Hot Water Music- No Division (No Idea Rec)
I can pretty much pinpoint every part of my life for the last 15 years based on what Hot Water Music record I was listening to.
In 94 it was their Boy Out Of Bradenton 7" in my car driving to college each day thinking these guys were pretty good but sounded an awful lot like Fuel (Bay Area hardcore band, not the radio/metal/garbage band from a few years back). By 97 it was 'Finding The Rhythms' on repeat riding the backyard mini ramp in the snow all winter. In 98 my cassette walkmen played 'Forever And Counting' all summer while on tour. The early 2000's I rode to various songs off 'Caution' at just about every contest during that time. One of the best moments in my life was doing a demo in 2005 at one of their last official shows as an active band at a college in Gainesville, Florida. Riding to the song 'End Of The Line' about 40 feet away from the band was incredible.
Originally released in 1999 on Some Records, this out of print gem has been brought back to life by the fine folks at No Idea Records. Alkaline Trio covered 'Rooftops' from No Division on the Alkaline Trio/Hot Water Music split and guest vocals by Walter Schreifels (Rival Schools/Quicksand/Gorilla Biscuits) and Tim Barry (Avail) appear here. Some say this is Hot Water's best work; I personally feel this one of the few bands that doesn't have a stand out record cause each one was brilliant in its own right (only Fugazi and Jawbreaker can parallel that in my eyes).
If for some reason you've never heard Hot Water Music they have essentially become the Beatles of modern day emotive hardcore/punk. They've inspired and influenced legions of current and past bands, and in their existence they released record after record of melodic, passionate, energetic rock and roll with a punk and hardcore foundation. There has seldom been such a gifted combination of dual vocals backed by a driving, meticulous rhythm section.
No Division is a great place to start for the first time listener. If you already own part of their catalog, this is a must have. Rumor has it No Idea is also reissuing 'Forever And Counting' soon as well.
