005, Austin Chronicle, Margaret Moser
D**N
Great album but there was a download error
Track 7: "It is Like Today" would not play the sample nor would it download. I called Amazon and they gave me a credit and said their tech people would correct the problem in a few days. By the next morning it was working so I purchased track 7 again and am I ever glad I did... it could easily be the best track on this album. I sure hope Amazon never loses their customer centric point of view.So what of the album review? This is another great Eliza album. I simply love the sound of her voice and the arrangements she puts together with the able musicians that back her up. This is pretty much a subjective point of view but how can anyone do better? I know I will be listening to this album many times in the future and that my assessment of which tracks are best will change. Requiem is one of her best songs ever. It also appears on her excellent live collection "Your Town Tonight". In that cut she plays guitar. I like both versions equally well.
S**M
Eliza hits her stride again in style
After a bit of a dip with her last CD ("Land of milk and honey") in terms of accessibility and range of songs covered, this CD sees Eliza definitely back at the top of her game. The music is more fuller and varied than prior CDs (witness the opening "Borderline" which almost comes on as AM in tone and the Hispanic flavoured and Spanish sung "Bellarosa"). On political themes, she finally nails the Bush/Iraq issue (a matter she has long been vocal on) in spot on fashion with "Man of God" capturing the neo-con and christianity themes beautifully, and this contrasts with the subsequent "Jedidiah 1777" drawn from contemporary diaries of a US citizen soldier fighting in the War of Indepednece.However as always Eliza really hits her stride with her well observed songs on love and life, my personal favourites "Think about You" and "Calm before the storm" matching anything on my prior favourite CD "Hard times in Babylon".I cannot wait to see her on this form during the forthcoming UK tour later this month (May 2006).
L**G
Mountain of Truth
"Paradise Hotel" is a good disc. Mark Hallman, who has produced some excellent music such as One Thing Right by Matt the Electrician, guides this project. My favorites come about two-thirds through the set. "Is It Like Today" has a haunting melody and lyric with Rich Brotherton's mandolin providing instrumental depth, "He says how could it come to this; I'm really worried about my creation." Eliza's "Think About You" has Mark on harmony vocals with a wistful soft melody, "I'm a sucker for the fountain of youth til I bang my head on a mountain of truth." The set concludes with a strong track, "When You Walk On," a positive embrace of the ups & downs of life, "You may grasp at the illusion, the confusion of your mind, but soon you will remember to surrender one more time." Other tracks like the political "Man of God," "Jedidiah 1777" and the Spanish track "Bellarosa" are all beautiful. This is a strong disc. Enjoy!
D**G
Nice Gift
This was a little surprise gift for my wife, and she really likes it.
T**N
Not the newest but an oldie and goodie
Bought 5 of her albums recently, after seeing her live (with Jim Henry and Tracy Grammer) at a local venue. Good stuff.
W**S
a soulful album
I bought this for the Requiem song that was written for tsunami victims and became an anthem for Katrina victims the next year. My choir sang it and we almost couldn't get through it. I was so happy to find such a variety of music here, and recommend it.
Y**G
Five Stars
One of my favorite of her albums, the tracks flow naturally one into another without being repetitive or boring.
S**S
Another genius!!
I only found out about this superb singer/songwriter whilst looking for Mary Gauthier albums, and it was suggested this may also appeal, well it certainly does shes terrific. The musicians complement her perfectly and although this album dates back to 2005 her present renderings are just as beautiful and well written and clever so I will buy more!!
C**E
Lovely cd.
Lovely cd.
J**S
paradise
this is my favorite eliza album requiem must go down in songwriting history it is a must buy cd
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