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Every Album Ever with Mike Mansour

Episode 193: Hot Snakes

·1 hr 24 min·5 clips
Mike recounts dropping his mouse in frantic disbelief after learning Steve Albini died, calling it the worst music news of his lifetime.
The episode opens with hosts Mike Mansour and Alexander Volt introducing Hot Snakes, a band requested by Patreon supporter Anton. They immediately shift to discussing the recent death of Steve Albini, with Mike sharing a personal story of his frantic reaction. The conversation then turns to Rick Froberg's death, which ended Hot Snakes. The hosts provide background on the band, formed in 1999 by Rick Froberg and John Reis, who had previously played together in Drive Like Jehu. They note Hot Snakes' sound as a blend of garage rock, hardcore punk, and elements of rockabilly and surf music. Mike highlights the band's production technique where bass is often omitted until it makes a dramatic entrance. They review each album in chronological order: 'Automatic Midnight' (2000), which Mike praises for its raw energy and perfect pacing; 'Suicide Invoice' (2002), which Alex names as his least favorite due to pacing issues but still considers good; 'Audit in Progress' (2004), Mike's personal favorite for its high-energy songs; and 'Jericho Sirens' (2018), the reunion album they describe as wild and dissonant. Throughout, they discuss specific songs, guitar tones, and the band's consistency. The episode concludes with a recap of their rankings and a promotion of their Patreon community.

As heard by us

A delayed Hot Snakes deep dive turns driving drums, bitter riffs, and ranking debates into fresh enthusiasm.

Every Album Ever arrives at Hot Snakes as a delayed reckoning, with the hosts finally working through the band's albums and reconnecting the music to the Rick Froberg and John Rhys pairing after years of postponement.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Hot Snakes guitars, full-discography talk, and the sound of a neglected favorite clicking back into place.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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