CD Review: Hot Hot Heat, "Elevator" (Warner Bros.)

Canadian foursome Hot Hot Heat scored a major-label deal in 2002 on the strength of "Make Up the Breakdown," an album of new wave-inspired post-punk that evoked the jagged riffage of Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello's heyday.

"Elevator" showcases Hot Hot Heat's enthusiastic affinity for post-punk rock, only this time around the group eschews its synthesizers for more riffs and aggressive, jangly pop. "Pickin' It Up" sounds like a song you (or your parents) heard--and loved--in 1982.

Yet "Elevator" also illuminates the group's shortcomings. Singer Steve Bays has always made the most of his limited range, resorting often to his go-to wail--a hybrid of Joe Jackson and a smart-ass, art-rock honor student. But, after half an album's worth of tracks, all that whining can get grating.

Still, the band's strength is a bold sound that allows for a little mystery between all those angular riffs. "Jingle Jangle" is no "Bandages"--the hit off their breakout effort--but it nevertheless captures the group's affinity for up-tempo grooves and memorable melodies.

Then there are the undeniable refrains. "You Owe Me an IOU" and "Dirty Mouth" are two prime examples; each features a simple chorus that listeners will be singing by the tunes' final measures. The downside? These songs come with a shelf life of perhaps a month. Still, on "Elevator," Bay and HHH show they can assemble fun new-wave pop ditties.