Hot Water Music
"Caution"
(Anti/ Epitaph Records)

Hot Water Music have again teamed up with producer Brian McTernan for their latest release on Epitaph Records. Caution is the band's second effort with both McTernan and Epitaph, and proves to be another step in musical progression for the Gainesville based foursome.

The performance on this album surpasses almost every HWM release to date, and the production fills all of the holes from their last release, 2001's A Flight and a Crash. Although the band has adopted a more mature and pop-oriented song structure, the tracks on the album maintain the raw punk edge that the band is associated with.

Some of the roles within the band have fluctuated however. In the past, HWM have been generally known for their dual guitar and vocal elements, in which no specific element stood out above another, however on this release, more of a dichotomy has formed within the songs. Chuck Ragan seems to be providing more of the rhythm guitar and stable vocal background, while Chris Wollard has assumed more of a lead role, providing more guitar licks and vocal character than ever.

The album shows lyrical maturity as well, and while the songs continue to blast out declarations of emotional arrival, the ideas presented are much more sound. This is accomplished without compromising any passion.

Stand out tracks include the title track "Caution," which is one of the better displays of the band's growth, and "Alright for Now," a rhythm section driven song reminiscent of older U2. While there are a few songs that rub wrong, with a more standardized (Epitaph punk rockish) format than ever before, all in all, this record is a step in the right direction for Hot Water Music.

Oh, and as always, the album features incredible artwork from Scott Sinclair

------kory