Retro Review: “Hot Water Music” by 53 Days
This is the first in a series of Throwback Thursday posts where our reviewers check out older releases from the Buffalo music scene.
If you’re looking for the prime alt-rock album to fulfill your dreams of living out the summer like the protagonist of your favorite ’90s coming-of-age film, look no further than “Hot Water Music” by the Buffalo band 53 Days.
The album opens with “Be Like You,” a number that exudes quintessential ’90s vibes with a lead guitar riff cut from the same cloth of the ever-loved intro to the hit sitcom “Friends.” There is an overwhelming sense of familiarity to this album due to the clear influence that the artists of the ’90s had on its development, making it a great album for those who miss “the good ol’ days” and those who are just getting into this era.
The best way I can think of to describe this album is Hootie & The Blowfish meets Matchbox Twenty with a hint of Bruce Springsteen. Songs like “A Little Longer” and “This Old Car” reflect the alt-rock staples that make Matchbox Twenty’s “3 AM” such a hit. “Whole Inside” is led by a catchy, driving rhythm guitar so reminiscent of Hootie & The Blowfish’s iconic number “Only Wanna Be with You” that it would be hard to believe that the album wasn’t influenced to a degree by the song.The acoustic ballad “Wrong” seems to take a page out of Springsteen’s book with the use of the acoustic guitar to express the struggles of love (This comparison might not be too far off considering that 53 Days’ third album was produced by Gary Mallaber, who once produced for Springsteen).
Regardless, the nuances of each song on the album give subtle nods to many of the band’s predecessors in the rock ’n’ roll industry, making the album a lost gem in the Buffalo music scene.
As did many of the albums of the ’90s, “Hot Water Music” follows a lyrical theme of reminiscing on the struggles of life and love within the working class. The twangy, slightly gruff characteristic of John Moore’s vocals gives the album a leg up on the alt-rock narrative by drawing listeners in to consider the simple yet relatable lyrics of songs such as “Out Through Your Window,” which reflects on the age-defying theme of lost love.
Of course, not every song can be as effective as the last, especially on an album with a tracklist 13 songs long. However, what songs such as “Alibi Lounge” lack in lyrical quality and unique musical content, they make up for in ease of listening and sheer charm.
In Short
While “Hot Water Music” may not be the most complex album in terms of instrumentation and lyrical themes, it has tremendous value as a purely enjoyable listen, and I for one can see myself adding this to a summer driving playlist or two. To any fan of alt-rock or the classic ’90s sound, I recommend this album!
