Hotwired (The Soup Dragons album) explained

Hotwired
Type:Album
Artist:The Soup Dragons
Cover:SoupDragons_Hotwired.jpg
Released:21 April 1992
Recorded:1991
Studio:Livingston Studios, London,
Advision, Brighton
Genre:Alternative rock, alternative dance
Length:49:22
Label:Big Life/Mercury[1]
Producer:Marius De Vries, Sean Dickson, Steve Sidelnyk
Prev Title:Lovegod
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Hydrophonic
Next Year:1994

Hotwired is the third studio album by the Scottish band the Soup Dragons.[2] [3] It was released on April 21, 1992.

The album peaked at No. 97 on the Billboard 200.[4] "Pleasure" and "Divine Thing" were alternative dance singles that became moderate hits in the U.S. Hotwired sold more than 300,000 copies in its first six months of release.[5]

The band supported the album by touring North America with Catherine Wheel; they later toured with Tom Tom Club and James.[6] [7] [8] "Divine Thing" was used in the film Hellraiser III.[9]

Production

The album was produced by Marius De Vries, Sean Dickson, and Steve Sidelnyk.[10] It was recorded in 1991 and 1992 at Livingston Studios and Advision Brighton. The Soup Dragons were more prepared for the sessions, having written 15+ songs before entering the studio.[11] They band considered Hotwired to be an optimistic album; they also conceded that they still had not quite captured the power of their live sound on record.[12] [13]

Critical reception

The Calgary Herald deemed the album "bubblegum music sonically gussied up for the '90s". The Los Angeles Times concluded that "the shuffling, dance-rock fusion on Hotwired works only occasionally, most imaginatively on 'Divine Thing'". The Washington Post wrote: "Combining contemporary dance beats and sound effects with gospel-style backing vocals and beat-group touches ... songs like 'Pleasure' mix and match '60s and '90s British youth culture".[14]

The St. Petersburg Times stated that "the band limits guitar technique to power chords, wah-wah pedals and scuffled riffs, fattened up by studio wizardry and layered samples".[15] The Chicago Tribune opined that the band "does little to pull distance from the retro sound pervasive among groups from across the big pond".

AllMusic described Hotwired as the album where the Soup Dragons reached "the happy medium between the slick breakbeats and guitar-based rock & roll," adding that the songs are "among the strongest of the band's career".

Track listing

All songs written by Sean Dickson.

  1. "Pleasure" – 3:54
  2. "Divine Thing" – 3:51
  3. "Running Wild" – 4:01
  4. "Getting Down" – 4:11
  5. "Forever Yesterday" – 4:49
  6. "No More Understanding" – 4:58
  7. "Dream-On (Solid Gone)" – 4:00
  8. "Everlasting" – 3:43
  9. "Absolute Heaven" – 3:20
  10. "Everything" – 3:56
  11. "Sweet Layabout" – 3:43
  12. "Mindless" – 4:56

Personnel

The Soup Dragons

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wright . Rickey . Rock/pop . The Virginian-Pilot . June 12, 1992 . Preview . 10.
  2. Bennun . David . Hotwired by The Soup Dragons . Melody Maker . May 2, 1992 . 68 . 18 . 34.
  3. Book: The Rough Guide to Rock . 1999 . Rough Guides Ltd . 825 . 2nd.
  4. Web site: The Soup Dragons . Billboard . 30 December 2022.
  5. News: Ruberto . Toni . With a funky, infectious rock groove that begs you to dance, Scotland's Soup Dragons are making an impact in America . USA Today . October 23, 1992.
  6. News: Heim . Chris . Soup Dragons and Catherine Wheel . Chicago Tribune . 19 June 1992 . Friday . M.
  7. News: Stahl . Sandy . L'IL PALOOZA . The Morning Call . 25 Oct 1992 . F1.
  8. News: Fried . Fran . Fruitbats to Soup Dragons . New Haven Register . October 23, 1992 . Weekend Guide . 22.
  9. News: Neufeld . Matt . Tom Tom's beat is solid as ever . The Washington Times . October 1, 1992 . M2.
  10. Hotwired by The Soup Dragons . Billboard . Apr 25, 1992 . 104 . 17 . 46.
  11. News: Ferman . Dave . Soup Dragons no flash in the pan . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . June 26, 1992 . Star Time . 11.
  12. News: Craft . Dan . Alternative Rock . The Pantagraph . 9 Oct 1992 . C1.
  13. News: Kim . Jae-Ha . Soup Dragons Roar Out of Anonymity, Into Music Spotlight . Chicago Sun-Times . June 23, 1992 . Features . 29.
  14. News: Jenkins . Mark . Latest Dance-Pop: Battle of Britains . The Washington Post . 10 July 1992 . N15.
  15. News: Hall . Dave . Soup Dragons keep up their good-time work . St. Petersburg Times . 15 May 1992 . Weekend . 20.