The Chess Hotel

The Elms | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal South
• ASIN: B000F5WNRI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,105 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Elms are everything I love about rock, May 9, 2006

By 

T-Bone "The Loonie" (Sugar Land, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chess Hotel (Audio CD)

I first discovered these guys with Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll. That album was catchy, well written, and well produced. It was the first cd by a Christian Rock band I had ever bought. I consider myself a religious fellow, but I always felt Christian rock lacked a certain depth. These guys though, they had it from the moment I heard it. I always enjoyed that cd, but as I listened, I felt it missed that little spark that makes an album truly memorable. A stand alone. This new album, The Chess Hotel, has that little spark. This is real, grinding American Rock with well balanced and well placed melodic power pop numbers along the way. Just the way I like it. If Cheap Trick and Cream had a child, this would be it. Love it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balls to the Wall, September 26, 2006

By 

Jos (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chess Hotel (Audio CD)

If you're in the mood for some good rock 'n roll, the kind that gives you goosebumps and makes you want to speed as you turn up the volume in your car, then check out The Elms' The Chess Hotel. Compared with the previous albums of said band, The Elms certainly reveal a maturity to their style. The phrase, "balls to the wall," encapsulates the whole of the album perfectly. However, they still retain the distinct musical idiosyncrasies that made me love their previous albums. Catchy riffs, pop sensibility, and relevant lyrics come together and show the genuine attitude of the band. They really love what they do. The theme of The Chess Hotel attests to this fact, as The Elms expose the rigors of small-town living where following one's heart is not encouraged, much less done. Whereas The Elms seem to have no theme in their previous albums, The Chess Hotel explores a myriad of facets with its theme, adding something new and pleasant to the mix. The Elms complement the rough and tough side of small-town life with a raw, pure, and natural sound. You feel the emotion and the grit with the seemingly pretentious vocals that call forth your attention and guitars that bleed through your ears. The rhythm section of the band maintains the crucial heartbeat of the band, and at times makes you want to shake it.

Songs such as "Who Puts Rock'n Roll in Your Blood" and "The Chess Hotel" engage you in a sonorous experience. With a bluesy, catchy riff, the former presents The Elms as an answer to the title question while subtly offering the band's hard work as a motivator to those following their heart. The latter speaks of blue-collar burnout, revealing the reality of many a small-town folk. Owen Thomas, lead singer, truly shines vocally in this one. Not to mention, the song is catchy as hell.

The Elms draw from a multitude of 60's and 70's rock bands. One can hear characteristics of The Who, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Badfinger, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, The Byrds, and Cream, just to name a few. While drawing influence from these bands, The Elms create a sound unique to them. This isn't an imitation band. They're the real deal. You won't regret buying this album, plus it's under $10, a great bargain.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone else uses lyrics..., May 8, 2006

By 

Stephen (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chess Hotel (Audio CD)

Simply put, 'The Chess Hotel' is the best pure rock and roll album this side of the 2G mark. Every song on the album excels at what it was set out to do.

I am the World - Punch you in the face
Who Puts Rock and Roll in Your Blood? - causes the listener to analyze his/her self
Nothin' to Do With Love - Be a Hit single
Makes Good Sense - have a catchy melody
Left My Body - Chill
She's Cold! - prepare your anger
The Chess Hotel - climax your anger with yelling and a angry guitar solo
Bring Me Your Tea - give you a break from electric guitars so you can reflect and realize how awesome this album is
The Way I Will - Bring your catchy, melodic, "mm" side back to life
The Downtown King - Destroy it
Black Peach - Bring it back to life
Towers and The Trains - combines all the aspects above to create a `supersong' in which everyone can show their talents and still have the song very pleasing to the ear
Ive Been Wrong - give you reflection period of the album so you can decide how to write your review (also gives you a break from all the air guitar and air drums you've been playing)

Listeners of `The Chess Hotel' will want to jump around, sing along, sit down, play with it, listen to it again, and again and again. `The Chess Hotel' combines everything good in the world and puts it into song.