Hot Panda

The album may be titled How Come I'm Dead?, but Hot Panda aren't lifeless, not even close. On this, their second album, the Edmonton, AB foursome are restless, never sticking to any one sound or style for long. The album's 14 tracks range from gut-busting garage ("Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex") to spaghetti western ("The Ghost") to hyper-caffeinated circus punk ("1995"), all tied together by yelping vocals and manic keyboards. This eclectic collection was captured by Vancouver, BC production team JC/DC (the New Pornographers, Destroyer), who recorded the entire 48-minute album in just a week. The speedy genesis resulted in an in-your-face sound that can be a little exhausting in large doses, but this tirelessness is what makes the band so entertaining. If Hot Panda had toned down the madness, the results wouldn't be nearly as fun.