Customer Reviews

Make Up the Breakdown

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is one of the most energetic, joyful CDs that I've ever purchased. I was walking through a Tower Records in downtown Chicago and overheard "Bandages" and asked the guy at the counter about the band. He raved about them. I ended up buying it and loving it in its entirety after about 3 listens. Their sound is lively and their lyrics are interesting. I highly recommend it.

Though Hot Hot Heat are a rock band at their core, "Make Up The Breakdown" is one of the most upbeat records of the past few years, almost to the extent that it could be classified as pop. Singer/keyboardist Steve Hayes has a quirky voice, with finely enunciated chops and shrill cracks that make his vocals distinguishable from other bands, and the guitar riffs are quick and chipper.

In addition to the traditional guitars and drums, a large array of extras are thrown in; the result is that nearly every track here is danceable. "Talk To Me, Dance With Me" includes a cowbell and tambourines, while the album's first single, "Bandages," as well as "Aveda" feature organs in the background. "This Town" feels a bit folksy, and "No, Not Now" is reminiscent of early 80s New Wave. The album ends with "In Cairo," a slower song featuring a lot of piano.

Though the CD clocks in at just over half an hour, Hot Hot Heat manage to cover quite a few musical bases in that space. And though it might seem like all these styles would clash, the guitars and vocals tie everything together, leaving us with a great little rock album.

Make Up the Breakdown by Victoria, British Columbia's own Hot Hot Heat is hands down, one of the best albums. Ever. This record could turn the rhythmless into dance hall superstars.

Devoted Heat fans had their first taste of the new flavour that new lead singer/keyboardist Steve Bays would bring to the table after the 2002 release of Knock Knock Knock, a 5-song EP on Sub Pop. Long departed was previous singer Matt Marnik. Enter: Steve Bays. The infectious mix of Steve's distinctive vocals with the accelerated sounds of the existing band, made Knock Knock Knock into a hit. With many eagerly awaiting a follow up, Hot Hot Heat released Make Up the Breakdown in 2002 carrying surefire hits like "Bandages" and "No, Not Now". With the strength of such songs, the Heat found themselves in many big name music rags (Rolling Stone, Spin), and in young girls hearts the world over!

Upon first listen, you are immediately pulled in by the beat of "Naked In the City Again". Are you nodding your head along with Paul Hawley's drumming? You should be. The head-bobbing continues throughout the album until "Bandages" gets you to stop dancing in your seat, and start dancing on the floor. "How could this album get any better?!", you ask yourself. The answer lies within "Aveda", "This Town" and "Talk To Me, Dance With Me". Hot damn, cowbells add so much to a song! If you aren't sweating with delight by this point, I seriously doubt your ability to get down. Somehow fittingly, the Heat end Make Up the Breakdown with "In Cairo", an eerily calming ending to a rather fast-paced album.

Compare Hot Hot Heat with The Cure, Elvis Costello, The Strokes, or any other rock/new wave ensemble you wish, but this album certainly proves that they are anything but comparable to another band. Catchy and sometimes melodic riffs by guitarist Dante DeCaro, excitingly erratic keyboarding by Steve Bays, electric and precise drumming by Paul Hawley, and smooth yet rockin' bass lines from Dustin Hawthorne set this band apart from "similar" bands that are so often thrown at them.

Get your hands on a copy of Make Up the Breakdown, your ears and dancing shoes will thank you.

On Hot Hot Heat's debut EP, Knock Knock Knock, they showed a great deal of promise through the five stellar tracks on the release--all of which contained a brilliant whininess and a breathtaking energy that made them a band to watch. With Make Up The Breakdown, Hot Hot Heat live up to their promise and give us more of the same, only better. The first four songs on the disc, "Naked In The City Again," "No, Not Now," "Get In Or Get Out," and "Bandages," are all amazing pop songs that display the many strengths of Hot Hot Heat in spades: sharp guitar, pounding bass, shifting rhythms, and whiny keys and vocals all play on each other to excellent results. The rest of the tracks are all good but with the exception of the incredibly addictive "Talk To Me, Dance With Me," none of the others can compare to the amazing four that open the disc. That being said, "Oh, Goddamnit" is an impressive display of Steve Bays wordplay skills and "In Cairo" closes the album with a great instrumental ending. The only moments that slow down Make Up The Breakdown are "This Town" and "Save Us S.O.S." the former being too long for its own good and the latter being rather plain when compared to the rest of the gems to be found here. With all the addictive and endlessy listenable songs on Make Up The Breakdown, Hot Hot Heat have certainly lived up to the standard they set on their debut and even outdone themselves.

This album is HOT HOT HOT and what I like about this band is their use of irony and their vocal style. Wow, something new yet "Bandages" reminds me of the Breakfast Club era and it's funny that one of the UK reviews mentions XTC, lovely! It is kind'of grunge but also wave'ish: Cairo. I think there is a lot of versatility on this album and the music reminds me of Pilate and Flannelmouth. I am sure you can draw your own conclusions but you just have to buy this cd. Be prepared to suck all the energy from HOT HOT HEAT.

Okay, I may be going way out on a limb here, but nothing has been as enjoyable so far this year(I just don't get the White Stripes... at all). This album reminded me of a time when I first heard the Buzzcocks or 999 or any of those "punk" bands that now seem like good old fashioned pop music. "No, Not Now", the single "Bandages" and "In Cairo" are the standout tunes, but damn if this album isn't chalked full of FUN! It just makes you feel GOOD, and with all the junk that's out on the radio these days, this is as refreshing as a pina colada ona Hawaiian beach!

Make Up the Breakdown. It's definently one of my favorite albums ever. The opener, Naked In The City Again, is a sort of song that builds over time and starts with low vocals that become higher. The chorus is fantastic, and it has some fabulous guitar. No, Not Now is a catchy tune with lots of synth, and an awesome music video as well. The next ditty, Get In Or Get Out, has a wonderful keyboard solo and has a great beat. It'll make you want to dance. "Ugly or pretty, it's still my city." Next is Bandages. Bandages. This is probably HHH's most popular song off the album, I've heard it had substantial radio play in the UK in 2002-3. It's so darn catchy, and you gotta love it. Personally, it's a favorite of mine from this album. Following Bandages is the witty Oh, Goddamnit, a song with an awesome vocal intro and the rhythm of Steve Bays' vocals are so unique. This song has many different melodies and parts, making for a truly different and wonderful tune. I LOVE it. Aveda is next, a slightly random song with some great synth during the chorus. "Gonna walk right through this town and laugh, with a crowd of strangers chasin' me" begins the next song, This Town. This song is hard to describe, you need to hear it for yourselves. Definently a highlight of Make Up The Breakdown. It's amazing. Ahh, the cowbell. A cure for fevers for some, for Talk To Me, Dance With Me, a cowbell begins the song. One of the singles off of this cd, Talk to Me, Dance With Me is a wonderful dance song, and very fun to sing along to. Save us S.O.S. is a great song with a catchy bridge about an exit door, and the final song, In Cairo, is a slower song with plenty of piano. In conclusion, I think this album is definently worth purchasing. You'll love it, and listen to it over and over.

Seriously, cowbells, ladies and gentlemen. What is better than cowbells? A cowbell on this album is like having Nate Dogg sing in your rap song. Its guaranteed to be awesome. The thing that drew me to this CD was the song, "Bandages", but that is not even the best part of this CD. All the songs take on their own personality, some overlapping and they start to grow on you as you master some of the funnier lyrics. I gave it 5 stars, but more a 4.5.

People can accuse Interpol and The Strokes all they want of shamelessly capitalizing on supposedly undeserved hype, but the one band that took in praise from numerous corners of the music press that left me cold is Hot Hot Heat. Make Up The Breakdown is a decent record, but that's about it. "No Not Now" is rather catchy, "Bandages" is grating, and everything else is rather ho-hum. Take a group of good-looking guys, make them perform herky-jerky new-wave, and you have instant praise and success. Too bad there's no substance or replay value.

We've had nü-metal - why not nü-wave? Hot Hot Heat belong to that burgeoning scene merging formative 80's sensibilities with the garage rock aesthetic of 90's post-grunge. (Liars, The Rapture, The Raveonettes, etc.) With their first full-length release, Make Up the Breakdown, this Canadian foursome make like a more insular Drums + Wires-era XTC. The result is ten songs about girl trouble (they don't get outside themselves much), but the real theme of the record is chunky guitar hooks, jaunty keyboards, plucky basslines, and Steve Bays' pleading vocals (think Robert Smith on a caffeine jag). Hot Hot Heat are electroclash with way more guitars and less retro stink. The tunes are short, memorable, witty, repeatable. In short, old-school pop which, if we're lucky, might just be nü-school again.