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OTHER A & E STORIES - A tale of Argentinian war prisoners - Jennifer Lopez pushes the limit in Enough - Jackass kicks you in the balls and leaves you urting for more - Brian thinks you should... - Pretentions (submissions from SCC students) A marriage of sounds gives Hot Hot Heat a truly original album Brian Kerin A & E Editor We're told over and over again not to mix beer and liquor, the colors in the laundry, and mayonnaise with french fries; but nobody said we couldn't mix musical styles. The first time I heard Hot Hot Heat's latest LP, "Make up the Breakdown," I was surprised to hear how many different musical styles were reflected in the music. Not that this hasn't been done before: We've heard the meshing of rap and hardcore, punk and ska, as well as rock and funk. Yet, until now no one has had the balls to mix new wave with post-punk guitar rock. I recently talked to the guys by phone while on their way to their next stop on tour, and they gave me some insight into the electiveness of their sound: "Our range of influences are really broad; from show tunes (huh?), rock, hip-hop, to keyboard influenced music of the 80s." With the exception of show tunes, all of these influences can be heard throughout "Make up the Breakdown." The album is a ten-song ball of energy that leaves you before you're done, giving the album good replay value. It's also important to point out that Hot Hot Heat is the coolest musical act to come out of Canada since, well, ever. The decade challenged Hot Hot Heat mixes new wave and punk rock for a completely different sound. Photo courtesy www.subpop.com The record starts out really strong with a more punk sounding tune called "Naked in the city again" where lead singer Steve Bays croons "says she's got it all, I don't want to be the one to tell her that she don't." Bays has a great voice and he's not afraid to let it slip into new areas of sonic territory. The song "No not now" definitely reflects the band's new wave influence with its organ-driven melody and bouncy beat. This song might make your body want to move even if you don't. "Bandages" is another great song, with a Herman Munsterish sounding organ lick while Bays sings, "I've been poking a voodoo doll that you don't know." The song has an eerie sound to it (in a good way). The best song on the album is "In Cairo", a moody, progressive ditty that has great instrumentation and experienced song structuring. One of my initial observations about Hot Hot Heat was how perfectly the guys complemented each other's instruments. This, considering that Bays only recently stepped out from behind the keyboards to take on vocal duties and that the band formerly functioned without a guitar player. When asked about the addition of Dante DeCaro on guitar, the guys told me, "He really gives the band more of a rock sound." Right now Hot Hot Heat is on tour, when I talked to them they were almost to Houston and from there they're headed to the CMJ music festival in New York. I asked the band how the tour was going, they told me, "Really good, but long." They'll be back in Seattle playing two nights at the Graceland, Nov. 7 for a 21+ show and Nov. 8 for an all ages show. "Make up the Breakdown" is a great CD with a really fresh sound, and it might just be what the answer to all the rock kids who have always wanted to dance. © 2002 Shoreline Community College™