Hot Snakes' Suicide Invoice
More than two years after the release of their highly praised debut Automatic Midnight, the illustrious John Reis (Rocket from the Crypt, Drive Like Jehu), Rick Froberg (Drive Like Jehu), Jason Kourkounis (Delta 72) and Gar Wood (Tanner) evade speculations about this being a one-album band with the release of Suicide Invoice. This much-anticipated followup reactivates the energy of their debut effort and maintains their modus operandi: aggressive punk rock mixed with a sinister spirit?but in three-quarters the time.
It isn't until the third or fourth listen that you begin to cop to Froberg's softer howl and the lack of rhythm section. With "LAX" the only song on the album recorded with a bass, Suicide Invoice becomes a tug-of-war between the two guitarists?an aspect that could change during live shows, since Wood trades in his organ for bass. Hot Snakes' patented song structure?two- to three-minute blasts of adrenaline-fueled punk and Froberg's trademark yell?remains intact. Whether or not Hot Snakes are motivated by ennui, Froberg's lyrics conjure dissatisfaction. The opening track, "I Hate the Kids" ("Nobody does anything wrong/ nobody is a dilettante/everybody gets everything/everything they want? I wanna see ya all crossed up and hung"), might be his response to living in Brooklyn and passing 30.
On "Unlisted" Froberg admits: "I'm not hopeful/I'm not listed/I ain't standing by/And there's nothing I miss," after summarizing what could be the CD's motto: "I like the way things worked out." Because after all, being an active rock veteran and continually living up to the respect of fans is difficult to do, especially when the band members live in different cities, which doesn't allow Hot Snakes to do much touring. Reis and Froberg have been musically collaborating for 10-plus years, but that hasn't stopped them from consistently upping the ante. The chemistry between these two is almost Page and Plant-esque.
Hot Snakes have bitten the bullet, succumbed to their fans' wants and embarked on their first U.S. cross-country tour?their 2000 tour only consisted of a few shows along the East and West Coasts. Unlike the Hives, they won't be pointing to the crowd and saying, "You and you and you love the Hot Snakes," bien-sur.