Hot Hot Heat - 'Happiness LTD' (Sire) Released 10/09/07

Although Hot Hot Heat never possessed the out and out coolness of the likes of the Strokes, there was still a quirky aura about the band. They didn't need the more obvious influences of the Ramones et al, preferring to clutch XTC, Talking Heads and Elvis Costello to their hearts, the kids of indie school who didn't seem to desire being popular or cool, yet found that status thrust upon them. However, the group never truly soared, becoming the musical equivalent of Aston Villa, always stuck in the middle of the pack. 'Happiness LTD' is the bands first release since 2005's 'Elevator', and also the first time the group's studio work has showcased new guitarist Luke Paquin, who stepped in after Dante DeCaro amicably left.

However, for this effort Hot Hot Heat seem to have stepped up and ordered it super-sized, with an extra portion of fries on the side. Despite a variety of producers bring involved, the overall feel of the album is consistently big. Really big. There's a dirty veneer still covering their dance punk funk hybrid, and frontman Steve Bays still has that yelping, Julian Casablanas on helium vocal while Paquin's guitar work retains that wiry feel of DeCaro's. But the overall production has more of a gloss, with a U2 style sound booming out. There's the swelling Arcade Fire on a budget assault of 'Let Me In' and a driving synth stampede on 'Harmonicas & Tambourines' that calls to mind the stadium sized slickness of the Killers, were they asked to soundtrack a spaghetti western. 'Outta Heart' in particular not only takes a U-turn from the band's previous work but speeds down the highway as fast as possible while trying to run it over, with falsetto vocals, acoustic guitars and female backing vocals creating a beguiling, hypnotic package.

There's some other less obvious influences in there, 'Good Day To Die' is, of all things, T Rex's 'Children of the Revolution' having its last drink of the night in a sleazy club. Lyrically, there's a more morose feel, with Bays’ opening line on the title track of "Happiness is limited but misery has no end" summing up much of the material. But that doesn't get in the way of the up-tempo tunes.

Yet the shiny new sheen also leaves 'Happiness LTD' feeling a tad empty and vacant. Everything is so polished that some tracks flare out quickly, with the frantic 'My Best Fiend' and the jerky rhythms of '5 Times Out Of 100' being nothing more than indie lite, while Bays’ strangled vocals will likely always remain a love it or hate it style. When the album veers towards becoming U2 with added funk it does lose its way, lacking that knock out blow that great albums need and suggesting that while the band have aimed big they've not quite got the tunes to match. Happiness LTD' is still a solid, satisfying collection of songs but it isn't the rocket that will send Hot Hot Heat stratospheric.