Hot Springs — Volcano

It didn't take long for the title of Montreal up-and-comers Hot Springs' debut full-length to sink in once I threw it in my stereo. The record kicks into high gear straight out of the gate with the gritty pop punch of "Headrush" and the explosive cymbal-crashing ruckus of "Cellophane," and barely lets up until the end. Even when the band slow it down on the irresistible indie anthem "Fog And The Horn" and "Annimystique," the music never comes off as lightweight, due in large part to frontwoman Giselle Webber's kick-ass pipes. She channels Bjork's wavery cooing and Karen O's more powerful yowls, yet never seems in debt to either. Admittedly, the album loses a bit of steam near the end on psychedelic dirge "Gotta DJ" and the meandering "Hairy And Airee," and there are songs that need a live setting to be fully appreciated, but it's nothing a little volume and a good set of speakers couldn't remedy.

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