Search - Hot Rod Circuit :: Reality's Coming Through

Yep

Chris | Easton/Kutztown PA | 11/08/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"four records into their career, hot rod circuit are at an odd place. never ones to be lumped in with the nu-emo craze of the early 21st century, they've found themselves forced to make some sort of choice in the direction they choose to go with their sound. their first two records were great because they stood out amongst their peers. you must figure that they were touring the country with bands like new found glory, jimmy eat world and the juliana theory right around y2k, bands who would help usher in a new phenomenon in teenage pop culture (disagree with me? look around the local high school or college, and check out all the kids with band pins all over their messanger bags with spock haircuts and tight girls pants). the irony in this is that these bands never meant to usher in this new era. while many of those other bands from around that time period have become reluctant icons to legions of teens and young adults, hot rod circuit has been seemingly left in the dust. sure, they made the leap onto a larger quasi-indie label in vagrant records (long story) but they're still opening shows for younger, inferior bands. sorry about tomorrow was probably their big hope at making a record that would resonate with the kiddies, but it suffered from poor production. 2 years later they offer us reality's coming through, which is an odd record in that it's not so much bad is it suffers from a lack of continuity. i will say that i don't like the single, save you, but other than that, the tracks are all decent at worst, with a few standouts. there is even a song that charts some new territory for hrc (the best you ever knew). the record only gets 3 stars though for it's lack of continuity as previously mentioned as well for what else it's missing: passionate emotion and dynamics (if i knew now...) and/or furious energy (if it's cool...). hopefully somewhere along the line hot rod can find a new direction."

Hah?

Scott Smith | Joliet, IL USA | 02/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i dont understand why people hated this album so much. I myself thought it was very exceptional and i really enjoyed it. To be honest, i don't feel that it sounds much different from there previous releases, well at least not as much people make it sound. It's not like they COMPLETELY converted to a new music genre. There are a couple tracks that bore me, but there are some really awesome tunes on here. THese guys are incredible live as well, and as soon as i heard some of the new stuff live i couldnt wait to pick this up, i wasnt disappointed at all, this is not there best, but i still believe that it is a solid release"