The Hot Puppies - 'Over My Dead Body' (Hot Puppies) Released 09/07/07

Give those Hot Puppies some credit.  Not many bands in recent memory, except We Are Scientists and their ‘Crap Attack’ release, have the balls or insanity or sky-high sense of self-worth to shower the world with a rarities album before they’ve hit album #2.  While the Hot Puppies’ ‘Over My Dead Body (Stray, Black Sheep and Bsides 2003-2005)’ reflects an earnest and heartfelt submission of tracks that the band kept to themselves for over two whole years back home in Wales, ‘Crap Attack’, by its very title, reflects a sense of NYC self deprecation necessary for that ballsy premature rarities release.  Necessary, unless you’re The Beatles or something. 

The Hot Puppies aren’t quite The Beatles, or even We Are Scientists yet – in the massive popularity, not necessarily musical, sense. This unpredictable set lack these bands’ large fan base and recognisable, knowable sound that would make this a worthwhile addition to an unfamiliar listeners’ record collection.  If you don’t know or have their solid 2006 Fierce Panda debut, ‘Under the Crooked Moon’, then this album will simply sound like a nonsensical jumble of decent but partially constructed songs.

Leaving the psychology of record shelf infiltration behind, what’s here is some music that any band would be proud to have lying around and collecting dust. Becky Newman, the band’s pipes, has a voice too good to be confined to dingy basement clubs and MySpace anonymity. At it’s strongest, like on ‘Eat Your Make Up’, Newman’s polished voice outshines the ramshackle cluster of instruments supporting it – at times, it’s a bit like Gwen Stefani fronting a slightly less-zippy Apples in Stereo.  And those instruments are the real heroes of the Hot Puppies.  The organ comes in exactly when you think “Some organ would be great right about now”, and chills out before they become a Horrors tribute band. Plus, there’s a theremin. Not just some wimpy theremin squeal as a party piece (The Killers proved that any joker can throw in a little WOOOO for an intro/outro), but as a full-fledged part of the band’s sound, most subtle and skillful in ‘All We’ve Got To Do Is Kiss’.

Their first album could have told you all of this, and in a neater and tighter way. The second one probably will too, considering the unquestionable talent that can be found in this jumble of extras. If you’re already a card-carrying member of the Hot Puppies fan club, jump into this precious clutter immediately.  There are likely to be many more members in the future – a future when their sound is better known and this album is a bit more logical sitting on your shelf next to ‘Crap Attack’ and ‘Anthology 3’