Customer Reviews

Elevator

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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.

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).

This is no doubt Hot Hot Heat's best album. They have perfected the art of melodic pop rock song.
I strongly recommend this if you were into Phantom Planet's "The Guest" or Rooney. Do we really need anymore lame bands out there that like to complain about their lives and wear all black? (My Chemical Romance) Or how about some more whiners who write quiet acoustic guitar songs about losing their girl. (Straylight Run) Jesus. Its like when someone makes a rock record thats not a therapy session everyone goes stupid.

This is a good record with good songs. I recommend it if you like sunlight instead of sitting in a dark room hating the world.

I purchased this outing from Victoria indie rockers Hot Hot Heat the day it hit stores, with fairly high expectations of their major label debut. I was not disappointed.

The first thing that one notices is the fairly minimalist jacket and liner booklet. The track listing on the back of the album is listed with 15 at the top, much like the buttons on an elevator. There is no 13th track, much like most office towers have no 13th floor. A very neat touch.

The record starts with the useless Introduction. One wonders why it was included. However, it follows it with Running Out Of Time, a hook-laden song with a catchy chorus. The third track is the album's single, Goodnight Goodnight. My initial reaction to it is that the chorus doesn't seem to fit the verses, but after a couple of listens, I started appreciating the stylistic changes. Like the track which precedes it, it is laden with hooks.

Track 4 begins with a chant reminiscent of any other indie band, and a crunchy guitar intro. This is Ladies and Gentleman, a fairly dark ballad with plenty of plays on words, telling the tale of an extroverted gentleman who was ostracized by his peers. The track reeks of their influences, but is still a fun intro.

Track 5 starts with a lighthearted intro on the piano. You Owe Me An IOU, a throwback to their lyrical style established on 2002's Make Up The Breakdown. The verses are catchy and full of plays on words, and the chorus is memorable. It is followed up by a useless musical interlude (called No Jokes - Fact,) and then the entirely forgettable Jingle Jangle. This is a low-tempo ballad which feels entirely too much like a Jet song. Fortunately it leads into the irresistable Pickin' It Up, coloured by yet another memorable chorus, and a bouncy riff that seems hard not to dance along to. Island Of The Honest Man comes next, a very interesting ska tune which mixes very fast verses and a slow, dramatic chorus. Track 10 is my personal favourite on the record, a ballad called The Middle Of Nowhere. This is what one would call the most mainstream song on the album, which simply means that the song is fairly safe. However, since this is Hot Hot Heat, the chorus is sheer gold. Track 11 is a 1980's style rocker called Dirty Mouth. Not much can be said about it. Track 12 is the very cool, very innovative Soldier In A Box. This is an excellent song, with one of the best choruses on the record.

There is no 13th song, but track 14 makes up for this omission. Shame On You is an up-tempo ska song reminiscent of the Clash's music during the 80s, but their lyrics during the 70s. "Running with scissors wasn't smart, I tripped and cut open your heart." The backbeat in this song seems like it's taken from a club in 1990's eastern europe, but on the whole the song manages to be very fun.

The album closes with the title track, Elevator. The verses are something of a sleeping pill, but on hearing the chorus, one cannot help but adore this song. The chorus is somewhat depressing, but it is delivered in such a way that it just sounds beautiful.

On the whole, the album has good flow from track to track. It's a nuisance that on a record which promises 15 tracks, there are only 12 songs. It is also annoying that the longest song is 4:03, however it is hard to hold it against these guys. In 20 years, we won't remember Hot Hot Heat, but for 2005, this is a fun album to put in to unwind.

I just dont understand all of these reviews... Why do people want a band to put out the same sounding album over and over and over again. If you already have 'Make up the breakdown', then why would you want something exactly like it? More is not always better...just because there is one good album does not mean there will be another....but i like both...fantastic

One may be asked about Hot Hot Heat and immediately reply to them as a band whose main and only objective is to create a song as catchy and witty as possible, but hell, what's wrong with that? Hot Hot Heat's debut in 2002, "Make Up The Breakdown" was critically acclaimed as it is an incredibly contagious album, but it seemed the flaw with that was that while a few songs were very fun and very radio-friendly, about half of the album seemed to be a bunch of filler songs. Their 2003 release, "Scenes One Through Thirteen" seemed to have the same problem, but in a worse effect.

So, can Hot Hot Heat finally show their strength and release an album where all or almost every song is powerful, hooky, and brilliant? Ladies and gentleman, I'm proud to announce they have done so with their newest album, "Elevator." Could all 14 (well, technically 13) albums on this album have a feeling of content? Pretty darn close. There's probably a good chance you heard the songs `You Owe Me An IOU' or `Goodnight Goodnight' and with the strength of those two singles, Hot Hot Heat set high expectations for this album. No problem guys, high expectations aren't always bad, especially when they are filled.

The album kicks off in typical fashion, with the first song being the Strokes-esque `Running Out Of Time.' The song appears to be in mediocre fashion, as the chorus is repetitive after time and the melody really does not change at all. Yeah, sure, this gives off an impression that it's the same old Hot Hot Heat with the same old attempts at catchy hooks, which seem they really succeed to do about half the time. It's great to know that this is one of the average songs on the album placed strangely as the first track.

The next two songs, `Goodnight Goodnight' and `You Owe Me An IOU' are the two most easiest-listening songs on the album, and they are both most capable of becoming a big radio hit. `Goodnight Goodnight' is good, and will receive some noteworthy attention but it brings nothing completely new to the table, as its format is shockingly similar to the first song on the album. The shiner comes in through `You Owe Me An IOU' which clearly is one of the most catchiest songs I have heard all year. Even the enigmatic title seems to give away that this song will be one that you'll have stuck in your head all day. The vocals are perfectly done in this song, as the vocals seem to change every time the chorus approaches. Remarkable song.

`No Jokes - Fact' is a random forty second blurb of what seems to be a mix of hotel piano music, with modern day synths in the background. It fits well after the rocking, head-bopping, `I Owe You An IOU.' The songs `Jingle Jangle', `Pickin' It Up', and `Island Of The Honest Man' suffer from what I like to call the mid-album blues. While the songs aren't completely bad, after two undeniable songs of great quality, there seems to be nothing jolting or exciting to offer here. Albeit this though, the three songs remain fun although they all seem in similar fashion.

And here is where `Elevator' separates itself from the previous Hot Hot Heat albums. The last four tracks on this album are good enough to be placed anywhere. `Dirty Mouth' is seemingly simple, but provides clever lyrics with perfect vocals. As I've mentioned throughout this review, the vocals have been vastly improved from their previous releases. `Soldier In A Box' clearly begins the most unique starter of any song on the album, sounding as punk as Hot Hot Heat have ever sounded. Chanting along exactly with the guitar riff is what is going on here, and when the supposed chorus arrives, you would think its just another mediocre song, but oh no, the real chorus comes with the enigmatic riffs and joyous glee of "He's serenading to himself because nobody's there, he's celebrating to himself because nobody cares, he's serenading himself" and while it seems seemingly simple, it fits appropriately. Especially after piano effects that with the right tone could possibly sound straight from Echo & The Bunnymen's `Yo Yo Man.' This song is clearly a winner, and is one of the best on the album.

`Shame On You' has a curious Mars Volta feel to it, and the instrumentals in the background are very catchy... wow, how many times have I said `catchy' in this review? Too many, but that's what this album can do to you it seems. Clever lines such as "Running with scissors wasn't smart, I tripped and cut open your heart," are excellent and sung at the right times. The chorus again, is done just as well as `Soldier In A Box' which makes you wonder to yourself why Hot Hot Heat were saving the best songs on the album for the end.

How appropriately it is though, the last track on the album is the best song on the album. Well, it's also the best song I have heard yet this year. Sharing the same name as the album, `Elevator' is the last song on the album, and it is the best song Hot Hot Heat has ever released. This song will receive an incredibly amount of play on the radio if marketed correctly. This has to be Hot Hot Heat's next single, any decision otherwise would be foolish. Expect this to rank among any popular rock ballad that is popular in mainstream radio, except this song is actually be good!

"Elevator" turns out to be Hot Hot Heat's best album of their career, while carrying their best song they ever released. Every single thing has seemed to improved on this band's resume, vocals, lyrics, guitar work... everything. This album is not to be missed, and do not be surprised at all if this album slips into the top ten best albums of the year, maybe even the top five. Extremely solid.

Elevator marks the last release from Hot Hot Heat to feature Dante DeCaro on guitar. It hasn't exactly been made clear as to why he left the group, but it would seem it has something to do with the nature of the songs found on Elevator. While still catchy and fun, the songs here don't seem as intricate as before and Dante DeCaro's subtle genius on the guitar isn't apparent nearly as often as it should be. And while Elevator could be perceived as Hot Hot Heat dumbing down their sound or selling out, it would be unfair to judge them harshly for their new direction. Instead of merely rehashing what was found on their first two releases, Hot Hot Heat focus on crafting more streamlined pop-punk songs with their own distinct synth and vocal flavor as delivered by Steve Bays. There are more than a few songs here that could draw comparisons to the likes of Green Day or The Clash but it is most obvious on the track "Pickin' It Up" which sounds like it could have been lifted straight from Warning or Combat Rock. "Running Out of Time" is a twisting carousel of whiny vowels and synths, "Goodnight Goodnight" and "Middle of Nowhere" are the obvious singles with just enough Hot Hot Heat tinges for them to be mainstream hits, "Jingle Jangle" is a beautiful turn with its slow and somber guitar work and chugging drums, but it's on "Island of the Honest Man" where Hot Hot Heat really shine--its relentless, angular guitar and dancable beat are the perfect examples of Hot Hot Heat at their best. Except for the average "Ladies and Gentlemen" and "You Owe Me an IOU" and the three throwaway "rehearsal" tracks, the rest of the material here is really strong. It's a shame that Dante DeCaro has decided to leave the group and their music will probably never have the same edge it once did but on Elevator, Hot Hot Heat shows they can put out a very solid pop album even if their techincal abilities don't shine as much as in their previous releases.

I have owned this CD for about 2 months and I still listen to it every single day, no lie. It is not just the original and catchy lyrics or the beat, but the arrangments of each individual song. I personally like every song on this CD. Although the CD is not quite as long as I wish it was, it is really made up in wholesome music. All of the songs are unique...and you will not find yourself skipping any track except for the first one which is just an introduction. This music is very fun and dancable. Personally, I find this CD better than what I have heard from their previous CD (Make Up The Breakdown). It is more evolved and mature. Hot Hot Heat did go through some trouble on this album though. They lost their guitarist, Dante DeCaro because of personal reasons. He did not help write much of the material and left during recording leaving some of the tracks having the guitar played by the drummer, Paul Hawley, or other random people. They have replaced DeCaro with Luke Paquin who seems to be doing a good job. Hot Hot Heat would not have made him an addition to the band if they didn't think he could help with the band's sound. Unlike most bands, they evolve their sound instead of staying with the same thing that made them famous in the first place. So nobody knows what is going to be coming next, but it is definately somewhere Hot Hot Heat wants it to be right now with Elevator.

Previously i had only been interested in hot hot heat - Bandages and even that got a little repetative.

recently i heard "middle of nowhere" and "goodnight goodnight" on the radio and loved them, so i got the album have to say i love every track on it.

Usualy there are a few tracks on every album that you just skip past, this album for me has no such tracks.

Just awesome.