Hot Hot Heat — Make Up The Breakdown

Make Up The Breakdown

Sub Pop/Warner

Kate Guay (CHARTattack)

10/08/2002 2:14pm

Hot Hot Heat is a band that won’t be able to avoid the all-too-easy comparisons to The Strokes and critiques of their place in the current garage rock explosion. The genius of Make Up The Breakdown, the first LP from the Victoria quartet, is that it lives up to — and far surpasses — the hype. It takes the template of their first Sub Pop EP, the bitchin’ Knock Knock Knock, to a higher level.

Somewhere between "This Town" and "Talk To Me, Dance With Me," you’ll catch on to the flavour of this catchy, danceable rock ‘n’ roll. During the hook on the samba-influenced "Talk To Me..." singer Steve Bays yowls out "You are my only girl, but you’re not my owner girl."

What sets Hot Hot Heat apart from The Strokes is the fact that The Strokes will never be this happy. While the cool NYC boys will be busy making sure they’re gorgeous, Canada’s own Hot Hot Heat will be smiling as they get the jaded indie kids shaking their asses.

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