Record Label: Asian Man Records
Genre: Doo Wop/Pop
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com
I’m pretty sure The Hot Toddies are the cutest band I’ve ever heard. Their first full-length, the deliciously titled Smell the Mitten is full of clever, fun, and catchy 60s doo-wop, surf, and twee pop that is pretty hard to resist. They have the right harmonies, the surf rock guitars, and the attitude to fit their retro music.
I’m sure as a group of four young ladies playing 50s and 60s music, the Hot Toddies may come off as a novelty group to some, but this album is proof that there’s something far more potent here. Even if the musicianship is often limited, the fun and clever lyrics, mixed with the pitch-perfect melodies more than makes up for anything that might suggest that the group is banking on the success of the Pipettes. And I’m pretty sure ‘Anais Nin vs. The Pirates of Santa Cruz’ is the greatest song name ever.
One of the highlight songs is a hilariously relevant song called ‘HTML’ which talks about online stalkers while not sounding at all tacky. Other tracks, like ‘The Surf Song’ get the tone and sound of the early 60s down perfectly and yearn for a simpler time in pop music. I dare anyone to not smile by the end of this album.
I think the only thing the group might benefit from is a more interesting production on a follow-up record. The sound is completely retro, but I almost think that it would be even better with some heavy reverb and mono production, just like it used to be. I sincerely hope to hear more from the Hot Toddies, the perfect antidote to all the shitty emo that I always seem to be subjected to as a reviewer. Seriously, emo bands, just get over yourselves and start a doo wop band.
Bottom Line: Amazingly cuddly retro 50s pop for a music fan with a soul.
Notable Tracks: The Surf Song, Seattle, HTML, Wet Dream, Anais Nin vs. The Pirates of Santa Cruz
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