Hot Chip

Their first album was no indication of how far they'd come. It hasn't been that long, yet they've rode a wave of hype and DFA backing to become truly great. They have their own sound.. no matter how fast or slow the tune is. With every track on "Made In The Dark," you can an irrefutable feeling they knew exactly how they wanted each song to come out.

So my 4 stars reflects the percentage of the songs that connected with me, and that I actually enjoyed. Favorites are the obvious 'Ready For The Floor,' and 'One Pure Thought.' Another hit was 'Wrestlers,' my favorite song on the album. What had been described as 'bad goon-hop' by lesser minded critics, I profusely enjoy the way it plays out, the vocal bridge.. everything. It's just the perfect song. Much like 'The Warning' from the same titled last disc has snuck up on me after a time, after the initial singles wore off.

Give this a sample listen before hand.. maybe buy a few songs as individual tracks. If you like it, get the disc as I have, help support them and their free-spirited experimentalism. If not.. just find something else.. not everyone will feel comfortable with the sounds on this disc. Different strokes....

I would never hesitate to say that this is a very awesome group, overall, dispite their missteps. However, their albums have a wierd effect like it's impossible to be in the mood for every part of their personality in one sitting. It's like I want to dismantle their three albums to make one that is sudo-sentimental, one that is fun-loving with solid beats, then a third that is awkward and bizzarre. That way I could keep the third one on the shelf and not have it get in the way of why I love this group. As it stands, they play out like an awkward mix of Air and Ween, and their new album, while clearly showing acheivement, is no exception. I am not an MP3 person, per say, but if you just buy the songs that immediately sound awesome from their 3 albums and then shuffle the songs...that is as good as this group gets. Everything else is more of a anti-social personal exploration type of music...quirky stuff to study in headphones.

Their best song is still their first single "Playboy" although each album does have it's treasures.

PS: the DVD is just OK...nothing to justify a price increase really, but more of a thing to let you into the band's vibe and the way these songs were designed to function on stage more like the group "Battles" or "!!!" (AKA: Chick Chick Chick, or Chk Chk Chk), meaning the songs are a bit of an open groove when they are performed. The overall packaging, while classy and minimal, is kind of non-descript and plain as well. Perhaps this whole thing is better as a download...perhaps.

Made in the Dark (2008, EMI) Hot Chip's third studio album. ****

The electro-pop quintet have crafted a master album on their third outing entitled Made in the Dark. The wide range of influences makes it very diverse, and while not all of them are magic, many are. Most notable is the lead single "Ready For the Floor," a disco-inspired dance piece. Alex Taylor's soft falsetto paired with signature 70's-style synths make it sound like something Blondie would have tried. Another key moment is the track right beforehand, the club-beating "Shake a Fist." For a while, the track is fairly minimal, with a solid drumbeat backed by occasional keyboards. It is again Taylor's vocals that give the song life, especially during the chorus of "Out and out and out/Out and out and out/Shake a fist/And let's breathe it in without," in which the beat is impeccable. The only dry moment is on the album's title track, a strange piano ballad. Although the mood that Hot Chip attempted comes through, it can't fit in an album laden with bouncing and crunching electronica. Overall, Made in the Dark is something to be cherished, a sincere moment in electro-pop. (Out at the Pictures, Shake a Fist, Ready For the Floor)

I'm a big fan of 80s alternative rock. When I heard Shake a Fist on World Cafe, I thought it sounded like New Order on steroids. I was instantly a fan. There are some slow, melodic songs also, and some that get a little monotonous. But overall, it's pure ear candy.

probably not a cd that everyone will appreciate, but one that i really dig. this cd will get ya movin and has punchy lyrics and infectious songs. i swear that my dog loves "ready for the floor". good stuff.

I bought this CD after stumbling across Hot Chip's other album 'Coming On Strong'. I really liked that one, but 'The Warning' just doesn't flow as well. Hot Chip's style of music is like a balancing act between chaos and creativity and will appeal to different people in different ways. Love it or hate it...at least it's something unique and different.

I randomly chose to buy and listen to this CD because they are playing at Coachella. It isn't good. It reminds me of StereoLab but without talent. Each song is more insipid and boring than the last. The music is an unfortunate combination of beats from a dated drum machine, irritating electonic blips, guitar for beginners and vocal stylings that are wimpy and heartless. Needless to say...I don't get it.

If you are looking for something different to listen to, Hot Chip's new album may satisfy you beyond your expectations. I haven't heard any other effort by any other artist to compare to, but yet it will also sound very familiar somehow. I think their sound is called "indie electronica" or something like that. Whatever it's called, it is different. I especially recommend; "Boy From School", "Over and Over", "Tchaparian" and "No Fit State"...To me "Over and Over" and "Tchaparian" are incredible..I'm sure you'll discover some secret gems like "just like we (breakdown)", "the warning" or the lean and minimalist "colors"...Give it a try... Tchaparian's intro lyrics: I'm looking for a face to attack
it could be that im kissing your kneck
you will not know because im laid back
so watch yourself i'll come with a smack...

On their second album, Hot Chip has continued to play with what makes them interesting. Stark electronic blips sit next to accessable melodic arrangments, and the marriage works even better this time around.

The tracks overall, bounce off each other to create a complete record experience. A song like Boy From School is a retro-flavored pop masterpiece, sounding like a cousin of OMD or New Order, you'll be singing along from the very first listen. Other tracks are far more difficult but no-less rewarding. The Warning, is great because it plays with the idea of musical catagories and the stigmas that go with them. The idea of geeky keyboard fans being violent and tough is funny, and that's the gist of the tune. Then there is the single which has garnered the most attention for the band, and its a dandy. Over and Over, has an insane, yet catchy hook, and really great lyrics to boot! Anyone that I've ever played this for has fallen in love with it, its just one of those songs that anyone can get into, and instantly like.

While the rest of the record doesn't quite leap the lead singles' lofty bar, it does a really great job of complementing the different styles and vibes, that without skill, could get very chaotic to the listener. If you are a fan of electronic music, and like a bit of experimentaton mixed with your straight forward pop, you won't find a better blend of a unique, and fun songs on any one record this year.

The moment that track one, "Careful," starts to see-saw between its glittering chorales and a hyper-kinetic synth-trash backbeat, it becomes obvious that The Warning is not your typical album. Hot Chip is having fun here, and like basketball pros practicing slam-dunks before a game, this is the kind of fun that's a delight to witness.

Most of the album is devoted to an alchemy of sounds, with Hot Chip creating chimeras of sound out of typically redundant and over-used musical cliches. They pull out electronic 80's harmonies and dub them under curtains of barely-there xylophonic sound in "And I Was A Boy From School." They weave your basic R&B melodies in and out of stringed corners in "Look After Me." And they create an angry but operatic techno mural with artful distortion and the catchiest of lyrics in "Over & Over." These guys won't sit still.

What's most intoxicating about this record is its schizophrenia and the sense that never are these fellows taking themselves too seriously. It's also refreshing that they have refused to carve a niche and travel it comfortably. One gets the sensation that, with each song, they've attempted to find new and better mixtures of sound and noise. They're not always successful (there's something about "Tchaparian"s digital hopscotch motif that is both addictive and annoying), and there's a chance that the music here is an acquired taste for some, but, as a whole, this album is a remarkable example of the limitless potential of music. Reminiscent at times of Moby, Radiohead, Annie Lennox, Talking Heads, and the Chemical Brothers, The Warning is a great album for anyone who loves music that refuses to play by the rules of "electronica" or any other genre.

has anyone noticed how the album cover looks strikingly like the album cover for that other brit band, Hi-fi , stars of the cctv . interesting. by the way both albums are good.

Think of it as an amazing EP. Other reviewers have got it right - this album is unclassifiable, and amazing -- for about 7 songs. In fact, I'm not positive about anything about this album. It is that unsettling. Imagine Paul McCartney getting brain-damaged and haunted by Beck's Midinite Vultures, with only a cheap keyboard to keep him company. Maybe. I am having a hard time even forming an opinion of these guys, which is usually an indicator that they are doing something very good.

I LIKE Hot Chip's remixes, but this debut album is, truth be told, a bit of a letdown after the slow trickle of singles and 12"s that have been flowing that past few years - all build-up, no climax - nice production sheen and some cool electro noodles, but they're still in search of...er...um...actual SONGS you can wrap your head and ears around. Still the JUSTUS KOHNCKE remix of OVER AND OVER on import is a nice stuff, in a "White Horse" by Laidback sorta way.

Won't make you re-think your life - but can make you laugh or relax. Fun.

i can't quite figure these guys out... are they a downer band or are they upbeat jokesters? hot chip is the exact center point between dreary radiohead and hip-bucking Beck, and, yes, it is as weird as that sounds. "playboy" is without question the standout track and is one of the very best/weirdest pop songs i've heard in many years. most of the album is incredible , tho there are moments where i wanna rip the keyboard out of their hands... oh well... but most of the album grows like a fungus over repeated spins so it's rewarding as time goes on.

this record would sound great thumpin' at a summertime party or alone in your room with your headphones as you curse the entire world and everyone in it. one of the more unique listening experiences i've had in a while.

This album has some great tracks on it, but you may well only like half of this album. Which half depends on your taste. I bought this album after hearing several of the more innovative tracks on this album. Some tracks make me want to throw my iPod under a train.

This DJ Kicks outing for Hot Chip is like several of your drunk mates fighting over the music at your house party. Some people may like this dyslexic mix of music, but I'd personally agree that it's a train wreck. Not that it needs to be beat mixed, or eq'd or whatever... but at least a coherent journey of some kind be it emotional or musical. A much better case is made by the back to mine series, say the Orbital or Orb mixes.

Overrated? Yep, definitely.
2 stars only because there is a couple of really ace tracks.
Buy the songs elsewhere, mix it yourself.

I took a chance and picked this up after hearing it at a listening station and being so baffled and intrigued that I had to decipher it for myself. At first, I thought it was just wilfully obscure, but I was determined to crack it because I sensed that there was a heart beating underneath the cool surface. I kept listening to it over and over, trying to take in the wide scope of the thing, and then I couldn't stay away from it. I found myself reaching for it again and again and I grew to absolutely love it. It has a lonely soul inside it that I find very appealing. If this sounds at all interesting to you, I would advise you to take a chance. You might fall in love with it as I have. There's a warmth to it that I find irresistable. Don't resist.

I have to completely disagree with the 1 star review of this album. This album is NOT a 1-2 star. I am very pleased with the wide variety of styles here and the manner in which they are arranged. As mentioned in the "formal" reviews, this collection covers everything from minimalist techno to "I got a man" to Ray Charles, who is always a delight to listen to. Very enjoyable. Not to mention, the Hot Chip song "My Piano" is great. After the first listen I knew this would only get better as I listened to it more. Anyway, I had to chime in on this album and give it some of the justice it deserves.If you like a wide variety of music and appreciate collections that offer an interesting mix of it, you should find this quite enjoyable.

I definitely disagree with the other guy. One star? C'mon man. The track selection here is great -- My Piano, Steppin Out, Bizzare Love Triangle, etc. Great stuff. So, yeah, the mixing is not alway stellar, but then again Hot Chip is putting together disparate genres with wildly differing bpms -- songs, it should be remembered, that aren't always in a 12" long intro format. So I can definitely overlook a less-than-seemless house mix (there are no "trainwrecks" here my man).

And btw, if you think the mixing on this album is much different than many in the DJ kicks series, you're wrong. The occassional choppy segway is the price of being eclectic and actually taking chances. If you want a perfectly seemless mix go pop in your tiesto. I'll stick to real music, thanks.

Four stars for a daring and fun mix.

after hearing rave reviews of this cd i bought it and almost immediately regretted it. i will admit that the track selection is pretty good, i do like most of the songs on this cd. what's wrong, however, is the complete lack of skill shown by hot chip. there's trainwreck after trainwreck, it's as if they weren't even trying to beat match. not only that but when the mixes are close to being beat matched, the songs don't go well together. there are gaps between some songs and over all, i wouldn't book these guys after hearing this cd. i would expect mistakes like this from some local 80's dj with a total of ten people on the dancefloor but not from the dj kicks series.

I bought this CD after stumbling across Hot Chip's other album 'Coming On Strong'. I really liked that one, but 'The Warning' just doesn't flow as well. Hot Chip's style of music is like a balancing act between chaos and creativity and will appeal to different people in different ways. Love it or hate it...at least it's something unique and different.

I randomly chose to buy and listen to this CD because they are playing at Coachella. It isn't good. It reminds me of StereoLab but without talent. Each song is more insipid and boring than the last. The music is an unfortunate combination of beats from a dated drum machine, irritating electonic blips, guitar for beginners and vocal stylings that are wimpy and heartless. Needless to say...I don't get it.

If you are looking for something different to listen to, Hot Chip's new album may satisfy you beyond your expectations. I haven't heard any other effort by any other artist to compare to, but yet it will also sound very familiar somehow. I think their sound is called "indie electronica" or something like that. Whatever it's called, it is different. I especially recommend; "Boy From School", "Over and Over", "Tchaparian" and "No Fit State"...To me "Over and Over" and "Tchaparian" are incredible..I'm sure you'll discover some secret gems like "just like we (breakdown)", "the warning" or the lean and minimalist "colors"...Give it a try... Tchaparian's intro lyrics: I'm looking for a face to attack
it could be that im kissing your kneck
you will not know because im laid back
so watch yourself i'll come with a smack...

On their second album, Hot Chip has continued to play with what makes them interesting. Stark electronic blips sit next to accessable melodic arrangments, and the marriage works even better this time around.

The tracks overall, bounce off each other to create a complete record experience. A song like Boy From School is a retro-flavored pop masterpiece, sounding like a cousin of OMD or New Order, you'll be singing along from the very first listen. Other tracks are far more difficult but no-less rewarding. The Warning, is great because it plays with the idea of musical catagories and the stigmas that go with them. The idea of geeky keyboard fans being violent and tough is funny, and that's the gist of the tune. Then there is the single which has garnered the most attention for the band, and its a dandy. Over and Over, has an insane, yet catchy hook, and really great lyrics to boot! Anyone that I've ever played this for has fallen in love with it, its just one of those songs that anyone can get into, and instantly like.

While the rest of the record doesn't quite leap the lead singles' lofty bar, it does a really great job of complementing the different styles and vibes, that without skill, could get very chaotic to the listener. If you are a fan of electronic music, and like a bit of experimentaton mixed with your straight forward pop, you won't find a better blend of a unique, and fun songs on any one record this year.

The moment that track one, "Careful," starts to see-saw between its glittering chorales and a hyper-kinetic synth-trash backbeat, it becomes obvious that The Warning is not your typical album. Hot Chip is having fun here, and like basketball pros practicing slam-dunks before a game, this is the kind of fun that's a delight to witness.

Most of the album is devoted to an alchemy of sounds, with Hot Chip creating chimeras of sound out of typically redundant and over-used musical cliches. They pull out electronic 80's harmonies and dub them under curtains of barely-there xylophonic sound in "And I Was A Boy From School." They weave your basic R&B melodies in and out of stringed corners in "Look After Me." And they create an angry but operatic techno mural with artful distortion and the catchiest of lyrics in "Over & Over." These guys won't sit still.

What's most intoxicating about this record is its schizophrenia and the sense that never are these fellows taking themselves too seriously. It's also refreshing that they have refused to carve a niche and travel it comfortably. One gets the sensation that, with each song, they've attempted to find new and better mixtures of sound and noise. They're not always successful (there's something about "Tchaparian"s digital hopscotch motif that is both addictive and annoying), and there's a chance that the music here is an acquired taste for some, but, as a whole, this album is a remarkable example of the limitless potential of music. Reminiscent at times of Moby, Radiohead, Annie Lennox, Talking Heads, and the Chemical Brothers, The Warning is a great album for anyone who loves music that refuses to play by the rules of "electronica" or any other genre.

This album has some great tracks on it, but you may well only like half of this album. Which half depends on your taste. I bought this album after hearing several of the more innovative tracks on this album. Some tracks make me want to throw my iPod under a train.

This DJ Kicks outing for Hot Chip is like several of your drunk mates fighting over the music at your house party. Some people may like this dyslexic mix of music, but I'd personally agree that it's a train wreck. Not that it needs to be beat mixed, or eq'd or whatever... but at least a coherent journey of some kind be it emotional or musical. A much better case is made by the back to mine series, say the Orbital or Orb mixes.

Overrated? Yep, definitely.
2 stars only because there is a couple of really ace tracks.
Buy the songs elsewhere, mix it yourself.

I took a chance and picked this up after hearing it at a listening station and being so baffled and intrigued that I had to decipher it for myself. At first, I thought it was just wilfully obscure, but I was determined to crack it because I sensed that there was a heart beating underneath the cool surface. I kept listening to it over and over, trying to take in the wide scope of the thing, and then I couldn't stay away from it. I found myself reaching for it again and again and I grew to absolutely love it. It has a lonely soul inside it that I find very appealing. If this sounds at all interesting to you, I would advise you to take a chance. You might fall in love with it as I have. There's a warmth to it that I find irresistable. Don't resist.

I have to completely disagree with the 1 star review of this album. This album is NOT a 1-2 star. I am very pleased with the wide variety of styles here and the manner in which they are arranged. As mentioned in the "formal" reviews, this collection covers everything from minimalist techno to "I got a man" to Ray Charles, who is always a delight to listen to. Very enjoyable. Not to mention, the Hot Chip song "My Piano" is great. After the first listen I knew this would only get better as I listened to it more. Anyway, I had to chime in on this album and give it some of the justice it deserves.If you like a wide variety of music and appreciate collections that offer an interesting mix of it, you should find this quite enjoyable.

I definitely disagree with the other guy. One star? C'mon man. The track selection here is great -- My Piano, Steppin Out, Bizzare Love Triangle, etc. Great stuff. So, yeah, the mixing is not alway stellar, but then again Hot Chip is putting together disparate genres with wildly differing bpms -- songs, it should be remembered, that aren't always in a 12" long intro format. So I can definitely overlook a less-than-seemless house mix (there are no "trainwrecks" here my man).

And btw, if you think the mixing on this album is much different than many in the DJ kicks series, you're wrong. The occassional choppy segway is the price of being eclectic and actually taking chances. If you want a perfectly seemless mix go pop in your tiesto. I'll stick to real music, thanks.

Four stars for a daring and fun mix.

after hearing rave reviews of this cd i bought it and almost immediately regretted it. i will admit that the track selection is pretty good, i do like most of the songs on this cd. what's wrong, however, is the complete lack of skill shown by hot chip. there's trainwreck after trainwreck, it's as if they weren't even trying to beat match. not only that but when the mixes are close to being beat matched, the songs don't go well together. there are gaps between some songs and over all, i wouldn't book these guys after hearing this cd. i would expect mistakes like this from some local 80's dj with a total of ten people on the dancefloor but not from the dj kicks series.

This album has some great tracks on it, but you may well only like half of this album. Which half depends on your taste. I bought this album after hearing several of the more innovative tracks on this album. Some tracks make me want to throw my iPod under a train.

This DJ Kicks outing for Hot Chip is like several of your drunk mates fighting over the music at your house party. Some people may like this dyslexic mix of music, but I'd personally agree that it's a train wreck. Not that it needs to be beat mixed, or eq'd or whatever... but at least a coherent journey of some kind be it emotional or musical. A much better case is made by the back to mine series, say the Orbital or Orb mixes.

Overrated? Yep, definitely.
2 stars only because there is a couple of really ace tracks.
Buy the songs elsewhere, mix it yourself.

I took a chance and picked this up after hearing it at a listening station and being so baffled and intrigued that I had to decipher it for myself. At first, I thought it was just wilfully obscure, but I was determined to crack it because I sensed that there was a heart beating underneath the cool surface. I kept listening to it over and over, trying to take in the wide scope of the thing, and then I couldn't stay away from it. I found myself reaching for it again and again and I grew to absolutely love it. It has a lonely soul inside it that I find very appealing. If this sounds at all interesting to you, I would advise you to take a chance. You might fall in love with it as I have. There's a warmth to it that I find irresistable. Don't resist.

I have to completely disagree with the 1 star review of this album. This album is NOT a 1-2 star. I am very pleased with the wide variety of styles here and the manner in which they are arranged. As mentioned in the "formal" reviews, this collection covers everything from minimalist techno to "I got a man" to Ray Charles, who is always a delight to listen to. Very enjoyable. Not to mention, the Hot Chip song "My Piano" is great. After the first listen I knew this would only get better as I listened to it more. Anyway, I had to chime in on this album and give it some of the justice it deserves.If you like a wide variety of music and appreciate collections that offer an interesting mix of it, you should find this quite enjoyable.

I definitely disagree with the other guy. One star? C'mon man. The track selection here is great -- My Piano, Steppin Out, Bizzare Love Triangle, etc. Great stuff. So, yeah, the mixing is not alway stellar, but then again Hot Chip is putting together disparate genres with wildly differing bpms -- songs, it should be remembered, that aren't always in a 12" long intro format. So I can definitely overlook a less-than-seemless house mix (there are no "trainwrecks" here my man).

And btw, if you think the mixing on this album is much different than many in the DJ kicks series, you're wrong. The occassional choppy segway is the price of being eclectic and actually taking chances. If you want a perfectly seemless mix go pop in your tiesto. I'll stick to real music, thanks.

Four stars for a daring and fun mix.

after hearing rave reviews of this cd i bought it and almost immediately regretted it. i will admit that the track selection is pretty good, i do like most of the songs on this cd. what's wrong, however, is the complete lack of skill shown by hot chip. there's trainwreck after trainwreck, it's as if they weren't even trying to beat match. not only that but when the mixes are close to being beat matched, the songs don't go well together. there are gaps between some songs and over all, i wouldn't book these guys after hearing this cd. i would expect mistakes like this from some local 80's dj with a total of ten people on the dancefloor but not from the dj kicks series.

I've been a fan of Hot Chip for a couple of years now and this album has some of their best work on it. It's very well done and has a wonderful variety of tempos and styles. I'm very glad they're touring the US to promote this album (albeit briefly). I can't wait to see them in person.

The album opens with four dance floor shakers, then dips into intimate territory for about three songs before dropping the dance beats again and eventually pulling them back again for the last two songs. So you will hear reviewers cling to individual sections and state that the whole album is danceable or the whole album is tender, when in fact it contains both qualities in divided portions. The wonky humor of Hot Chip has been dialed down to a few subtle one-liners, with the exception of the song "Wrestlers" (think Ween meets Har Mar Superstar) which in some ways mocks their own tenderness. Overall this is a much more musically developed album than their previous two in both the rhythms and in the melodies & vocals. The live DVD (five songs from a couple of concerts) that comes with the deluxe edition sets the album in a live context (when coupled with the live intro of the album) but as an album it's a confusing rollercoaster ride. Compared to their other albums, none of the songs TOTALLY suck, but none of them are as perfect as "Playboy" either.

I dun see how some people can compare this album with the likes of Daft Punk or even Amy Winehouse. They must be tone deaf. The melodies does not appeal, the arrangements very haphazard, even the rhythm & bass suck. For a dance act, that is a deal breaker! On the whole, for fans only.

****1/2

I love Hot Chip. By both evoking the past and looking toward the future in their music, this group has managed to create a truly unique sound. (In this way, they're almost like a musical second cousin to Amy Winehouse.) The warm vocals, harmonies and pop songwriting sometimes recall groups like the Beach Boys. However, these classic elements are juxtaposed with state-of-the-art production that has more in common with innovative electronica by the likes of Daft Punk or Aphex Twin. The two distinct styles sometimes blend smoothly and seamlessly, and sometimes completely battle with each other, adding a dynamic tension to the music. Just when you think the songs have gone too far on the side of electronic noise with tracks like "Shake A Fist" or "Bendable Poseable", Hot Chip will hit the listener with a completely tender, mellow ballad like "Made In The Dark" or "In The Privacy Of Our Love." The whole album is just so playful, soulful and surprising.

CD: 4 Stars; DVD: 5 Stars.

Hot Chip released an excellent 3rd studio album "The Warning" in 2006, which collected critical acclaim everywhere, and which also brought the band some commercial success, mainly due to the irresistible "Over and Over" single. The band toured tirelessly behind "The Warning", and the expectations for the follow-up album have been huge. Now finally comes the new album.

"Made In the Dark" (13 tracks, 54 min.) starts off with a long instrumental opening before crashing in with a nervous "Out At the Pictures", which is immediately followed by a strong "Shake a Fist' and the first single "Ready For the Floor", another one of those irresistible sing-along, dance-along songs. The middle of the album brings a couple of slower, more pensive songs, including "Touch Too Much" and a brooding title track. The second half of the album starts off with a guitar-riff heavy "One Pure Thought" which evolves into a high energy song, just great. It is followed by the best track on the album "Hold On", a long upbeat song that you wish would go on forever and which is sure to make everyone get moving on the dance floor. After all those emotive great dance tunes, the album concludes with a couple of quiet songs to wind things down. In all, this album expands on the band's formula of "The Warning", but with a greater musical pallet, and does the trick beautifully.

The DVD (5 tracks, 33 min.) brings the band live, bringing 3 tracks from this album, including an incredible "Hold On", "Shake a Fist", and "One Pure Thought", and 2 tracks from "The Warning", its big hits "And I Was a Boy From School" and of course the band's signature song "Over and Over". What a great DVD! As great as the band's studio albums are, you haven't really experienced Hot Chip unless you've seen them in concert. I saw Hot Chip at last year's Coachella festival, and it was one of the more memorable moments of the festival for me. If you wonder where you might catch these guys on the radio, check out indie-rock station WOXY, the internet-only station ("BAM!!! The Future of Rock and Roll!"), which plays them regularly. Meanwhile, "Made in the Dark" is a fantastic album, and highly recommended.