Eliza Gilkyson,
Paradise Hotel



Label: Red House Records

(5 out of 5)

Eliza Gilkyson is many things: mother, grandmother, political activist. And on Paradise Hotel, she solidifies her place as one of the most powerful and soulful musicians in Texas.

On 2004's Land of Milk and Honey, Gilkyson expressed her disgust at the war in Iraq, the military hawks in Washington, the cyclical nature of abuse, and more. Her voice struck a chord throughout Texas and beyond, garnering the best reviews of her career and a Grammy® nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album. (She lost the Grammy vote to Texas native Steve Earle, who won for The Revolution Starts…Now.)

Building on the success of Land of Milk and Honey, as well as more than a half-dozen earlier albums, the Austin resident furthers her exploration of our modern condition on Paradise Hotel.

The mocking "Man of God" (listen) is perhaps the hardest hitting criticism of President Bush recorded to date:

The cowboy came from out of the west
With his snakeskin boots and his bulletproof vest
Gang of goons and his big war chest
Fortunate son he was doubly blessed
Corporate cronies and the chiefs of staff
Bowing to the image of the golden calf
Startin' up wars in the name of God's son
Gonna blow us all the way to kingdom come
Man of God, man of God
That ain't the teachings of a man of God

Gilkyson draws on the strength of other Texas musicians in taking Bush to task for failing to live up to his professed moral code. Michael Ramos, Shawn Colvin, Rich Brotherton, Marcia Ball, Slaid Cleaves, Jeff Plankenhorn, and Ray Wylie Hubbard are among the dozen artists who accompany Gilkyson in the chorus on "Man of God."

"Requiem" (listen) is a moving tribute to the victims of last December's tsunami. As a sort of retort to the empty religion of Bush and his cronies, here faith is upheld as a salve to heal the wounded and comfort the weary:

Mother Mary, full of grace, awaken
All our homes are gone, our loved ones taken
Taken by the sea
Mother Mary, calm our fears, have mercy
Drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy
Hear our mournful plea
Our world has been shaken
We wander our homelands forsaken
In the dark night of the soul
Bring some comfort to us all
Oh mother Mary come and carry us in your embrace
That our sorrows may be faced

Gilkyson is accompanied by daughter Delia Castillo in a haunting melody that brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it. Even now, a dozen listenings later, I get choked up each time I hear the plaintive cries of "Requiem."

While "Man of God" and "Requiem" are the heavyweights, there are plenty of viable contenders. Gilkyson is so adept at crafting heartfelt lyrics, and she is surrounded by so many talented musicians, it's no surprise that there's not a weak song among the 10 tracks on Paradise Hotel.

Grammy season is still months away, but Gilkyson has to be considered an early frontrunner for at least another nomination.

Paradise Hotel is simply a stunning album.

Buy Paradise Hotel from Lone Star Music for only $15.99.

July 27, 2005