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Hot Hot Heat
Make Up the Breakdown
label: Sub Pop
released: 10.08.02
our score: 4.5 out of 5.0
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Hot Hot Heat...
it's a band that almost sounds like it needs the word "The"
added to it's front... especially once you take into account that
an untrained ear could easily lump them together with the rest
of the "garage rock revivalists." This would be a mistake,
of course, as Canada's Hot Hot Heat have more in common with post-punk
/ early new-wavers XTC, Elvis Costello, and a bit of the later
Clash.
In fact, if
Make Up the Breakdown not had as glossy of production
(rest easy, it's not that glossy) it would fit right
in as an overlooked gem of the early 80's post-punk era. So, where
comparisons to The Strokes may be tempting, Make Up the Breakdown
is more akin to the album The Faint would have made before Blank
Wave Arcade if Blank Wave wasn't dipping into retro
waters already.
Where Hot
Hot Heat truly excels, however, is not in their homages to other
bands' past glories, but in their ability to write and enjoyable
and witty songs bursting with tightly arranged musicianship, with
most songs managing to clock in at under three minutes. There's
nary a "bad track," and high points like the twitchy
synth-pop of "Bandages" and "Oh, Godamnit"
rank up there as some of the best songs released in 2002.
So, if you
somehow missed this gem in 2002 like we did, you'd be wise to
pick it up next time you're at the shop. Make Up the Breakdown
was one of 2002's best albums, the only problem was that hardly
anyone heard it.
17-Jun-2002
7:09PM
If you
liked Make Up the Breakdwon...
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Tracklist:
1.
Naked in the City Again
2. No, Not Now
3. Get in or Get Out
4. Bandages
5. Oh, Godamnit
6. Aveda
7. This Town
8. Talk to Me, Dance With Me
9. Save Us S.O.S.
10. In Cairo
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