Hot Hot Heat sound nothing like the Cure

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I read the piece in the Times today on the Cure, and that's the second major Cure feature I've read recently - after one in EW - that compares Hot Hot Heat to the Cure. But Hot Hot Heat sounds absolutely nothing like the Cure, in any guise or era. What gives?

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, the Cure have a song called "Hot Hot Hot!!!".

― Seb (Seb), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

In other news, Mayhem sound nothing like Britney Spears.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

However, the Burzum-Britney connection still holds strong

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

if Robert Smith led XTC instead of the Cure in 1978 it would sounded a LOT like "Bandages."

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

You think? "Bandages" is one of HHH's least XTC-like songs.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:48 (twenty-one years ago)

that chorus keyboard hook is Barry Andrews.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

and I'm talking about "Statue Of Liberty"-era XTC not Skylarking, ya know.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 27 June 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they get the Cure comparisons a lot because of the vocals, and then the similarities end there. Same with The Rapture. It makes sense that both (I think) those bands are on the Curiosa Tour. I wonder how that will do in light of Lolla's cancellation.

― Sara Sherr, Sunday, 27 June 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

robt. smith defeats moz

― duke cure, Sunday, 27 June 2004 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, so many threads, so little time.

Thanks Duke.

― Sara Sherr, Sunday, 27 June 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The first time I heard HHH I thought of the Cure.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 28 June 2004 00:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear Hot Hot Heat and only think of Dexy's Midnight Runners and Elvis Costello. Steve Bays has admitted to not even liking the Cure or XTC in interviews, for what it's worth.

― ng, Monday, 28 June 2004 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

This band is over. Move along nothing to see here

― People love Gravity and Ebullition! (ex machina), Monday, 28 June 2004 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"However, the Burzum-Britney connection still holds strong"

http://img71.photobucket.com/albums/v216/sexymollusk/stupidkids.jpg

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 28 June 2004 01:48 (twenty-one years ago)

The Dexy's comment must be OTM, cuz my friend mentioned them when we saw HHH perform after the Walkmen (who were the supporting act).

― steeve mcqueen (steeve mcqueen), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hot Hot Heat totally sound like The Cure. HHH's singer was in my fiance's store one time (she hates them) and she told him they rip off Robert Smith and co, anyway the dude went apeshit. So next time anyone sees him, drop a cure comparison in his face.

― shaun (form. known as kinski), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:52 (twenty-one years ago)

they were dicks when i met them

― Player Piano Gamelan (ex machina), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Well they were great guys when I met them. Played a rousing game of Connect 4 w/the bassist and he was a real sport. Their stylist/roadie was a bit persnickety.

― artdamages (artdamages), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"stylist/roadie"!!!!! Wow, there is life after Orgy.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

They sound way more like the Cure (when the Cure didn't suck - you know, like, in the '70s!! -- like, around "Grinding Halt" and songs like that, whenever that was) than like any Elvis Costello or Dexys Midnight Runners I remember. They also sound more like the Cure than the Rapture do, as far as I can see. I don't see how what bands the singer says he likes have anything to do with anything. Even if he hates the Cure, that doesn't mean his band doesn't sound like them.

― chuck, Monday, 28 June 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

chuck, how funky are they?

― artdamages (artdamages), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

hot hot heat is one of the worst bands in the history of all music ever

― Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

They are no The Faint, thats for sure.

― artdamages (artdamages), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

::shakes head::

― Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually I think they are the Faint. That might be one explanation.

― artdamages (artdamages), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

>chuck, how funky are they? <

Funkier than XTC. Not as funky as Gretchen Wilson. (And yes, it matters. It ALWAYS matters.)

― chuck, Monday, 28 June 2004 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"HHH's singer was in my fiance's store one time (she hates them) and she told him they rip off Robert Smith and co, anyway the dude went apeshit."

Can you blame him? Ida done the same thing. Well, I guess it depends on the exact wording - "You guys remind me of the Cure" *no* "You blatantly rip off Robert Smith" *hell yes*

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus. I back-loaded that statement by saying "for what it's worth." Of course it doesn't matter what Steve Bays thinks. And he totally copped his vocal style from Kevin Rowland of Dexy's. Back to lurking...

― ng, Monday, 28 June 2004 23:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm, I kinda like Hot Hot Heat. Anyway, I still don't hear the cure thing, not even a little bit. Lots of XTC and Elvis C., but no Cure to my ears (and I like the Cure). For one thing, Hot Hot Heat are ... peppy.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

you heard Boys Don't Cry?

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

They sound like a lame copy of The Joe Jackson Band.

KCG

― hector savage, Tuesday, 29 June 2004 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's all about Dogs Die In Hot Cars nowadays anyway. Oh, and The Faint's new album is fucking fantastic. Hot Hot Who?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

People who complain that The Cure aren't "peppy" clearly have never heard any of their singles.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, come on now. You know what I mean. (Or I guess you don't). I've heard everything by the Cure, or at least everything available. I have everything. I listen to everything. While the first album is certainly "peppy," I don't I would describe the Cure's peppiest moments as peppy. Same with, say, Wire. I think HHH sound more like a conventional rock band, which I really don't think the Cure ever has.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

What do you mean by "peppy"? In what universe are the following songs NOT "peppy":

"Boys Don't Cry"
"Jumping Someone Else's Train"
"Primary"
"The Lovecats"
"The Caterpillar"
"Inbetween Days"
"Close To Me"
"Why Can't I Be You???"
"Just Like Heaven"
"Hot Hot Hot!!!"
"Never Enough"
"High"
"Friday I'm In Love"
"Mint Car" (bleugh)
"Wrong Number
"Cut Here"
"Just Say Yes"

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Plenty of pep there, yeah, though most I would consider a little too menacing/minor-key ("Never Enough," "Jumping Someone Else's Train") or wistful ("Just Like Heaven," "High") for me to really call peppy. Anyway, I don't think a single one could be confused with Hot Hot Heat, to get back on thread. And that's largely because I think the Cure are so unique.

Oh, the dangers of using indistinct descriptions like "peppy" on ILM ...

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

'Peppy' is still reasonably distinct, I just don't think that it holds up.

I'd say the difference is in the fact HHH are far more 'punky' than the Cure. Maybe, more 'screamy' too...

― Joey-Blagh, Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

The extended and perfectly held sing-scream on the live version of "Prayers for Rain" from Entreat obliterates any scream wossname from HHH could come up with.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

(distant voice calling from afar) HiiiiiiiiiiiNEdddddddddddd

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I HEAR A THEA CALLING ME. It means something. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:24 (twenty-one years ago)

It means Halllllllllooooooooooooo are you gracing us nortenos with an appearance at Devendra, next week?

(sorry this has nothing to do with this thread, oh well. I can't talk about the Cure as I was assaulted by a bouncer at a concert in Vancouver when my neighbors HHH were still singing along to Mr Rogers)

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

It means Halllllllllooooooooooooo are you gracing us nortenos with an appearance at Devendra, next week?

I'm going to try! That would be fun but I need to check with a couple of folks first. How much are tickets?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Knowing Devendra you probably just need to levitate slightly and you can float through the door for free

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hot Hot Heat sound nothing like the Cure"

they are also not very good.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Knowing Devendra you probably just need to levitate slightly and you can float through the door for free

I'll ask him to sign my T. Rex records.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Just tuck yr pants into your boots and he'll do anything you ask

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I have heard of these 'boots'.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Should be a great show; very sad if Joanna can't make it. When she opened for Smog she cleared the room in about 3 secs. I thought someone had unleashed some kind of tear gas that I was apparrently immune to.

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

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