Customer Reviews

Caution

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I recently got this album at a cd release/concert in HWM's and my hometown of Gainesville, Florida. After giving it repeated listens, I can honestly say that it is the band's most mature album to date. Many fans criticize the band for being progressive, but in a punk music scene that is becoming increasingly stagnant, progression hardly sounds like a bad idea. The new album is a huge step above their previous effort, "A Flight and a Crash", taking the ambiguity of that album but making inspiring songs. Ever since the band landed a deal with Epitaph records, they have started to show increasing signs of creativity, using synthesizers and pianos in interesting places to create a sound that is both ambitious and beautiful. On this album, both lyrics and music are much less straightforward than on their previous efforts, making the replay value much, much higher. The lyrics are more introspective this time around, showcasing the first HWM lyrics about a romantic relationship that I've ever seen. The emotion is more subdued than the rawness of 1998's "No Division", which may prove to be more effective in the end, after repeated listenings. All in all, this album is scorching, just as all of the music this band has ever made. If they ever come even remotely close to your town, go see them. It will change your life if their music already hasn't.

...This is the review i did about a year and a half ago... I stand by it...

"The only thing odd or not-to-like about this album is its fairly ambiguous title. Other than that...

This is simply one of the best albums I have heard in years. Years. While 'A Flight and A Crash' was a major point of departure, stylistically, this album refines and improves upon that sound, while also harkening back to earlier work. If I had to define it in terms of prior releases (not fair to it at all), I'd say it bridges the gap between 'A Flight and A Crash,' and 'Fuel for the Hate Game,' both of which are phenomenal.

This is the kind of album that makes people start bands. Some of the most powerful, anthemic, inspiring music I have heard in a loooong time (maybe not since Flight/Crash). All the tracks are great (another thing, it's been awhile since I've had an album I can listen to the whole way through, not skipping a song), but Remedy (very Flight/Crash sounding), Trusty Chords, It's All related, The Sense, Not For Anyone, and Wayfarer (especially Wayfarer) are earth-shattering.

Now then, Many HC vets, scene purists, and fulltime naysayers with nothing beter to do with their lives than mumble/cry/shout 'sellout,' will be put off by the album's (and the band's) refusal to be entrenched within the narrow limits of any musical sub-genre, be it hardcore, post-punk, whatever... These guys play rock music. Label it as you will.

HWM: They tour [a lot] and put on some of the most intense and impassioned shows I've ever seen. Go check 'em out if you get the chance. Every album seems to move forward. Pick this up, you won't be let down. Scott Sinclair's artwork is especially fine (he does all their albums). The pictures tell a story, so for those of you who can't read... Let it never be said that HWM discriminates against the 'unliterate.'

PS, I was chagrined to see HWM slot in at # 10, in the recent Rolling Stone College Music Chart..."

The only thing odd or not-to-like about this album is its fairly ambiguous title. Other than that...

This is simply one of the best albums I have heard in years. Years. While 'A Flight and A Crash' was a major point of departure, stylistically, this album refines and improves upon that sound, while also harkening back to earlier work. If I had to define it in terms of prior releases (not fair to it at all), I'd say it bridges the gap between 'A Flight and A Crash,' and 'Fuel for the Hate Game,' both of which are phenomenal.

This is the kind of album that makes people start bands. Some of the most powerful, anthemic, inspiring music I have heard in a loooong time (maybe not since Flight/Crash). All the tracks are great (another thing, it's been awhile since I've had an album I can listen to the whole way through, not skipping a song), but Remedy (very Flight/Crash sounding), Trusty Chords, It's All related, The Sense, Not For Anyone, and Wayfarer (especially Wayfarer) are earth-shattering.

Now then, Many HC vets, scene purists, and fulltime naysayers with nothing beter to do with their lives than mumble/cry/shout 'sellout,' will be put off by the album's (and the band's) refusal to be entrenched within the narrow limits of any musical sub-genre, be it hardcore, post-punk, whatever... These guys play rock music. Label it as you will.

HWM: They tour [a lot] and put on some of the most intense and impassioned shows I've ever seen. Go check 'em out if you get the chance. Every album seems to move forward. Pick this up, you won't be let down. Scott Sinclair's artwork is especially fine (he does all their albums). The pictures tell a story, so for those of you who can't read... Let it never be said that HWM discriminates against the 'unliterate.'

PS, I was chagrined to see HWM slot in at # 10, in the recent Rolling Stone College Music Chart...

I can hear some of you punk-o-philes snickering in the background...5 stars?
Listen up kids, this record is pure brilliance from start to finish. These cats finally stepped to a major and it shows. The production is stellar. The guitar sounds blast through your ear drums like a melodic frieght train, so raw and up front. The vocals are unpolished and heartfelt. Lyrically, Mr. Black grabs your soul and puts it all the way down into his personal gutter only to bring it back inches from the sun. Dare I mention the rhythm section, so tight...Inventive basslines and solid beating of the drums. This records keeps you rocking for the whole ride, never a dull moment.
I want to know where these guys get their influences...they are forging a new sound, a new rock and roll. These rockers are the anti-radio and bring hope for a new music that doesn't sound so much the radio people have come to loathe.

Don't ask me why (or how, very long story), but I found this CD buy looking up "worst song ever" and ended up downloading "Trusty Chords." Someone had described it as "the worst HWM song EVER." I downloaded it and I don't know what that person was thinking. This is one of the best tracks on the album, along with "Remedy" "I Was on a Mountain" "Wayfarer" and "The End." These stand out for me, but the other songs on the CD are unskippable. The lyrics on this CD are off the page. "Remedy" starts the CD of like a champion with "I need a remedy of diesel and dust. Something I can taste with a fix I can trust." I've had the CD for about 2 or 3 weeks and I still listen to the whole thing almost everyday!
The Bad (to old HWM fans, good to me): A lot of people have said that it's not the old HWM and I agree totally. I like the new HWM better, but I haven't heard all of their previous releases, so that's not terribly fair.
My opinion in short: I love this CD. It makes me want to buy stuff like shirts and sweatshirts to support them and let people know, but I don't want them to go so national that they're being played on my local radio station 6 times a day. That really seems to ruin bands and artists. I think they have what it takes to be popular. I still do think they deserve SO MUCH more recognition than they get (almost none, if any, here in my part of the west coast) and not let it change them according to how society would want them to change to be a used up and played out band. You should really get this CD and listen to it as much as I do!

it doesn't sound like old hwm, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. these songs are really catchy and poppy. "trusty chords" has hit single written all over it.
i don't feel hwm's awesome rhythm section is represented as well as it could be, and has been in the past. jason black is one of the best bass players ever and his style was much more prominent in hwm's previous releases.
overall i really enjoy this album a lot, it's a lot faster than usual, and much more melodic. the lyrics are great as always, and the band is just as tight and passionate as ever..some would say they're not - just because they're on epitaph.
don't worry about what label they're on, just listen to the music. it's good. hwm is evolving as musicians and their fans should try to grow with them. they are never going to record another 'fuel for the hate game'...most musicians don't want to keep doing the same thing over and over, and i doubt hot water music is any exception.

A Flight And A Crash made for the bridging point to this sound. You have to have such a mature music taste to love this. Its hard to describe. I like Punk Rock quite a lot, I listen to some of the amateurish sounding works such as Anti-Flag, I listen to the Political Punk of Rise Against...Then there is this, this stretches the boarder of punk to beauty. Is that possible? I really dont care, cos thats what this is.

Caution is one of my favourite ever albums, the best HWM album, its a work of art. I honestly cant describe it properly. Some of HWM very best songs are on this album, Chucks vocals are at the top of their game, and the band as a whole hit the peaks of what they can ever hope to achieve.

You can look at this album in two ways, thats what makes it great. You can totally get pumped from it, Remedy is a class A example of that and you can find true hard punding beats in all the songs, or you can see it as something deeper than just cool beats and vocals.

Im not some soppy wuss, so dont get me confused, you just have to pick up this album. I would begin to pick out the best tracks for you, but I dont think I can. I rarely skip a track on here. Pick it up and be prepared to love HWM.

The perfect cure for self-doubt, from chuck's initial battle cry of "I need a remedy...." to the last note this is a frieght train of all that is best of one the greatestest American bands no music collection is complete without it

With great songs like Wayfayer, this CD delivers an enjoyable listen. This is my first Hot Water Music purchase other then the split that they did with Alkaline Trio (the best I may add), and I was surprised that they were just as good without my favorite band in the mix. If you are a fan of damn good music... you may consider this.

Whoa hey, I discovered Hot Water Music not too long ago. Yeah, comparisions are just that. listen to those songs! Who cares what this band was in the past, focus on what they can do now! By the third listen you've got it all in your head. After the tenth listen, I guarantee you'll be hooked if you have the attention span. Who cares if it's punk, or emo, hardcore or whatever. Damn good, high energy, clever ..., original sound, packed to the brim with style and talent. Great bands evolve, this one will be around for a long time. Pick this up, listen rather than compare... A band in a world all thier own... Just a kick ... to the core. Give it a chance, HWM is one of the best out there today... Highlights for me: Alright For Now, Wayfarer, Caution, I Was On A Mountain, ... pick any song, it's all good.