Hot Water Music - Caution

Hot Water Music
Caution
Epitaph Records
Grade: A-/A

After messing around with a couple of recent mediocre releases, No Division (2000) and A Flight and a Crash (2001), Hot Water Music's latest endeavor Caution reestablishes them as one of the greatest bands in the indie world. HWM may have been unduly influenced by the Alkaline Trio on their amazing split from last year on Jade Tree. Either way this sixth solo full-length will make old fans simmer with glee and convert new listeners to HWM's prowess.

Using producer Brian McTernan (who also did A Flight and a Crash), HWM go back to the elements of their earlier material to rediscover their signature sound. As such all twelve songs on Caution as exceptional numbers in there own right. Hence, Caution is a sweet contrast to some of the genericism HWM were starting to slip into. Kicking off the record is "Remedy," a fast-paced number mixing dueling guitar solos, muting and solo bass and drums parts. "Remedy" sets the tone of the rest of the record. Without missing a beat "Trusty Chords" picks up the same intensity that "Remedy" left off. (Just listening now to the songs makes you smile real big, like a kid with a huge score of Halloween candy). Most telling about "Trusty Chords" is the first line of the chorus 'I hate this place, I love these chords.' Other tracks take on a more developed post-modern rock feel, even similar to U2 at times. This is seen most starkly on "One Step to Slip" and "It's All Related." Probably one of the best songs on Caution is "Not For Anyone." It has a feel to it like past great HWM songs. I'm talking about songs like "Minno" and "Alachua." While it is easily to argue nothing could achieve such divine intervention, "Not For Anyone" takes a decent shot at it. But the title for best song must battle with the exceptional "Wayfarer," a song, thanks to the chorus, that is destined to be screamed by the fan milieu at any good HWM show. Also, look out for the sneaker hit "The Sense."

Again, Caution brings Hot Water Music back to the top of the indie-music pecking order. The boys really come through on this record and it should bring them a long way to some real recognition. Since Hot Water Music's debut full-length Finding the Rhythms you could make the argument that they are one of the most under-rated bands in America. Hopefully this won't be the case on Caution.