I have been one of Hot Water Music's biggest fans since 1997. They have been one of my all time favorites. They are a band where I would go out of my way to collect everything they ever put out. When I mean everything, I mean everything. Records in every color and pressing. If you don't believe me, look at my ebay account and my record collection. I have also been into their side projects like Unitas, Rumbleseat and Blacktop Cadence.
When the band switched to Epitaph, I was concerned that they would change and that the change would be for the worse. A Flight and A Crash was a great album and I took a deep breath and relaxed. Caution fell terribly short of what I was used to and loved about the band. It wasn't a bad album or anything but it just wasn't what I wanted to hear. In the midst of all of that they managed to put out a killer split EP with The Alkaline Trio.
Hot Water Music is back with a brand new studio effort titled The New What Next. Scott Sinclair is still in the mix with the album's artwork. The sound of this album is more like Caution than any of their other albums. It's growing on me as I am writing this review. The thing that bothers me is that with their past albums they just blew me away when I first heard them. They were instant hits with me but with their past two albums (Caution and TNWN), I am finding that I am forcing myself into liking them. It's just not as raw. Something is missing. It's way too perfect sounding. I know that sounds weird but if you listen to their older stuff and what it sounds like now...it's different. It's more straight up rock than spastic. It is like they are on a path rather than blazing their own road. Maybe it's more mature and more complex but it seems more serious than it used to be and more about the sound than the feeling and emotion.
It's not a bad album but please guys...kick it old school one more time for me.
3/4
Similar sounding releases
2003Matchbook RomanceWest for Wishing
2003AnadivineAnadivine
2000Relient KRelient K
2004Sum 41Chuck
2005With HonorThis Is Our Revenge
2001Watashi WaWhat's in the Way
