Search - Hotlegs :: Thinks: School Stinks (Dig) (Mlps)

Doesn't Hold A Candle To early 10cc

allismile0 | Washington, DC | 10/17/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"...But it does show bits of unfocused promise here and there.



In some ways the music is fairly straightforward- using acoustic guitar as the base instrument in every song, while occasionally inserting a bit of horns and strings. The harmonies are reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash, (less like the Beach Boys) and the song structures and performances sound a lot like what Stephen Stills and other American rock bands were doing around 1971.



F.A. Suite is probably the strongest song on the album, and it has that multi-songs in a song thing that the Beatles did on Abbey Road. The multi-parts don't always feel entirely connected as they would on later 10cc efforts like Une Nuit A Paris or Don't Hang Up, but the melodies are pretty.



Another good song is All God's Children which sounds like a mixture of early King Crimson (Cadence in Cascade) and Beach Boys idealism ("hey California")- it's a pretty song- but would have disappears in any 10cc album.



Um Wah, Um Woh has it's moments too, it has a good energy to it, but goes on a bit too long.



Everything else including, Neanderthal Man (complete with Neanderthal lyrics and Neanderthal melody and Neanderthal rhythm), has none of that amazing musical force that 10cc would start brewing roughly a years later.



If anything, this album shows a band with potential but lack of focus and vision; something Graham Gouldman gave them when they became 10cc. As the only successful song writer at that point, Gouldman's ability to create a concise pop song seemed to make all the difference in the world.



In summation, this is a pleasant album with moments of creativity, but is far from anything special."

Seminal Release From 10cc

All You Need Is Sushi | California | 07/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1971, I attended a Moody Blues Concert in London, and the opening act was called HOTLEGS. They did their big hit, NEANDRATHAL MAN, and a number of complex pop songs, and they seemed to use an accordion synth of some sort. Wondereing what became of them after returning to college in New Hampshire, I wrote to MELODY MAKER magazine (the hip UK music rag) and asked. I'm still surprised and pleased that they wrote back (would that ever happen today?) to alert me to the fact that HOTLEGS was now known as 10CC.



Given where all these fellows went, from 10cc, to Godley & Creme being pioneers in music video production, Eric Stewart playing with Paul McCartney, and Graham Gouldman recording with Andrew Gold, this LP (CD) is a cornerstone for any 10cc fan. Newcomers might start with one of the twenty odd "Best of 10cc" collections to get their feet wet. Then, if you join the rest of us unworthy fans, you will enjoy HOTLEGS."