Hotspot: 1 year old today

[canveyboy]

A year today since the final work in the Stuart Price trilogy was released. Little did we know what was about to unfold on the world in the weeks after.

One year on, what’s your thoughts about Hotspot?

I think it’s miles better than Super but not as good as Electric. I much preferred the return to proper short pop songs.

Highlights for me were Only the Dark, Hoping for a miracle, Dreamland, Monkey Business, I don’t wanna. And great b-sides in New Boy, Decide and An open mind

[Drunk Swede]

For me Hotspot didn’t do at all. I love ’Happy People’ and ’Decide’, but that’s it.
Sorry to say, but I think Hotspot is the boys weakest album to date.

[Scottydog]

I had a few months of not listening to it but played it over Christmas and still loving it. There’s only 1 track I’m not so keen on and that’s You are the One. My hotspots are Monkey Business, Will o the Wisp and Dreamland. The b sides were a treat too. Can’t believe it’s been a year

[boyjohn]

I think it's a really solid album, a step up from Super, and the B sides were uniformly excellent as well.

[TallThinMan]

I thought the anniversary must be coming up. I listened to the instrumental version whilst out walking the other day and thought it sounded ace.

[Spittingcat]

I’ve sort of forgotten it as an album. A few tracks still get played…

The banging opener.
The instrumental of the elegiac one.
The guitar heavy single.
The sing-a-long upbeat b-side.
The huge b-side that should have closed the album.
The 90s one that we still need an extended mix of.

I don’t play the whole album now though… it’s never gelled for me.

[daveid]

I was beaten to starting this thread...

I find I barely listen to it now although just last night I played Monkey business, Only the dark and a few b sides.

The highlights for me are Willy the Wasp, Happy People, Miracle, Monkey and Only the Dark. The rest is pretty forgettable.

I've honestly have lost interest in their output of late.

They desperately need a new direction and producer.

[Disco.]

Its a really good album for me, and I play it regularly. I wouldn’t mind if they continue with Stuart Price.

[Future Lover]

I love the whole SP trilogy, and while I feel like it might be the least good of the three, I enjoy so many tracks on it. Least faves are "Happy people", "Dreamland" and "Wedding...". The rest are good to brilliant.

[Boring90]

Take out Wedding and replace it with Decide and you have a fairly strong late era PSB lp.

I'm very much ready for a new producer however.

[canveyboy]

Take out Wedding and replace it with Decide and you have a fairly strong late era PSB lp.

I'm very much ready for a new producer however.

Yeah I agree, definitely time for a new producer. Would love them to return to Stephen Hague but I guess that’ll never happen. But I’d love them to return to that pure electronic pop ‘Please’ sound but with a contemporary feel. Back to basics!!

[Patrick Bateman]

I think lockdown means it's more likely they have been recording again with Stuart Price.

[Spittingcat]

I wouldn’t mind if they continue with Stuart Price.

Nor would I.

[y3potential]

I think lockdown means it's more likely they have been recording again with Stuart Price.

You may well be right, Patrick, but in this day and age could they not send files electronically to anyone to work on..? Although I do appreciate that someone like Stuart Price would be more familiar with this style of working than someone more 'old school' like Trevor or Steven Hague, for example..

[ZiggyPSB]

Love it, love it, love it. My favourite album of the SP trilogy, and favourite album of theirs since Yes. Best B-sides of the trilogy singles too. Wedding in Berlin makes me happy.