April of 2002, Sub Pop released Hot Hot Heat's 'Knock Knock Knock' EP: 5 songs in 16 minutes, produced in part by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla. Memorably described by SPIN Magazine as, '...the sound of punk teaching itself to dance,' This North of the boarder Canadian foursome, consists of, vocalist, keyboardist, Steve Bays, guitarist Dante DeCaro, bassist Dustin Hawthorne and drummer Paul Hawley.
This amazing new band draws elements of sounds of eighties bands XTC, The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Cure, The Specials, and Oingo Boingo.
'Knock Knock Knock” starts off with the urgent Clash-eque 'Le Le Low' as singer Bays gasps, 'Sentiment has got me feeling Le-Le-Le-Le-Low!' With eerie keyboards melodies piercing through this gangly groove.
The hot track of this hot hot EP is 'Have a Good Sleep' sparkling keyboards, desperate vocals and urgent guitar leads, collide and dance in this well orchestrated track.
A clapping drum intro, as if drummer Paul Hawley is beating on his drum cases, ignites with Dante DeCaro's needling guitar melodies in 'Touch you Touch You.'
The swinging, closing track 'More for Show' is a scientific experiment in the fusion of The Cure and The Smiths with is vocal howls and Jangling Marr-eque guitar work.
If this album isn’t enough to keep the smile on your face, pick up their full length LP “Make up the Breakdown.”
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