The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Out & About

MADE IN THE DARK

Hot Chip

Hot Chip is most definitely a genre-straddling band, drawing influence from equal parts pop-rock and electronica to create a fresh, not to mention irresistible, sound.

The band's newest release, "Made in the Dark," mixes in a heavier dose of rock than it has in the past, but this hasn't dulled its electronic aspects in the least. Instead, it fuses rock and electronica so well that it makes them both more appealing.

For proof of Hot Chip's sonic genius in full bloom, listen as first cut "Out at the Pictures" starts with a slow synth melody, speeds it up to a fever pitch, and morphs into an ominous beat that also compels you to get up and dance like no tomorrow.

Most of the songs are relentlessly catchy and contain hypnotic, danceable beats, but the energetic yet tender "Ready for the Floor" performs with such finesse that it practically screams "radio play." Other brilliant standouts are the rave-like "Hold On" and the sunny pop of "One Pure Thought," erasing the notion that Hot Chip is just another dance-pop outfit.

Hot Chip's greatest asset is that it knows how to keep the listener's interest by inserting quirky components into their songs. Watch how the music unexpectedly drops out at the peak of the contagious excitement in "Shake a Fist" to make way for studio effects and seizure-inducing drums. Or check out "Wrestlers," as singer Alexis Taylor mutters goofy lines like "Half nelson, full nelson, Willie Nelson ... Willie Nelson" over a bouncy, stripped-down beat.

But beyond the all-pervading catchy beats and hook-filled melodies, Hot Chip has a prominent sensitive side. Songs such as "In the Privacy of Our Love," "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" and the title track sport a dark, introspective feel that suits a lonely night by the fireside better than the dance floor, and Taylor's soul-searching vocals often feel reminiscent of Wilco, only with a greater sense of humor.
VERDICT: Despite the unlikely marriage of dance-party music and heartfelt balladry, "Made in the Dark" will satisfy fans of both rock and electronic music.

- John Barrett

MICHAEL JACKSON

Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition

"Thriller" took over the world's definition of pop music at the time of its debut, but even today, we bear the sight of Thai prisoners dancing on YouTube or allusions to Quincy Jones' producing perfectionism on "Arrested Develo-pment" and its legacy clearly lives on.

Michael Jackson doesn't need a reissue to stay relevant. In honor of his landmark album ascending to its quarterlife crisis, some songs remain the same and are brilliantly remastered while others suffer from remixing.

Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas appears on the duet "The Girl Is Mine," proving that when you take a song that's already a historically noted weak point, it's hard to make it any better - especially when its original half belonged to a Beatle.

Kanye West adds splashes of his signature flashy grandeur to "Billie Jean," showcasing stomps straight out of "Jesus Walks" and the occasional "uh" or "yeah" that drag the song to a slinky, slower tempo and ultimately losing the once-heralded moonwalking momentum.

And awful as he is, Akon deserves accolades for making "Wanna Be Starting Something" all his own - but next to the original's Afro-inspired chorale, big band horns and billowing funk bass, it's just a cheap cover of a song made for a cruise ship commercial. Same goes for Fergie's contributions to "Beat It." Between her super-forced and out of range vocal performance and a production value about as expensive as her childhood days on "Kids Incorporated," "Beat It" loses all of its badass attitude. One can only hope it at least still sounds outstanding on vinyl.

VERDICT: Don't mess with a good thing, let alone one of the greatest.

- Sami Promisloff

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