When I unwrapped Lost Hotel I was not familiar with the music of Wade Bowen, so I came to the disc with no expectations other than that I knew Bowen was predominately associated with the Texas music scene and that the Waco, TX native had a new video on CMT for the lead single “God Bless This Town.”The album kicks off with “God Bless This Town” and if you have ever lived in a small town it will sound very familiar: the rumors that run around the town, yet the feeling of being torn between wanting out and the security familiarity brings.The themes of loss and loneliness run through this album, which Wade calls a “serious” album.    Songs like “One Step Closer,” “Lay It All On You” and “Lost Control Of My Heart” deal with the loss of relationships from slightly varying degrees.  “Resurrection,” along those same lines, is a revenge-filled break-up song written with another Texas songsmith, Bleu Edmondson.  “Perfect Silence” also deals with relationships, but not in the lose of one and is a beautiful love song Bowen wrote for his wife, one of only two love songs he says he has ever written.  In my opinion, if Bowen wants mainstream radio recognition, this should be the next song on the release list.But it’s not all mid-tempo songs of remorse and longing or ballads.  Songs like “Handle” and “Crazy Enough” show the more rocking, barroom side of Wade Bowen.A couple of songs on the album bear looking a little further into.  The first is “Lost Hotel,” the title track.  Bowen states that this song “represents the seriousness of the record that I wanted to get across to people as a songwriter and artist.”  The song simply speaks of giving up:     You lose all your good sense     You go way over the edge     There’s no turning back     Once you’ve checked in to the Lost HotelBut, as bleak a picture as Bowen and co-writer Greg Brownd paint, redemption can also be found at the Lost Hotel:     So say a prayer for the weary     Say a prayer for the lost     Say a prayer for the hungry     They’ve all paid the highest cost     Hope is there to find     We’re just so quick to condemn     Lay your hands on a desolate soul     ‘Cause someday you just might see them     Down at the Lost HotelOne of my favorite songs on the album is the closer “Mood Ring.”  The song is written by Aliway, Jennifer Kimball and Paul Wayne Thorn and follows a man into a store while he struggles internally with questions about the woman he is with.  It seems nothing pleases her and he isn’t even sure that she wants him around, so his solution is to buy a mood ring:     If it turns black, I should turn back     If it turns red, she likes what I said     If it turns blue, I should leave her alone     If it turns green, she wants me I knowThe song has an infectious chorus and the accessibility of any mainstream song without giving up its identity, except it is over 6 minutes long, so that chances of it being heard on the radio are slim.With Lost Hotel, Wade Bowen has shown himself to have the potential to be another breakout artist from the fertile Texas music scene.  His voice reminds me of my favorite bourbon, it has enough bite to make it stand out, but it smooth enough for repeated servings and could easily appeal to a more mass audience without being watered down.You can purchased Lost Hotel at LoneStarMusic.com