Search - Hot Water Music :: New What Next

What a disappointment...

J. Roos | Cincinnati | 01/07/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hot Water Music traditionalists have been upset with the band's recent direction since moving to Epitaph, but there have been some fine moments on their last two CDs. Both Caution and A Flight and a Crash were more extensively produced than their previous works but still featured strong rhythm sections and sincere songwriting, both of which are the standards of HWM. There were times when they seemed to be moving more toward the mainstream on those albums (Trusty Chords was somewhat formulaic in structure but unique in conviction and exceptional in musicianship) but the music was distinctly HWM. Passionate, sincere, and vulnerable but never wimpy or contrived--these were words to describe the qualities that have always been present in HWM's albums. And while their work on Epitaph may have lost a bit of the "crunch" of their early works, in many ways these qualities were more refined and more apparent. "Old Rules" and "Sunday Suit" showed that the band was still everything that you fell in love with and that they had not lost their passion for creating the music that they wanted and that they loved.



However, this CD is a disappointment and a realization of the doom and gloom over the band's direction that many have expressed after their last two albums.



From top to bottom the songs are rediculously overproduced (lay off of the freakin' reverb already!) and the spontineity and unpridictability of HWM's best compositions are nowhere to be found. The songs are predictably structured and the guitar work seems pedestrian and uninspired...not things that I would ever associate with HWM. Perhaps worst of all are the trite and disingenuine lyrics-- and if anthing is indicative of a band's decline, this is what to point to.



The newfound use of refrains stinks of corperate musicianship--lazy listeners need this symmetry in their songs to hold their attention and to give them something to humm along to. I never thought that I would have my sensibilities insulted in this way while listening to a HWM cd.



HWM was at the cutting edge of the "post hardcore emo" movement (tending more toward the hardcore) and really cut out a niche as an aggressive yet vulnerable, foreward thinking but reflexive, injured but hopeful band. But this CD is a complete regress and comes across as generic and insincere.



Well, I will always have "Turnstile," "Recliner," and "Just Don't Say You Lost It" to insipre and to motivate me.



I hate to say it, but Epitaph may have castrated Hot Water Music."

Their most impressive release to date

William Wilson | 11/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a HWM fan for quite some time now, and own or have listened to all of their albums. Although the new cd lacks the "dirty and raw" sound that some fans can simply not do without, the new polish melodic sound is just as good. In my opinion this is their best work. The songs themselves are amazing, and both chuck and chris have managed to turn their throaty yelling into actual singing, while still retaining the raw quality. The musicianship is still top notch, and the rhythm section is definately not taken down. It seems as if the bass and drums are going for a smoother integration with the songs as opposed to the flashy playing of previous material. All in all, I would definately recommed this cd to any new or old fan."

I miss the old stuff...

Jonathan Wheeler | Clinton, CT | 10/09/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"after being consistently disappointed with HWM's last 3 albums i think fans of their old sound just have to suck it up and move on. I ask myself "if i had never heard HWM before, and if this were the first album of theirs that i purchased, would i like it?". and i don't know the answer to that. all and all it is n to a bad album by any means, but still in my opinion it does not even come close to holding a candle to their older material. the production is clean, the once "best rhythm section in the business" is now dummed down, and chuck and chris learned how to sing (pretty well i might add). i like HWM as a dirty band, that dirtiness brought an overwhelming amount of emotion with it, as well as a gritty punch that the new material lacks. i lost the feeling, no pun intended. sorry that was a bad joke."