Hotel Bleu, the fourth album from alternative outfit Broadside, demonstrates an earnest and sensible progression for the group. The album recalls the youthful energy of the band’s early works, as well as the mature and darker tinges of 2020’s Into the Raging Sea, and brings all of these together with a modern sensibility. Broadside gathers an eclectic blend of pop, rock, and alternative sounds, occupying a unique sonic space and making for a truly entertaining listen from top to bottom.

“Stranger” opens with a tasteful and earwormy guitar riff before Ollie Baxxter’s instantly recognizable vocal timbre introduces us to a stadium-rock anthem of a chorus. Baxxter has always crafted memorable hooks, but melodies are a particular highlight of this album, with moments such as “Dazed and Confused” being especially of note. The pop-forward, boy band-like sensibilities of the chorus are interwoven with dance beats on the drums, synth and horns of indie groups, and guitars that take the reins to craft an explosive listen. Broadside cleverly leans into the alternative pop world with synth-heavy tracks like “Bang” and “Feel Love,” with Baxxter singing sensual falsettos atop open-hat drum beats and expertly subtle guitar licks. The variation in musical composition and arrangement from Broadside’s typical guitar-driven rock stylings (though this is still seen on cuts like the aforementioned “Stranger” or early single “One Last Time”) is a welcome change, feeling authentic to the band while still capitalizing on current production trends.

As this is album four, it is fair to say that Broadside are not newcomers to alternative music, but a standout factor of this album is their willingness to collaborate with the newer, younger artists exploding onto the scene. Magnolia Park’s Josh Roberts features on “Bang,” while Honey Revenge’s lead vocalist Devin Papadol lends her vocals to “Lucid,” complimenting Baxxter’s yearning and angst with a tenderness and serenity that tells a reflective story of a love since lost. “Cruel” features The Home Team vocalist Brian Butcher trading lines with Baxxter and crafting a conversation within their lyrics. Baxxter’s attitude is presented as pessimistic and jaded, singing in the chorus “face-to-face with the truth, darkness always takes you head on,” while Butcher cuts in on the second verse to provide a more hopeful foil to the previous verse’s outlook, stating “I know you feel low, you’ve been down this bad before.” The two then join together to defiantly proclaim “how you rebuild is all that matters.” It is this precise level of maturity in lyricism that elevates Hotel Bleu above Broadside’s prior works, showcasing personal growth through lived experiences as well as growth in the craft of songwriting.

Hotel Bleu is, without a doubt, Broadside’s most captivating work yet. The album retains a clear identity and message throughout without feeling repetitive, presents an engaging and dynamic listen for longtime listeners and new prospective fans alike, and represents a large milestone for the band as they continue to evolve and mature as artists.

7/10