Hot Water Music
Leatherface/Hot Water Music split (BYO)
by Tim Den
It’s hard not to like this combination. You’ve got Britain’s legendary Leatherface on the one hand and Florida’s proud sons Hot Water Music on the other: how could you lose? The re-grouped Brits, led by Mr. Frankie Stubbs, kicks off first with six hoarse-throated, emotionally-charged punk anthems, keeping with the ol’ Leatherface tradition by pumping as much soul as speed into the songs. Numbers like “Wax Lyrical” and “Deep Green Beautiful Leveling” prove not only that Leatherface was and still is one of the most moving bands around, but that Americans really should be shot for missing them in their heyday. Even with the rough recording (Frankie’s Motörhead-meets-Hüsker Dü vocals are often buried) and the not-as-flawless-as-the-older-stuff material here, the power of this well-respected quartet still shines through like a diamond.
Hot Water Music doesn’t waste much time either, following on Leatherface’s heels with four new songs and one re-recorded number. Newies like “Caught Up” and “Wrong and Righteous” maintain the HWM screamo/melodicore stylings, boiling your blood with their ever-infectious honesty. And even though the songs here aren’t as good as the new 7″ these guys just put out, they still offer some decent sing-alongs. The closer, “The Bitter End” (originally from the split 7″ with Six Going On Seven, re-recorded here with new arrangements), provides the only weak moment on this disc, its altered form stripped of its original climactic vision. What a shame. Hopefully the upcoming full-length will have them back in top shape.
Two amazing bands for the price of one. It’s gonna be a while before another split as good as this turns up, so grab it while you can.
(PO Box 67A64 Los Angeles, CA 90067)