The evolution of any artist is a satisfying journey for their fans to follow. From the first demos, to the stopgap EPs, to the final album, musicians can chronicle significant chunks of their life through their discography; listeners who stick long enough start to feel like they’re on that trail, too. Jordan Reynolds has certainly embarked on a steady uphill climb with her pastoral project Rose Hotel. After emigrating last year to Atlanta from Bowling Green, Kentucky, she gigged her wistful songs round town with just a guitar and her pedal board. By the time she unveiled her first EP—gorgeous home recordings that seemed spun from alpine air—a crew of seasoned rockers had already begun to rewrite those private confessions into stage-ready crowd pleasers.
The prospect of a new Rose Hotel album, then, should excite those further back on the trail as we’re guaranteed to witness a gentle ascent into unknown territory. While this single (or “cassingle,” as they’ve dubbed it) might double back to a pair of songs from Always A Good Reason, we can already hear a pinch of what the new band adds to the Rose Hotel canon. As both “One Thing” and “Honestly” demonstrate, these supple arrangements fit Reynolds’s intimate worlds like well-worn mittens; good dollops of tasteful steel guitar swirl around a very James Taylor-esque rendition of the former, while the hushed choirs in the latter add a reverent touch.
If anything, this “reimagined” single stands as a landmark on the trail. Reynolds has hiked up quite the distance so far; from here, we followers can catch our breaths and gaze out at both how high we’ve climbed, and what breathtaking heights still lie ahead.
Rose Hotel will perform tomorrow, June 2, at the EARL alongside Ruby the RabbitFoot and DEGA. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8-10. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Web: rosehotelmusic.com
Bandcamp: rosehotel.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @rosehotelmusic
Instagram: @rose_hotel
SoundCloud: @rose-hotel
Twitter: @rosehotelmusic