Dream Days at the Hotel Existence

Untitled

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence is the sixth studio album by Australian rock group Powderfinger, released by Universal Records on 2 June 2007 in Australia, and 19 November of the same year in the United Kingdom. It was released with a limited edition bonus DVD, entitled Powderfinger's First XI, featuring eleven music videos spanning the band's career, from the first single, "Tail" to "Bless My Soul", the band's latest single before the release of the album.

Following the success of their previous album, Vulture Street, Powderfinger toured and then spent three years on hiatus, releasing a best of album, Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994-2000, in the process. They reunited in late 2006 to write songs for the album, which was recorded in Los Angeles, California, in early 2007 by producer Rob Schnapf. The first single from the album, "Lost and Running" was released on 12 May, 2007, and reached number five on the ARIA singles chart. The second single "I Don't Remember", was released on 12 August, 2007.

The album received critical acclaim, with many reviewers commenting that the album was "consistent" and "distinctly Australian". The album encountered controversy relating to the song "Black Tears" with claims that it may have influenced the Palm Island death in custody trial. Powderfinger released an abridged version of the song as a result of these claims.

Background

During television interviews in 2006, Bernard Fanning stated that Powderfinger was working on a new album to be released the following year. The band reunited in late 2006 to write songs for the album, which was recorded in Los Angeles, California, in early 2007 by producer Rob Schnapf, best known for his work with Beck and The Vines. On Powderfinger's website, guitarist Ian Haug said that the upcoming album was an "exciting new direction" for the band's music. After a month of recording, on 2 March, 2007, Fanning made an announcement on Australian radio station Triple J that tracking was complete, mixing the album was to follow, and the approximate release date was June. Fanning also stated that several of the tracks on the album feature session pianist Benmont Tench.

Herald Sun Hit announced the album's title as Dream Days at the Hotel Existence with production by Rob Schnapf. The title of the album was drawn from the book "The Brooklyn Follies" by Paul Auster, which Fanning read during the recording. He stated the concept of the title related to escapism, and that he felt it an appropriate sentiment to attach to the music of the album.

Recording and production

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence was recorded in a different manner to Powderfinger's previous records, as the band sought a different sound to past works. Melbourne's Sing Sing studios were not used for recording unlike previous albums. Following a brief blog entry on the band's MySpace blog telling fans to expect a new album, the band began recording in late January 2007 at the historic Sunset Sound studio. Powderfinger had already written most of the album before departing to the United States, although the band had used different techniques in putting this album together. In particular, Powderfinger wrote songs in parts and brought them together. Some songs were written in pairs or trios, whilst other songs were written in parts by different people, and then combined. According to the band, this created a more "diverse" and "fresh" approach.

Another new introduction was American producer Rob Schnapf. Albums had been produced previously by American producer Nick DiDia. The band used different approaches in putting the album together as "it comes back to the sound the five of us can make together", as said by singer Bernard Fanning. Powderfinger guitarist Darren Middleton commented that as a rule they preferred not to put together an album that was just "plain". As the style of writing differed, the band identified the need for piano performances in many of their songs, and enlisted veteran pianist Benmont Tench to play parts throughout.

Album and single releases

The album was released in Australia on 2 June 2007, and in the United Kingdom on 19 November of the same year, whilst the single "Lost and Running" was released on iTunes and as a CD single on 11 May, 2007. Certain versions of the release contained a selected collection of Powderfinger music videos spanning their entire career from their first single "Tail" through to the most recent single before Dream Days at the Hotel Existence; "Bless My Soul," on a bonus DVD, titled Powderfinger's First XI The music video for "Lost and Running" was also included, and was dubbed The Twelfth Man.

Several songs from the album were launched to Perth fans as free music downloads via PerthNow, a Perth based newspaper. Fans were required to obtain a "codeword" from the newspaper, then submit it online to download the tracks.

The first single from Dream Days at the Hotel Existence was "Lost and Running" and the video clip, which was directed by Damon Escott and Stephen Lance of Head Pictures, began showing in Australia on the 21 April, 2007. The single made its Australian radio debut on 16 April, 2007, but had been available for several days beforehand on the Powderfinger's MySpace web page. An exclusive early release of the song was played by Triple J on 13 April, 2007. "Lost and Running" reached number five on the ARIA singles chart.

The second single from the album was "I Don't Remember". The film clip for the song was created by Fifty Fifty Films, who have created music videos for the group before including "Passenger" and "Like a Dog". The song was aired on radio on 9 July, 2007, the music video was released in July, and the CD single was released for sales on 4 August, 2007. The video was shot at Samford State School in Powderfinger's home city of Brisbane and features many of the school's students.

On 16 November 2007, it was announced that the third single from Dream Days at the Hotel Existence would be the album's sixth track, "Nobody Sees". A video was released on the same day as the announcement and the single is set to be released as a digital single on 1 December 2007.

Response

Chart performance

The album debuted in the ARIA Album Charts on 11 June, 2007 at number one, becoming Powderfinger's fourth album to peak at the top spot. The album was certified platinum in its first week of sales, and was its double platinum certification was announced later. A week after its release, the album achieved the highest first-week sales figures of any new release in 2007, with total sales of 40,847, thus making it the fastest selling album of the year in Australia, superseding Michael Buble's third album Call Me Irresponsible. Dream Days at the Hotel Existence broke the Australian digital album sales record in its first week, with over 3,000 digital sales.

Charts (2007)	Peak position	Certification
Australian ARIA Albums Chart	1	2x platinum
New Zealand Albums Chart	22	—

Critical response

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence was well received by reviewers. DVD Orchard rated the album 9/10, stating that Powderfinger have "maintained their undisputed knack for songwriting". Visitors to the website also rated the album 9/10.

Herald Sun music journalist, Cameron Adams, described the album positively as "in a word: consistent," stating that nothing much had changed between this album and previous Powderfinger albums. Meanwhile, Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bernard Zuel said "you couldn't fault the playing, the singing or, most of the time, the arrangements here", but that "it is Powderfinger's first dull album". His review stated that there was nothing new and adventurous in the album, and that everything had been done before. Review website FasterLouder commented that the album feels "as tight as their previous albums" and spreads out a charm that is "distinctly Australian", while noting that the album was not recorded in Australia.

"Black Tears" Controversy

Main article: Black Tears

On 2 May 2007, "Black Tears", song #9 on Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, sparked controversy when after claims its lyrics could invoke prejudice in the Palm Island death in custody trial. Lawyers for the accused, Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, lodged a complaint to the Queensland Attorney-General relating to the lyrics of the song. According to Hurley's legal team, the initial lyrics dealt with the "death of a Palm Island man, Mulrunji Doomadgee", in stating "an island watch-house bed, a black man's lying dead".

Bernard Fanning made a media statement in response to the complaint, stating that the band had never intended for the song to contain "even the slightest suggestion of any prejudice". He also said that the band would still release the album on the planned date, but with an alternate version of "Black Tears". Fanning later stated that he "was not angry about having to change his lyrics, but lamented the lack of Australian musicians willing to challenge the status quo."

Cover art

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence's cover art was designed by Aaron Hayward & David Homer of Debaser, a New South Wales based design organisation. The recipient of the 2007 ARIA Award for "Best Cover Art", the album art features a photograph of a road leading into the Australian outback horizon. In the centre, placed in the sky in relation to the background, there is a window with a crimson curtain. Within this window is a hotel room, as per the name of the album, in which a man with no head in a suit is seated at the end of the bed while watching the television.

File:Powderfingerheader.gif

The typeface used on the album's cover art.

Above the window is the album title and at the top of the cover is the band's name in the uniquely craftier typeface, created specifically for the album. Though the general design of the cover is that of a 1930s hotel in style, the typeface juxtaposes the general design with being a rather futuristic, science-fiction styled typeset. This is the second futuristic style that the band has used for their name, the first being on their earlier studio album, Vulture Street.

The rear of the album features the same highway image from the front, however it has a roadsign on the left hand side bearing the words "Hotel Existence" and the number "395". The rear of the album also contains the track listing, which is identical for both the regular version and the special edition DVD version. The track listing for the DVD is contained inside the sleeve.

Touring

Daniel Johns and Bernard Fanning performing on the Across the Great Divide tour in Sydney.

Tickets for a nationwide tour of launch shows for Dream Days at the Hotel Existence went on sale on May 10, 2007, on the band's website, with tickets to the general public released a day later. Powderfinger also toured in regional New South Wales and northern Victoria. Australian pianist Lachlan Doley was enlisted to play piano and keyboard parts on their live performances in these shows. His performances were welcomed by critics and audiences, with AdelaideNow commenting that "local ring-in Lachlan Doley added shimmering keys to the band's richly textured sound". Powderfinger and Doley performed the single "Lost and Running" on popular Australian variety show Rove on June 17, 2007. The group performed at Splendour in the Grass on 4 August, 2007, and then followed up by performing at Triple J's AWOL Concert in Karratha, Western Australia on August 18, 2007.

Across the Great Divide Tour

Main article: Across the Great Divide tour

Powderfinger announced the Across the Great Divide nationwide tour on 12 June 2007 with co-headline Australian rock group Silverchair, also reformed after a three year hiatus. The tour is set to not only feature in the capital cities, but is also due to feature in fourteen regional centres as well. The aim of the tour is to support reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. According to Fanning, "the idea is to show both bands are behind the idea of reconciliation".

Personnel

Powderfinger Bernard Fanning - Guitar and vocals John Collins - Bass guitar Ian Haug - Guitars Darren Middleton - Guitars Jon Coghill - Drums

Additional musicians Benmont Tench - Piano and keyboards Production Rob Schnapf - Producer Doug Boehm - Engineer

Track listing

All songs were written and performed by Powderfinger with performances by pianist Benmont Tench.

1. "Head Up in the Clouds" – 3:47
2. "I Don't Remember" – 3:41
3. "Lost and Running" – 3:42
4. "Wishing on the Same Moon" – 4:32
5. "Who Really Cares (Featuring the Sound of Insanity)" – 5:10
6. "Nobody Sees" – 4:14
7. "Surviving" – 3:45
8. "Long Way to Go" – 3:46
9. "Black Tears" – 2:30
10. "Ballad of a Dead Man" – 5:29
11. "Drifting Further Away" – 3:40
12. "Down by the Dam" – 4:29

Limited edition bonus DVD

Released under the titles Powderfinger's First XI and The Twelfth Man, the bonus DVD features eleven music videos by Powderfinger spanning their entire recording career, and also includes the launch single to Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, "Lost and Running".

Powderfinger's First XI

1. "Tail" – 4:24
2. "Living Type" – 3:25
3. "Pick You Up" – 3:30
4. "Passenger" – 4:39
5. "Good Day Ray"^[A] – 1:50
6. "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" – 2:18
7. "My Kind of Scene" – 4:31
8. "Like a Dog" – 4:41
9. "On My Mind"^[B] – 3:40
10. "Sunsets" (Acoustic version) – 3:57
11. "Bless My Soul" – 4:06

• The Twelfth Man - "Lost and Running" – 3:52

Notes:

^ A. Generally listed as "Good-Day Ray," however it is listed without a hyphen on the CD insert and DVD.

^ B. The video and single for the song "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" were released simply as "On My Mind" without the bracketed title, and the song is listed as such on the DVD.

See also

• Powderfinger
• Powderfinger albums (Discography)