Alexis Taylor and the rest of the Hot Chip crew are so devoted to dis-playing their intelligence and cheek that the band's electro-pop shenanigans can seem positively exhausting at times. But while a handful of numbers on Made in the Dark overdo the cleverness, the majority manage to avoid the worst pitfalls of excess.
"Out at the Pictures" flirts with full-on campiness, albeit in an often diverting way — but "Bendable Poseable" devotes so much time to wacky beats and off-kilter arrangements that it only works as a curio. Fortunately, the ornate rave-up "Touch Too Much" and the jittery "Hold On" strike an enjoyable balance between hooks and grooves, and the outfit's down-tempo offerings provide more than a mere change of pace. Highlights include the unexpectedly affecting "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" and the title cut, a piano ballad that comes within spitting distance of earnestness.
Smart is good, but sincerity can be even better.
Find everything you're looking for in your city
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
