Future Breeds - Hot Hot Heat - AOM May 23
Future Breeds (2010) - Hot Hot Heat
For May's Album of the Month, we're featuring "Future Breeds" by Hot Hot Heat. Released in 2010, this album marks a departure from the band's earlier dance-punk sound and explores a more experimental and eclectic sound. To celebrate the album's return to streaming platforms in Australia, we've been listening to it obsessively and rediscovering its unique charms.
During my recent interview with Hot Hot Heat's Steve Bays and Parker Bossley for their future Fur Trade album, Steve revealed to me that the band turned down a half-million-dollar contract with Warner Music so he could produce "Future Breeds" himself under his own studio 'Tugboat'. This decision allowed Steve creative freedom and the chance to learn the process of self-producing an album. Listening to the album again with this knowledge has given us a newfound respect for the band's decision and how it has shaped future projects.
Hot Hot Heat (band) - Provided by Dine Alone Records
One of the standout tracks on the album is "21@12", which features a catchy melodic siren and a driving rhythm section. While the tone of this song is light-hearted, the lyrics touch on some strange territory, describing a birthday party consisting of criminals celebrating someone's 21st birthday.
Another highlight of the album is "Goddess On The Prairie", which showcases the band's signature guitar-driven sound and features the memorable line "You fit me like a ski glove". This song will be more familiar territory for fans used to Hot Hot Heat's previous album "Happiness Ltd.".
The album's title track, "Future Breeds", sets the scene and tone for the entire album with its harrowing lyrics and fitting instrumental. The song's bridge, "This merry-go-round has spun itself into the ground” creates a welcome contrast, before closing off with the statement “they bred you better”.
With the lyrics being open to interpretation my mind delves into many places and assigns my own personal meaning.
Overall, "Future Breeds" is a unique and important album in Hot Hot Heat's discography. While it may not have been as commercially successful as their earlier releases, it showcases the band's willingness to take risks and explore new sounds. If you're a fan of indie rock or post-punk, "Future Breeds" is definitely an album worth revisiting or discovering for the first time.
Be sure to check out my interview with Hot Hot Heat’s Steve Bays and Parker Bossley that will release soon to find out what they have been working on with Fur Trade - exciting!
Steve Bays and Parker Bossley have just released ‘Make it to the Morning’, a new single under their band Fur Trade, accompanied by a fantastic video made by the band themselves, the video touches on heavy themes of addiction - check it out!
