SHREDnews

By: Poppy Cleere

Hailing from Liverpool, home of The Beatles, it’s obvious that the 4 piece pop-rock outfit The Hot Melts self titled debut album has been influenced by their hometown heroes alongside various other established bands from both sides of the pond (referring to the Atlantic Ocean, not the river Mersey…). Weezer, The Strokes and Green Day are just a few of the U.S imports that have clearly influenced the bands first release. The 13-track LP was recorded in Chicago with Marc McClusky (Powerspace, White Tie Affair) and features 50’s rock songs spiced up with heavy guitar driven melodies,  up-beat songs with juxtaposing lyrics, and – of course – plenty of gang vocals. The band formed in 2006 and  is  made up of friends Will Bayliss (Lead Vocals/Guitar) Jack Prince (Drums) Jamie Otsa on (Bass) and most recently Chris Melian (Guitar) who replaces ex-member Johnny Green. The foursome, quite impressively, were the first British band to sign a worldwide deal with Epitaph Records’ UK based imprint, Wonderland Records. The Hot Melts is their first full-length release and is currently being offered as a free download. It was previously released on 07/09/09 but the group decided they’d rather give it away for free:

“We realise buying a pint of milk can break the bank at the moment. So with this in mind, we have decided to give the album away for Free,” said the band in an official statement. Having seen the band live I know they’re certainly great performers but can they capture and channel this raw energy onto a CD? I’m about to find out.

As I start up opener ‘Red Lips’ I momentarily think I’ve got the wrong CD; It seems I’m listening to ‘Chelsea Dagger’ by Scottish band, The Fratellis. However as soon as Bayliss’s rough vocals kick in with lines like “Red Lips take you back to my hotel, red blood pouring out of my nose” I realise i’m listening to something much edgier. The highly-controversial video that accompany’s the tale of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery features the band attending a party with plenty of cocaine, alcohol and girls – a dark scene which matches the lyrics and fast-tempo track perfectly. Next-up is the highly popular single ‘Edith’ which is an upbeat, pop-tour through lead singer Will’s misfortunes. Bayliss’s vocals and the insatiably catchy guitar riff really make this track available to any music lover.

‘Big Baby’ begins with a very Strokes-Esq riff and continues on to soaring harmonies in the chorus -although the ‘Ooh La La La’s’ remind me too much of School Of Rock- making it an easily likable track, an ideal sound to wake up to on a cold Autumn morning. Gang vocals galore continues in track five, Fun, opening with a round of ‘Ba Bad Daa’ that continues throughout. The once-again catchy guitar and melody creates a perfect party song where ironically Bayliss speaks of ”not having any fun/no not anymore anyway”. At least listeners can have fun pretending to bop along at a school dance to the 50’s bassline and barbershop vocals, Fun sounds like an up-to-date version of a song often picked on diner jukebox.

It’s manic guitars and vocals that open ‘(I wish I had) Never Been In Love’ a rocky tale of a bad relationship. The synth and well placed harmonies teamed with a catchy chorus made this song another sure hit as a Hot Melts single, perhaps one of my favorite tracks on the album: short but sweet!

The Hot Melts slow things down on track Nana, a charming tribute to the memory of one of the band members Nan’s. The beautifully true opening lines “Mother cried as she sat by the hospital bed/Left the tears in her eyes and rubbed Nana’s instead/She can’t take it no more and goes into the hall/Hardest thing is that we can do nothing at all” show a softer and deeper side to Bayliss’s songwriting. The soft beats of Otsa and Prince, accompanied by a piano, show the diversity of the bands songs and the final chorus ‘Nana/I feel you with me/I know you’re with me every step of the way’ closes a gem of a track.

Two notes ring out marking the introduction of track eleven, Shrink, before Bayliss belts out “I must admit I’m pretty down/But not as pretty as you” and is joined by the rest of the band which sound every-bit the 50’s prom band in this song. Like something you’d see in the movies, you can just imagine the four-some in tuxes taking the stage at the school dance where all the girls are swooning at Bayliss’s quiffed hair and buddy holly glasses, while Otsa spins his double bass in the background as Prince simultaneously drums and smokes a cigarette. It’s another great track that manages to break the mold of the album whilst also keeping to it’s theme.

Overall it’s a modernized, 50’s pop-rock album which will surprise you with it’s diversity and song quality. Although it’s nothing completely original, The Hot Melts have succeeded by managing to squeeze plenty of their manic energy into the main tracks whilst upping lyrical quality in the softer songs. Whether you’re a fan of Elvis or a fan of the Sex Pistols, you’re bound to find a track you like on this album and with no price tag, whats stopping you?

For Fans Of: Weezer, The Strokes, Sex Pistols, Green Day

Overall Rating Out Of 10: 7/10

Top Tracks To Listen To:  Red Lips

Nana

(I Wish I Had) Never Been In Love

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