The Hotelier - Goodness (May 27, 2016) Album • Page 123

I'd be really interested in hearing more about Christian's concept of goodness as a fleeting or impermanent thing. Maybe I'm totally off, but that seems to be somewhat in conflict with the statements made in the interview where they said "you can't live in anguish forever." As if this concept of goodness is only temporary, instead of a sustainable idea. I don't know, I certainly think that take on the record is very interesting and gives it another layer of depth, but it seems a bit contradictory.


If I'm just spouting gibberish please ignore me, haha, I'm just intrigued.

 

Nah, I think all things are temporary and come in waves. The idea that goodness can come and go abruptly is an observation, I think the fact that they're focusing on that instead of on the pain or the hardships that come and go in life which is what they were doing on Home is what he meant by "you can't live in anguish forever.".

Obviously life is never going to be good or bad all the time, it just matters where you place your focus.

 

well... goodness as a way of life could be a more permanent idea

compassion even in the face of tragedy, grief, pain, etc

 

Yeah but I don't think that's what the record's about.

 

That viewpoint makes a lot of sense and I actually prefer to it the one I stated. I think a large part of me wants to attach a happily-ever-after to this album, where the goodness lives on forever and everyone lives in a harmonious space of love and compassion. But, as we all know and as SpyKi stated, life doesn't work that way. After sitting down with lyrics, I was a little surprised, only because I assumed they would be... blatantly happier, I guess. Not that there isn't a sense of optimism and joy in them, because there certainly is, but songs like Soft Animal, Opening Mail, and Settle The Scar touch upon some very serious subjects and themes. I think my own preconceived ideas of what this record would be prevented me from looking at it this way before, but the idea that this is a 47 minute account of the goodness and grace in life, clearly marked and defined by a beginning and ending, is really interesting and meaningful. Home represents a period of turmoil and unrest; Goodness represents coming to peace and recognizing benevolence. Obviously there will be overlap, but for all the time Home focuses on darkness, this record basks in sunlight. The idealist and grand optimist in me wants to believe that the goodness written about in these songs can be sustainable forever, but if it's a matter of finding it when and where it's available, I can take it. I'm beginning to view this record as a portait of a very specific part of life, one that is natural, peaceful, and uninhibited, and I find that very inspiring and comforting.


I feel like I'm starting to pontificate so I'm going to quit, haha. This is all very abstract thinking on my part so I have no idea if any of it makes sense at all.

 

No, I think you make sense and that's pretty much what I've taken from this record and I find it a lot more interesting than I think I would have had it just been an album of "we're happy now" songs. They're still tackling similar subject matter like difficulties in relationships and death but looking at them in a completely different way. Focusing on the beauty rather than the pain. Maybe that's one of the reasons the language used in the lyrics is more poetic as opposed to home which was quite direct and to the point at times. Something like "Opening Mail" for example though could have been a much darker song had they approached it from a different perspective and while I still find the song sad there's a bigger focus on the positive side of things I think.

 

Deciding not to play a song is not censoring ourselves. It is a decision to perform our catalog in the way we want our fans to hear it. People really like Our Lives and we mostly think that song is funny. We just think the song is written poorly. Hardly anybody sees the song as an anti-police song. That is my fault as the writer. I agree with the problematic sentiments from the other reading of the meaning. I refuse to assert my authority as the songwriter to squash another's interpretation as invalid as other artists who have made lazy and inconsiderate work have done. I think it's important for an artist to respond to their fans. It is a complex situation and we chose this route of dealing with it.

-Christian

On not playing "Housebroken" anymore.

 

That's a great response, unsurprisingly

 

The Hotelier - Home, Like NoPlace Is There LP 2014 tour edition

In case someone is interested...

 

Most really brilliant musicians are. Sort of a thing I've noticed, some bands are worshipped by musicians and not so much by others. Emperor X is similar

 

Interesting that they consider "Our Lives Would Make A Sad, Boring Movie" poorly written (assuming he's referring to it and not "Housebroken again). I think, despite some humorous lines, its a very intelligent song that gets across the idea of unschooling and deconstructionist reasoning pretty well.

 

I feel like he switched back to talking about "Housebroken". I could be wrong though, I definitely don't think "Our Lives" is poorly written though.

 

If I ever made music it would be very influenced by The Glow Pt 2.

 

yeah thats kind of what I figured. I dont think any song on INGO is poorly written.

I'm going to try to teeter on not sounding dismissive and I'll admit I'm tipping into cautious territory, but now that I know that "Housebroken" is written to be an anti-cop statement I like it a little more. I've never hated it or anything, but I've never really paid it much attention either aside from acknowledging its problematic interpretations and how it can alienate some listeners (myself included). I've been in a domestic abuse situation and the song definitely rubs me the wrong way in that sense, but this new light shed on it has made me appreciate it a bit more.

On the flipside I would have never guessed "Life In Drag" is actually about a domestic abuse situation and how dangerous hyper-masculinity can be.

 

I think it made me actually like it less, haha. Just because now I agree with Christian about how poorly written it is in terms of conveying it's message. I don't feel like your thoughts are at all dismissive though.

I love "Life in Drag" more than ever though.

 

Yeah I totally understand why Christian says its poorly written because its true, the message wasnt conveyed very well since I dont think any of us even mentioned it could be about police brutality on AP (although I may be wrong I just dont remember).

 

I cannot believe how great this album is. Such a huge step up from Home, which is crazy cause Home was one of my favorites of 2014.

 

This year is packed tight with incredible releases.
Kanye
Kendrick
Chance
Radiohead
Beyonce
Modern Baseball

 

Well, good to know all of Reddit got to ask The Hotelier about "Housebroken"

there were some great answers in their though for some cool questions.

 

I think people often forget that the people who help them maybe don't want to enter that space immediately when talking to someone. I often feel expected to enter that with them when they bring that up. But! I feel like it is a meaningful experience for them to let me know that I have helped them. And it feels good to know. But sometimes it feels strange. I have no thoughts on what is good or bad etiquette either way though. I want people to approach me. But maybe ask me if its cool before we enter the dark realm.

- Christian

Thought this was an interesting response about people telling him their music helped them through a hard time.

 

That's fair hahaha. I'm writing something long about this album that I'll post in here. I'm finding it hard to sufficiently sum up my thoughts without going into detail about it.

 

Christian answered my question and I'm fangirling pretty hard

 

Finally, I'm so close to figuring out Settle The Scar on guitar

 

no way! I want to learn it too. The main riff is so nice :)

 

Christian answered someone on that Reddit and it's FACGCE tuning but a half step down with a capo on 3. I'm slightly embarrassed I didn't realize it was that tuning before. Also I think Opening Mail is the exact same tuning / capo placement