Hotel Two-Way

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Described by Time Out New York as "lush, jaunty, and smooth," this Brooklyn-based pop band produces melodic, well-crafted pop based around Cohan's witty and thoughtful lyrics and Highstone's airy harmonies, reminiscent of Isobel Campbell and Tracey Thorn. Their influences range from little-known eighties bands from the UK (Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue) to the more current sounds of pals Fountains of Wayne and New York's Candy Butchers. Critics have compared Tryst with Belle & Sebastian, Elliot Smith, and Aimee Mann; some new acoustic tunes carry suggestions of Divine Comedy and folksters Iron and Wine.

The band's first EP, produced by Fountains' Chris Collingwood and mixed by Ivy’s Andy Chase, was followed by regular performances on the New York pop scene including appearances at Joe McGinty's Loser's Lounge. The band then began to travel extensively, punctuated by return shows in NY (Mercury Lounge, Southpaw, Pianos, Sine); over three years the band played numerous shows in Paris, London, Dublin, and most recently, Tokyo. Tryst released their 2nd album, "Kids of Big Stars," in December 2003. The album garnered significant rotation on college radio stations on the East Coast and Midwest, the praise and attention of indie press, and a growing audience from New York to Tokyo. June 2005 marks the release of Tryst’s third album, "Hotel Two-Way" (MH Records).

Album Description
The title of Tryst’s third album derives from a Tokyo love-hotel which songwriter Tim Cohan lived near for a year. Recently, Cohan had a Japanese friend call the hotel to ask if Tryst could put its photo on the album cover. The hotel said sure, and explained it had actually just bought a new sign with a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge on it – either a weird coincidence or a good omen for Brooklyn-based Tryst.

"Hotel Two-Way" is Cohan’s most personal album to date. Each song tells a story, usually about love and heartbreak, drawing on Cohan’s personal experiences and mixing in the imagined lives of others. In "Jessica," the narrator wishes he could have saved Private Jessica Lynch. "Alexis" is a fantasy about a round-card girl that Cohan met at an amateur boxing match in Del Rey, Florida. "Hotel Two-Way" is about a guy experiencing the ups and downs of being unemployed in NYC.

"Hotel Two-Way" was recorded at Hoex Studios in Albany, near Cohan’s home town of Saratoga Springs. Mike Viola of The Candy Butchers mixed "Abigail" and added vocals to "Still." Additional mixing was done at Stratosphere in Manhattan.

Tracks:

You Took Advantage of Me (Present Arms) - Kathryn Evans
There's a Small Hotel (On Your Toes) - Christine Andreas and Lara Teeter
Blue Moon - Kim Criswell
Little Girl Blue (Jumbo) - Bertice Reading
Manhattan (Garrick Gaieties) - Julia Shore and the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra
Ten Cents a Dance (Simple Simon) - Elisabeth Welch
I Could Write a Book (Pal Joey) - Matt Bogart and Jessica Boevers
Glad to Be Unhappy (On Your Toes) - Christine Andreas
Bewitched (Pal Joey) - Sian Phillips
Mountain Greenery (The Girl Friend) - Mark Hutchinson and Barbara King
My Heart Stood Still (One Dam Thing After Another) - Salena Jones
Johnny One Note (Babes in Arms) - Christiane Noll

Customer Reviews:

Practically the same old thing.......2006-12-10

The charm of a Rodgers and Hart song is the words. Rodgers was good, but without Hart, he would not be nearly as well remembered or loved. His stint with Hammerstein depended on the maudlin stupidity of Hammerstein's words attracting the vacuity of the american public. They suck. Though they do achieve a kind of amateurish poetry that other lyricists don't even try for. Hammerstein, which I've never heard anyone say before, could be quite witty. That said, this CD. I stupidly asked about the timings (I bought this through the Amazon Marketplace and consequently didn't lose much money) after I'd ordered the CD. Most of the verses and choruses of "Manhattan" and "Mt. Greenery" are, as usual, left out. "As usual." That's the phrase. This is an "as usual" collection of R&H standards. It has as far as I'm concerned only 3 things to recommend it. "Bewitched, Bothered..." is sung with the original earthy lyric which after about 65 years of the Doris Day version was a joy. I think that track, by the way, is from the English cast revival, but I'm not sure. "Small Hotel" is sung complete, all the words, including the verse and the patter. And sigh "You Took Advantage of Me" is given a wonderful rendition, I thought. The rest is pleasant, achingly familiar background music. Maybe in another 100 years or so, all (or most or lots) R&H's rarities with complete lyrics will have made it to CDs (or their equivalent), and even hopefully some more studio cast recordings of their shows. Complete. I was very disappointed in this CD, and very glad I only spent $10.50 total for it.

Average customer rating:

Not worth the asking price..................

Wall to Wall Richard Rodgers
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000068TMM
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

Mahattan
Little Girl Blue
Ten Cents A Dance
I Have Dreamed
Mountain Greenery
It Never Entered My Mind
Climb Ev'ry Mountain/You'll Never Walk Alone
There's A Small Hotel
You Are Too Beautiful
Sing For Your Supper
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
Johnny One Note
Where Or When
People Will Say We're In Love
There Is Nothin' Like A Dame

Customer Reviews:

Not worth the asking price.........................2007-05-04

Have to be honest. I've got dozens of Broadway musical recordings, along with loads of 'em by lounge-singers and ballad performers. The performances here are, for the most part, nothing special; in fact, most of the male voices are kind of "stinky." Sorry, guys. Singer, Steve Ross ("I Have Dreamed"), does have a very unusual voice, I'll give him that. But, but, but........the only male singer (Patrick Quinn) placed in the only romantic duet ("People Will Say We're In Love") has a voice much more suited to Broadway comedic roles---nothing romantic-sounding about it.

The girls come off better. Maureen McG. is her reliable self, and Judy K. and Debbie G. are their normal and known selves.

In the end, I recommend saving your money for better done songs from Broadway.

****

Average customer rating:

Pretty good

Collector's Rodgers and Hart
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Box Office
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004SDBZ
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Overture [A Connecticut Yankee]
My Heart Stood Still [A Connecticut Yankee] - Dick Foran, Julie Warren
Thou Swell [A Connecticut Yankee] - Dick Foran, Julie Warren
On a Desert Island With Thee [A Connecticut Yankee] - Chester Stratton,
To Keep My Love Alive [From A Connecticut Yankee] - Vivienne Segal
Can't You Do a Friend a Favor? [A Connecticut Yankee] - Dick Foran, Vivienne Segal
I Feel at Home With You [A Connecticut Yankee] - Chester Stratton,
You Always Love the Same Girl [A Connecticut Yankee] - Dick Foran
Finale [A Connecticut Yankee] - Dick Foran, Vivienne Segal
This Can't Be Love - Milton Berle, Betty Garrett
Falling in Love With Love - Vic Damone, Marie Greene
Lady Is a Tramp - Betty Garrett
There's a Small Hotel - Vic Damone, Marie Greene
Ev'rything I've Got - Milton Berle, Betty Garrett
Here in My Arms - Marie Greene
Mountain Greenery - Milton Berle
Manhattan - Vic Damone, Betty Garrett
Who Are You? - Allan Jones
Bombardier Song - Bing Crosby
Soon - Al Bowlly
Down by the River - Al Bowlly
Blue Moon - Connee Boswell
On Your Toes - Jack Whiting