ALBUM OF THE WEEK

HotChaCha
Rifle, I knew you when you were just a pistol
Exit Stencil
Released 06.24.08




HotChaCha has quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in the area. They have certain obvious qualities that make them both unique and appealing, namely that they're an all-girl band and they're all very attractive; however, that can only take you so far, especially in the skeptical Cleveland music scene.

What makes HotChaCha really excellent is that they combine a sense of playfulness and humor with some serious musical skills. Lead singer Jovana Batkovic has made a name for herself with her indelible stage presence, but her actions would ring hollow if the rest of the band wasn't expertly rocking behind her. Bassist Heather Gmucs and drummer Lisa Paulovcin keep the songs from falling apart with their shear precision while still managing to keep things loose, and guitarist Mandy Aramouni has a knack for those minimal, yet effective, guitar lines that lead to post-punk comparisons. Indeed, you will hear Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, and hell, even early U2 in the four songs that make up their debut ep.

The lead track, "J'accuse", is bolstered by a chiming guitar line that propels the song to the chorus, where Batkovic is allowed to unleash her wild charm, and the rest of the band naturally follows. With it's German lyrics and hypnotic guitar, closer "Wir Tanzen" counteracts the lightheartedness of "It's Hard to be a White Boy in 1992".

A HotChaCha full-length is sure to follow, and this ep shows promise at every turn. Until then, it is pertinent to see this band live, where you can experience what HotChaCha is all about first-hand. They will headline our 4th Birthday party this Saturday, June 28th, at 9pm, in the Beachland Tavern, joined by The Muttering Retreats (CD release show) and Marie Corbo.

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