2002 release on Sub Pop from Victoria, BC based Hot Hot Heat. Five songs, 'Le Le Low', '5 Times Out Of 100', 'Have A Good Sleep', 'Touch You Touch You', 'More For Show', in 16 minutes produced in part by Death Cab for ... more »Cutie's Chris Walla.« less
2002 release on Sub Pop from Victoria, BC based Hot Hot Heat. Five songs, 'Le Le Low', '5 Times Out Of 100', 'Have A Good Sleep', 'Touch You Touch You', 'More For Show', in 16 minutes produced in part by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla.
CD Reviews
I wanna turn this energy on.
punkrawker1738 | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 06/26/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Seeing as though they're on Sub Pop, you would think these guys would be half way popular. Seeing as though they're a great band, you would think they'd have more fans."Knock Knock Knock" is one of my all time favorite EP's. What it lacks in length, it makes up in quality. Hot Hot Heat has a unique sound, but they fit somewhere in between the punk rock of the 70's and the dance of the 80's. If that's a bad comparison, just listen to the music instead.The standout tracks on this EP are "5 Times out of 100" and "Touch You Touch You." I will be seeing them live soon, and I can only imagine how amazing their live show is."
Best EP in history (I accidently clicked 4stars its actually
Ashlie Ryan | Bakersfield, CA USA | 06/29/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"What to say about this album? Like it has been said below, some people find this CD to be one of their favorites, and I have to agree. Knock Knock Knock is such an AMAZING EP and has such awesomely written lyrics. The actual CD is really neat, too. It's a clear disc with a little bit of pink and white in the middle. Back into the songs, lyrics, and whatnot, I love this album and every single song on it. The lyrics are definately creative! Le Le Low is possibly one of my favorite songs in HHH history, I love the part talking about how, "mediocrity cold killed your act." It is such a groovy song, worth listening to on repeat all day. Hearing the song "5 times out of 100" will keep you in a good mood for the rest of the day. This song also has a cool remix somewhere on the internet. The next song on this EP is called, "Have a Good Sleep." Although a slower song, it still attracts young and old alike. This is my father's favorite song. Steve Bays' vocals on this song are amazing, they're up and down and almost too awesome to explain (SO BUY THE CD!)
Hmmm. . .Touch You, Touch You. . . It starts out with a bunch of noises and it will make you want to stay for more. The vocals in this song are a bit crazy and maybe a little hard to understand. But, once you figure them out this will be a great song for you to sing at the top of your lungs. Especially the part saying, "No, you won't believe it, not until you see it, no, no you won't believe not until I write it down." And lastly, another favorite HHH hit of mine, "More for Show." Steve sounding a bit sharp in the beginning but his voice starting to even out makes the song very neat and many enjoy this song because they say it tells a story. I love this song, I don't doubt that you will, too. If you are not convinced that you should buy Knock Knock Knock then, I think you might need some therapy. You should also buy Makeup the Breakdown so you don't have as little as 5 songs of Hot Hot Heat because they're so amazing you need 15 just to get by."
HHH = love
JC | san jose, CA | 07/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
""le le low" is a greaaat song. i love the guitar in it, and the beat always makes me want to dance. In "have a good sleep" the singer does little high note sort of yelps : ]
and like all all of HHH's songs the lyrics are always so witty and incredibly creative. the sound on this EP is so unique, and like no other artits i've hear before.
in "Touch you, touch you" it's hard to get the lyrics right in the beginning. but i think the vocals in this song sound really really great. "5 times out of 100" at first reminded me a little one of their first albums "scenes one through thirteen" in terms of the keyboard. this song is really energetic and my favorite part is about 3/4 of the way through it when the song slows down a bit.
"More for show" is great and of course has amazing lyrics like " a dollhouse drawn in sand. the random lack of dirty hands". and it's a complete feel good song.
"
The Best.
Megz | Oregon | 06/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This EP Knock Knock Knock is definently my personal favorite disc released by Hot Hot Heat, or any other band for that matter. The greatness begins with Le Le Low, a truly diverse and high energy song with amazing vocals. Seriously, how does Steve Bays sing like that? The synth is amazing, the guitar is amazing, the bass is amazing, the drums are amazing... did I mention the vocals are amazing? This song is a great way to start the record. 5 Times out of 100, the second track, is a catchy tune with multiple voices singing at once, though they are all still Steve Bays. The song also slows for a moment in the middle for just a piano and the soft tapping of a cymbal. Then it goes into a whole new melody, and the song continues changing all the way through! Have A Good Sleep is a truly unique song. It has an awesome intro with great yelping vocals throughout. Even though the song is slower than the others, it still maintains the high energy of all of Hot Hot Heat songs, and has some fantastic synth/piano. The next track, Touch You Touch You, starts with some jumpy stomp-clapping, goes right into another great HHH tune. There's nothing else quite like this song, the keyboard melodies are great, the vocals continue to blow me away, "Why are you wired into the waaaaaaaallll?". And finally, More For Show. This song's lyrics seem to tell a story, of a gal who puts on more for show. The lyrics are witty, the tune is great, everything than can be good about a song is true with More For Show. When it ends, it will leave you wanting more. So then you buy Make Up The Breakdown :). In conclusion, Knock Knock Knock is a wonderful disc with songs just a unique as the hot pink cd case itself. It's filled with short, catchy, amazing tunes and is definently worth the money."
Breathless, funky synth-pop in a hot pink package (4 Stars)
Brian Conway | 10/22/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Breathless is the perfect word to describe this debut extended play by Hot Hot Heat. The gasping, tongue-twisting delivery by Steve Bays plays perfectly off the tight guitar, bass, and drum lines and once the subtle genius starts to sink in, the listener is left grasping for more. It's only after a few spins in that one starts to realize just how brilliantly the cogs mesh on this recording. Dante DeCaro's funky, eclectic guitar interplays wonderfully with the keyboards, the dance-punk drums and bass form a tight, driving rhythm section and they are all emphasized by the amazing vocal range and raw emotion of Steve Bays.
All these elements are evident in every one of the five tracks and while Hot Hot Heat has a very distinctive sound, each track on Knock Knock Knock is a completely different experience from the last. The opener "Le Le Low" is nothing short of amazing and works as a magnificent blueprint for Hot Hot Heat's catchy pop style with short controlled explosions of guitar, Dustin Hawthorne's leading melodic bass and a synth whine to match the vocals, all of which require the listener's attention to fully appreciate. The follow up "5 Times Out of 100" is just as impressive with rhythmic change ups, intense hooks, and a pounding power-pop pulse. "Have a Good Sleep" displays the great skill and versatility found in drummer Paul Hawley whose snare taps give the song an immediate catchiness. On "Touch You Touch You" the band's early hardcore influence shows through with a funky stomp breakdown for a chorus. Thankfully, this is mixed with just the right amount of stylistic diversity to keep it from being an average hardcore take. The band saves the biggest surprise for last, however, with a dripping guitar line that screams Johnny Marr and is easily the biggest change up that the band throws at its audience during the brief running time.
Five songs seems like just the right length for a Hot Hot Heat CD: just enough for them to narrow it down to the really fantastic work that they're capable of doing, experimenting just enough to keep it fresh and eliminating any room for possible filler. As it stands, Knock Knock Knock, while only an EP, sets the bar for all other releases by this group."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1