The Observer, October 5, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 6
Hot Hot Heat finds Happiness with third album
Ever since artists like Ben Folds and Jack Johnson made their way into the mainstream, there has been a trend of bands slowing down their music. Many bands have traded in the pure energy in their previous albums and replaced it with a focus on sound. Hot Hot Heat is no different with their newest album, Happiness Ltd. Released Sept. 11, Hot Hot Heat's third mass-produced album is markedly toned down compared to their previous work. At the same time, the sound is much more developed.
Hit play on the first and title track, "Happiness Ltd.," and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. If it wasn't for Steve Bays' distinctive vocals, you might not know you're listening to Hot Hot Heat. The opening track does a good job of setting the tone for the album and is the first in a series of solid, albeit unexpected, offerings.
Sometimes change can be scary, but this album should be no cause for alarm. Track three, "5 Times Out of 100," previously released on their Knock Knock Knock EP, connects the album to previous work, bridging the gap between the new and old sounds. It contains the familiar fast-paced lyrics laid over fuller, deeper sounds. In "Outta Heart," Bays' voice takes on an almost haunting quality. The whole ensemble is quite pleasing and makes the track a standout on this album.
By about the sixth track, "My Best Friend," you'll start to realize that this album, although a departure from the band's previous style, is turning out to be really good. I doubt that any of the tracks will be hits on the radio, but they are all solid contributions and make up an album without any real rough spots. All of the songs also carry a similar sound which gives Happiness Ltd. a rare cohesiveness that sets it apart from many other albums. It feels more like a single unit as opposed to an amalgamation of very different kinds of songs thrown together.
The lyrics are always meaningful – another difference for this album. The first song opens with the line "Happiness is limited but misery has no end/Give us somewhere we can go instead of one more dead end." Hot Hot Heat should note, however, that meaningful lyrics can start to sound whiny upon repeated listening. After playing "Let Me In" a few times, I was pretty annoyed and am planning on skipping it whenever I play this album in the future.
While still somewhat recognizable as a Hot Hot Heat album, Happiness Ltd. is much more serious than any previous album. This step should give the band more appeal to angst-filled teenagers and adult loners alike, but don't discount the album because of it. It's definitely worth buying and should be on the list of every indie rock lover.
