Cobra Starship - Hot Mess Album Review

Formed in 2005 by Gabe Saporta, Cobra Starship are now onto their third album, which was released in their American homeland in the summer of 2009. About to perform a string of dates across Asia and Australia, they'll then embark on a huge tour of North America that will see them well into the summer.

Unlike their Fueled By Ramen label mates Paramore and Panic At The Disco, mainstream success has thus far eluded Cobra Starship, but those familiar with their history will know they are more than capable of producing a likeable tune. With this in mind, it is highly disappointing that the vast majority of 'Hot Mess' passes by without making much of an impression. The middle section, with the likes of 'You're Not In On The Joke', the album title track and 'Living In The Sky With Diamonds', are one-dimensional electro-rockers that 3Oh!3 have found exposure with, but hooks are sadly lacking. 'Wet Hot American Summer' proves a more polished affair and could fill a dancefloor, while 'Nice Guys Finish Last' and 'Move Like You're Gonna Die' are undeniably fun romps, but it's not hard to stand out when the status quo for the record is rather uninspiring.

Alex Lai