Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seriously. It's THAT good!, May 8, 2005
I must respectfully disagree with the majority of the reviewers here.
I totally loved this album, and I think it blows the doors off their last one.
If The Killers make you remember how great 80's music could be, then Hot Hot Heat here shows you how great and totally FUN it could be as well.
I really like The Killers "Hot Fuss" (and their singles are stupendous, no argument here) but I believe "Elevator" is it's equivalent. This is a WAY better album than, say, The Bravery.
There are several outstanding songs...full-on, well-crafted songs with irresistible melodies, terrific guitars and crashing drums, and lyrics you "get" by the end of the tune. The other songs are still worth a listen or two; this is one of the rare recent albums where I don't feel the need, or have the urge, to hit 'skip' every now and then.
When was the last time you heard "hooks" as good as these? Or more than one in a song? There are hooks galore here, from beginning to end.
"Running Out of Time" and "Goodnight Goodnight" are the knockout one-two punch opening songs, and the consensus appears to be that the latter is a great song. Even by some of those who aren't as impressed with the rest of the record.
But even songs like "Ladies and Gentleman" and "You Owe Me An IOU" have catchy parts, even if they don't quite reach the heights of those first two gems.
Later on, there's a song called "Pickin' It Up" which is a glorious punky-pop rock tune, like a fast Clash song with a boozy Robert Smith vocal.
And the single "Middle of Nowhere" stands head and shoulders above some of the pap currently heard on "modern rock" radio (although overall, modern rock radio IS in a better state of health compared to when Limp Bizkit appeared with regularity on their playlists).
The finale, "Elevator" SOUNDS like a great "last-song-of-the-record" song.
Nowadays, artists throw their worst tunes at the end as filler, and album sequencing feels random. In the 'old days', it was important to have certain songs end one side, or be the first on "side B". Not this album.
I love this album, and honestly, I am totally surprised that I do. I didn't expect this at all.
Seriously. It's THAT good!
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great CD that has been criminally neglected by radio!, March 1, 2006
I bought this CD about 6 months ago on the strength of the first single ("Middle of Nowhere") and also what I'd heard from their last offering. There are several tracks on this CD that ought to be getting way overplayed on radio right now -- however, we (at least here in the U.S.) instead get to listen to yet another ditty from Rob Thomas or Kelly Clarkson instead. It's just criminal! "Middle of Nowhere" is (to me) almost the perfect pop-rock song, a modern-day version of the gems Elvis Costello used to put out, but this is a bit more polished (not in a bad way). "Running out of Time" is instantly intoxicating as well. The only reason I gave this CD 4 stars instead of 5 is that, well, there IS some "filler" on it. However, the vast majority of tracks will grab you pleasantly by the ears, either on the first listen ("Running out of Time") or by the fifth ("Dirty Mouth"). Put it this way... 80 percent of the songs on this CD are better than 80 percent of what you'll hear on radio today.
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I actually prefer this to Make up the Breakdown, April 5, 2005
First off, its nice to see some publications out there giving props to the Hot Hot Heat for being among the first on the retro-80s bandwagon... as these types of bands become more and more common, its nice when someone points out to all those Killers fans that a lot of bands starting exploring that sound first.
That said, as much as I like Make up the Breakdown, I think I actually prefer this album. It definitely has a more polished sound to it, and that may turn off some of their older fans, but I like it... this isn't a perfect album, but it is extremely catchy, and I think the hooks the band unleashes here will net them more fans than 2 years touring in support of Breakdown did. Whether or not you think that's a good thing is up to you.
Best tracks? Island of the Honest man is one of the catchiest, so I can see why they chose to leak that one... but I think my favorite is Elevcator. I also like Middle of Nowhere... Jingle Jangle... Pickin' it Up and You Owe me an IOU are somewhat silly songs, but enjoyable.
In some ways I guess you could say this album sort of comes full circle... it sounds a lot like the bands that Make up the Breakdown inspired... so older fans may be disappointed. But taken on its own merits, this is a very good cd, one that will hopefully earn the band some much-deserved respect (and success).
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
An Amazon.com Best of 2005 selection.
album Elevator 
