HOT ROD Speeddangerdeath 1993

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Speed Danger Death Review by Ned Raggett

Having left Drop Nineteens behind her, Paula Kelley hooked up with labelmate/new love Mat Flint from similarly shoegaze-inclined Revolver to create Hot Rod and its one enjoyable album, Speed Danger Death. With Flint on bass and backing vocals while Kelley handled guitar and most of the singing, the rest of the band consisted of John Dragonetti on guitars and Eric Paull on percussion. As a band, Hot Rod didn't create any surprises, but as a nice bit of post-blissout noise and hooks, Speed Danger Death is an enjoyable treat, caught somewhere between the summery static of early Drop Nineteens and a slightly rougher edge. Certainly it was a better effort in comparison to Drop Nineteens' own second effort, which was a somewhat dreary slice of Dinosaur Jr.-inspired feedback for no good purpose. Here, wistful melodies appear in both singing and music, even if the latter sometimes cranks up the volume, while the pace overall is steady rather than thrashing. There are some fun twists and turns, though, like when "Liar's Liar" suddenly shifts into a quicker pace toward the end, or when Kelley kicks off "Waiting Forever" with the line "out in the sh*t again." Good production and engineering from Tim O'Heir brings out the band well; many moments are quieter, but nothing is unclear or hesitant. Kelley's girlish singing hadn't changed much. Every so often the focus in the band gets just a touch more intense, with thrilling results -- the verses on "You're My Own," in contrast to the sweet-enough choruses, feel suffused with threat and drama, Flint's bass almost gothy in a Cure sense. Indeed there are a few moments where Robert Smith seems to be a reference point, while elsewhere there's material that's downright Neil Young-sounding in its epic electric melancholy -- check the instrumental break of "I'll Always Know You" for a good example.

 

 

Tracklist

1		Salt	4:09
2		Liar's Liar	5:52
3		You're My Own	3:22
4		I'll Always Know You	4:33
5		Tough	5:08
6		Firewalker	3:12
7		Soaking	3:28
8		Candy Star	4:03
9		Waiting Forever	3:32
10		Perplexed	3:57