Hotwired is the third studio album by the Scottish band the Soup Dragons.[2][3] It was released on April 21, 1992.
Hotwired | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
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 | |||
The Soup Dragons chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hotwired | ||||
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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
editThe 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
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [14] |
Calgary Herald | D[15] |
Chicago Tribune | [16] |
Los Angeles Times | [17] |
The Calgary Herald deemed the album "bubblegum music sonically gussied up for the '90s".[15] The Los Angeles Times concluded that "the shuffling, dance-rock fusion on Hotwired works only occasionally, most imaginatively on 'Divine Thing'".[17] 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".[18]
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".[19] The Chicago Tribune opined that the band "does little to pull distance from the retro sound pervasive among groups from across the big pond".[16]
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".[14]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Sean Dickson.
- "Pleasure" – 3:54
- "Divine Thing" – 3:51
- "Running Wild" – 4:01
- "Getting Down" – 4:11
- "Forever Yesterday" – 4:49
- "No More Understanding" – 4:58
- "Dream-On (Solid Gone)" – 4:00
- "Everlasting" – 3:43
- "Absolute Heaven" – 3:20
- "Everything" – 3:56
- "Sweet Layabout" – 3:43
- "Mindless" – 4:56
Personnel
edit- The Soup Dragons
- Sean Dickson - vocals, guitar
- Jim McCullough - backing vocals, guitar
- Sushil K. Dade - bass
- Paul Quinn - drums, percussion
References
edit- ^ Wright, Rickey (12 June 1992). "Rock/pop". Preview. The Virginian-Pilot. p. 10.
- ^ Bennun, David (2 May 1992). "Hotwired by The Soup Dragons". Melody Maker. Vol. 68, no. 18. p. 34.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 825.
- ^ "The Soup Dragons". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Ruberto, Toni (23 October 1992). "With a funky, infectious rock groove that begs you to dance, Scotland's Soup Dragons are making an impact in America". USA Today.
- ^ Heim, Chris (19 June 1992). "Soup Dragons and Catherine Wheel". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. M.
- ^ Stahl, Sandy (25 October 1992). "L'il Palooza". The Morning Call. p. F1.
- ^ Fried, Fran (23 October 1992). "Fruitbats to Soup Dragons". Weekend Guide. New Haven Register. p. 22.
- ^ Neufeld, Matt (1 October 1992). "Tom Tom's beat is solid as ever". The Washington Times. p. M2.
- ^ "Hotwired by The Soup Dragons". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 17. 25 April 1992. p. 46.
- ^ Ferman, Dave (26 June 1992). "Soup Dragons no flash in the pan". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 11.
- ^ Craft, Dan (9 October 1992). "Alternative Rock". The Pantagraph. p. C1.
- ^ Kim, Jae-Ha (23 June 1992). "Soup Dragons Roar Out of Anonymity, Into Music Spotlight". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 29.
- ^ a b Hotwired at AllMusic
- ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (26 April 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
- ^ a b Webber, Brad (25 June 1992). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ a b Rosenbluth, Jean (2 May 1992). "Pop Beat". Los Angeles Times. p. F9.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (10 July 1992). "Latest Dance-Pop: Battle of Britains". The Washington Post. p. N15.
- ^ Hall, Dave (15 May 1992). "Soup Dragons keep up their good-time work". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 20.