Along with the Strokes and the White Stripes, Hot Hot Heat has taken a style of music from years past, dusted it off and given it a new paint job that makes it sound brand spanking new. This album sounds like it might have been recorded about the same time as the Cars' Candy O, or XTC's English Settlement, and stored in a time capsule only to be recently discovered and released.

Fronted by the energetic keyboard-playing Steve Bays whose vocal style and melodic devices remind of early Robert Smith, Hot Hot Heat is bent on re-inventing the style of music that came along in the early 80's coined New Wave, think Elvis Costello meets early Cure. Tracks such as "Bandages," "No Not Now," bristle with energy and catchy hooks, side-stepping their early 80's influences with an enthusiasm and vitality. After all, these are original songs with great melodies, witty wordplay and a synth-pop approach that makes them unique in these days of Emo, Rap-Metal. The final track "Cairo" is a fascinating departure with it's mellow winding piano melody that offers a more dark twist on their style that points to an even more interesting future.