Nov
15
2006

Don't Be So Sad

Dead Hot Workshop Ain't That Bad

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - 10:00:30 pm
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music)
Don't be so sad, California's not that bad. Start gathering up the ocean, I'll start rounding up the sand.
Dead Hot Workshop's Heavy Meadow is out. Katie went to the listening party tonight, and I'm listening to it via her, pending getting my own copy.

The CD kicks off awesomely, with Nixon Saves. It's so cool that it's on the record, having known it since 2000 from an acoustic Brent Babb recording. Despite seeing the band play it back in 2005, and assuming it could be on the album, it's still somewhat surprising seeing it on there, given it's age.

I was excited to see it on there, it being one of the ones I know, but I was actually very dubious of how receptive I'd be to a full band electric version, being so used to the acoustic version, which often biases me. I can say only one thing upon hearing it - the album version makes me blow my load! Amazing, and absolutely full of Tempe goodness! The next time I'm cruising down a desert highway, it's going to be with Nixon Saves blasting. That alone totally makes the album!

Mexican Jones is great, and I know it from somewhere, but I'm not sure from where, despite discussing it with Katie a few hours. "I'm going down to Mexico, rememberin' the Alamo", really familiar . Maybe from a demo. Maybe from Katie singing it. I'm not sure.

It's A Shame and World I've been listening to both of these constantly over the last 3 songs. After listening to the whole album, the remain at the top of my list of favorites.

I was definitely surprised by Ella Bussa (Touch The Sky) being track #6. I really expected this to be the closing track.

Curve, which I also know from the same acoustic show as Nixon Saves; though don't overly remember for some reason, is awesome. There is one huge problem with it - it's too short at 1 minute 33 seconds. I love it, I really wish it went for longer, particularly the interlude at the beginning and end which is just a musical feast!

Tangled - again - LOAD - BLOWN. 2006's answer to 257. Love it, it absolutely rocks. This and Nixon Saves definitely takes the cake for me as the best songs that I hadn't previously heard from myspace. Hell, it even rivals World. Rock n' fucking roll! Love it! After cruising down the desert highway blasting Nixon Saves would be yelling "Darby Crashes!".

Radio is another short one, weighing in at 1:56, but it's great. Certain it takes some getting used to listening to 3 songs (this, Elly Bussa and Curve) under 2 minutes (and It's A Shame, just over 2 minutes) on one album. But hey, when has listening to a Dead Hot Workshop record ever been like listening to any other album.

Pacifist Fight Song is the other song that I've been listening to for 3 weeks now. Like the others, this is still on my list of favorites.

Houston Is Dead is a welcomed slow down. Another awesome Dead Hot song in the vein of Mosquito Coast or Oh Well. It's not per se a favorite yet, but in pure Dead Hot Workshop fashion it's one of those songs where even not being an absolute favorite, it blows you away.

To be continued....


Now Playing: Dead Hot Workshop - Nixon Saves

Post Comment



All fields are required. Email addresses will not be published, but are required for anti-spam purposas.

Switch Styles

About Style Switching.

!Weblog Index

Oct November 2006 Dec
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31

Categories

RSS FeedRSS Feed