COBRA STARSHIP - Hot Mess
COBRA STARSHIP - Hot Mess
Written by Sarah Mudgway   
Sunday, 13 September 2009 17:27
Cobra Starship - Hot Mess When Ryan Seacrest debuted 'Good Girls Go Bad' on his radio show a few short months ago as the song of the summer... the anticipation for COBRA STARSHIP's third release 'Hot Mess', increased tenfold.

Earlier in the year, we made the prediction that 2009 would be the year of the Cobra... and with a MTV Video Awards nomination for Best Pop Video, vocalist Gabe Saporta being announced as a presenter, and an album which reached number four in the U.S. Top 100, the 'Starship seems to be rising to new heights with 'Hot Mess'.
Opening track 'Nice Guys Finish Last', plays on the time-old theory that it’s the bad boys which all the ladies want – “Yeah you’re a nice guy, with the wrong attitude, she wants a bad boy". Accompanied by heavy percussion and synths with a conversational throw between Saporta and guest female vocalists; including keytarist Victoria Asher, it is a strong opener for the album. The second track 'Pete Wentz Is The Only Reason We’re Famous', is the shining star of the album; not only due to its witty title. The song is incredibly catchy with a rousing chorus, which I dare you to listen to without succumbing to the urge to dance... or at the very least tap your feet.

This track is not the only reference to Pete Wentz or the Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen family that Cobra Starship is a part of. In 'Move Like You Gonna Die', Saporta sings of being at Wentz’s club AK-47, and 'You’re Not In On The Joke' features what feels like half of the FBR roster with guest vocals – notably Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy and Cassadee Pope from Hey Monday. The latter track is a prime example of Cobra’s ability to take influences from many genres and mould them all together to create something great; with this track alone fusing Cobra’s signature party-pop danceability with a Muse-esque bridge... and an ending which sounds like it could have come straight from a Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco record. That’s not to say however that Cobra haven’t done anything original. What 'Hot Mess' illustrates, is their inherent ability to take influence of what has been before them, and turn it into an album which seems to showcase what is yet to come.

On the subject of guest vocalists, you can’t look past the appearance of Leighton Meester on 'Good Girls Go Bad'. Co-written by notable pop-songwriter and Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, the song seems written with the intent to become a commercial success with catchy hooks and of course, a guest vocalist who is on the cover of every teen magazine. Using this track at their first single from the album proves that while the lyrics and style of Cobra Starship are often fun and frivolous, they know the business and how to get what they want.

While it’s easy to assume the entire album will reflect the fast paced party vibes showcased in the first few songs, tracks such as 'Living In The Sky With Diamonds', show a different side to Cobra Starship which is refreshing; throwing back to retro-disco days in a simplicity which makes the track shine.

'Hot Mess' is an album which will fit perfectly into the soundtrack of the upcoming summer months. Admittedly, it did take a few listens to really appreciate the differences between the tracks, and to see past the in-jokes and at times one-dimensional lyrics. Don’t let your pre-conceptions of the band, genre or label, scare you away from giving 'Hot Mess' a listen or two... and maybe even a dance.
 

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