HHH really comes out here. Now, the casual fan will not appreciate all of the tracks on this disc. There are a number of tracks that continue the trend established through the last several albums (particularly Elevator) - but HHH also ventures into a new land and does it perfectly.
While tunes like "Waiting for Nothing" do not maintain the style of songs like "Picking it Up", the distinct HHH sound is there, and the overall effect is superb.
June 24, 2008This album has an identity crisis (oh emo is the trend, why dont we write emo lyrics too and make some ballads?!?!) no no no, if i wanted to get emotional and listen to some deep, effective, slow music id listen to Coldplay, Elliot Smith, or Bright Eyes, not HOT HOT HEAT.
I used to love LOVE this band, i hope this is not the point they end. The only good song in this album is "5 times out of 100" which is a remastered version of the song released in 2002 (in "Knock, knock, knock"). I hope they havent lost the charm. Please give us the old Hot Hot Heat back, with songs like "Picking it Up", "Running Out Of Time", "Dirty Mouth", "Goodnight Goodnight", "Oh God dammit", "No, not now", "Soldier In a Box" "Naked in the city"
December 29, 2007As far as puns go, the title track on the new album from preternaturally happy organ poppers Hot Hot Heat isn't a very subtle one. Blasting along on the raw sugar surge of triumphant, synthy disco party tracks like their breakout hit "Bandages" seems to have gotten old. So HHH kick off this album by moping around in a bass-heavy, hazy stomp, crying, "It's over now, happiness is limited, but misery has no end." It's like a cuddlier version of those eternal grumps the Walkmen-which isn't necessarily a bad direction for HHH to go. Although as you might expect, the tempo, if not the mood, doesn't stay down for long: "Happiness Ltd." gives way to "Let Me In," a careening, soaring spit-take that fights against the uplift of its chiming bells and strings. The rest of the time, frontman Steve Bays proves he still has a unique way of wringing the syllables of a phrase for all they're worth, weaving around each word like he's circling in for the kill. It's still a blast to listen to Hot Hot Heat when they sound like they're having fun, even if they have to fake it.
December 21, 2007They're getting further away from the new wave revival quiche that made them interesting in the first place, and distinguishable from other record company product like The Hives and The Vines. They can still write decent hooks, but this album attempts the same level of sophisticated production that Elevator did, and that doesn't always seem to fit the material. It comes across like they had a good idea for the hook, and fleshed it out with indie/pop-quiche, wall o'sound production, rather than focusing on songcraft. Sounds like an under-developed Strokes album.
December 20, 2007I tried with this album--oh, how I tried. I was one of those who declared "Elevator" an absolute masterpiece, and argued with people who tried to claim HHH were losing their edge and headed down a slippery slope to VH-1 land. Well, I STILL think "Elevator" was a brilliant album, but its detractors were right, too, apparently, because there is barely a trace of "edge" left on this mushy, bland collection of forgettable pop tunes. There's really only only one song worth repeated listenings, in my opinion, and that's the rousing, punchy "Five Times Out of a Hundred." After two years of production, filled with breathless announcements from the band that made it sound as though the second coming of "Sergeant pepper's" was on the way, this dreck feels like a betrayal. Why, then, even give it two stars? Because it still features the magnificent Steve Bays on vocals. Whatever blame he shares for the lackluster songwriting, his tortured yelping is still balm for the soul.
October 31, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(8 reviews)
