Some great songs on this cool little stopgap
Alex Wettreich | New York, NY | 12/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hotel Baltimore is a between-album release to placate the baying fanbase, but it's got some amazing songs on it. El Matador is my favorite -- it's an early-Costello-type 2 1/2 minute adrenalized melody blast that forces you to play air guitar, air bass and air drums at the same time. Missing The Boat is rockin' too, and Baby Freeze Queen II is gorgeous in a Spin My Wheels vein. And Altar Boy is a really fun song that gets stuck in your head for days on end. It reminds me of Costello too, but this time lyrically -- it's got that casually dismissive vibe about it, and uses little observations to draw a portrait of a person. Anyway, the whole thing is excellent, get it. And also check out the unofficial CM site at come.to/cottonmather"
Our Before and After
CKL | Pa. | 05/30/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The seven songs on this ultimately satisfying little EP play like a series of outtakes, although it's anyone's guess whether anything here is from the KONTIKI (1997) era or from sessions for the new album which is eleged to be completed and awaiting a record deal and/or the right moment. (With the noted exception of the herculean efforts of Alex at the Manchurian site, information from the Cotton Mather camp is otherwise a little tough to come by!) This disc has no real thematic or structural thread other than bandleader Robert Harrison's voice and, of course, the great tunes!"Lost My Motto" isn't a big departure from the original (from COTTON IS KING (1994)). It has a slightly harder edge and clocks in at a minute shorter. "Altar Boy (Jimbo's Theme)" would have fit quite well on KONTIKI. "Missing the Boat" is a wall-of-fuzz full-tilt rocker. "John Wayne Jung" is a great instrumental built around a sinister organ line and guitar feedback. There's also a sublime cover of Arthur Alexander's "Dream Girl", a sixties (I think) ballad reminiscent of the first three-quarters of "The End Of The Line" (from COTTON IS KING). The EP is performed by the newest lineup of the band which has recently been touring in England: besides Harrison (vocals, guitar) and the dependable Whit Williams (guitar, vocals), there's Josh Gravelin (bass) and Dana Mizer (drums). Williams and Mizer also supported Harrison on KONTIKI.(Total Disc Time: 16:31)"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1