Hot Panda: How Come I'm Dead?

Hot Panda
How Come I'm Dead?
Mint Records [2010]









Fire Note Says: Edmonton's Hot Panda delivers another fun and diverse indie record experience.

Album Review:
I am not sure if there is a genre for free-flowing indie, but if there was, Hot Panda's sophomore album How Come I'm Dead? would seem to fit the label. Much of this "let it happen" vibe is on purpose, as the album was recorded in less than a week and most of it live off the floor with few takes or overdubs. This spontaneity transfers well to disc on How Come I'm Dead?, as the record can give you a dirty blues rocker like "Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex", while two songs later, they present a simple little hum along track like "Poor Little Ambulance". The record keeps you consistently anticipating what comes next but I can tell you that it might sound a little metal at times or switch in to a psychedelic mood that lets your mind drift for a couple minutes. This is the same musical freedom Hot Panda offered on their debut but here, regardless of style, the songs themselves are stronger and more direct. How Come I'm Dead? should appeal to a wide range of music aficionados and you can't go wrong with Hot Panda if you are looking for a group that is a bit more unique and outside your normal listening patterns!

Key Tracks: "Poor Little Ambulance", "Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex", "Evil Nature"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Daniel Johnston
The Unicorns
Harlem Shakes

Hot Panda: Volcano...Bloody Volcano [Fire Note Review 2/11/09]

Official Hot Panda Website
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Mint Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony