Hot Motion
by Temples
  • Record Label: ATO
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2019
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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  1. stebai
    Oct 6, 2019
    6
    Hmmm, Hot Motion... I want to like Temples more than I do. The slide since Sun Structures maybe gradual, but it's definitely there. I read the reviews before I listened and I'm kind of in agreement, it feels like it was written on auto pilot for the most. I couldn't find any hooks at all in the first 6 songs, all the "singles" (do such things even exist any longer?) passed without a tap ofHmmm, Hot Motion... I want to like Temples more than I do. The slide since Sun Structures maybe gradual, but it's definitely there. I read the reviews before I listened and I'm kind of in agreement, it feels like it was written on auto pilot for the most. I couldn't find any hooks at all in the first 6 songs, all the "singles" (do such things even exist any longer?) passed without a tap of the foot. Then... "Not Quite The Same" comes along with its loping bass line and I'm suddenly paying attention. It's not that it's anywhere near "Keep in the Dark" or "Roman God Like Man" but it's a start. On to "Atomize" with its Donovanesque nod, and again i'm intrigued, until it stupidly blows itself apart into a thrash fest and dull outro. If only... Anyway "It's all Coming Out" again hits the spot straight after. Burt Bacharach motifs and hooks aplenty here with some lovely fuzz bass and the score rises again. "Step Down" with it's punchy melody comes on strong next and again it reminds me why I want to love Temples. It's nearly great psychedelic pop, and that is the frustration. It all ends with Monuments, which wraps all the previous inspirations into the one song (defo more BB here) and a great hooking refrain which takes the stylus back to the rest. I'm as confused as the band, they have the germ of greatness within them, but it's a bugger to get to.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Mojo
    Nov 21, 2019
    60
    It's frustrating to hear them bringing so much to material that doesn't quite coalesce, it's something like listening to holograms of actual songs. [Jan 2020, p.85]
  2. Classic Rock Magazine
    Oct 7, 2019
    80
    Their hooks seem to call to you from misty, far-off shores, promising mystical rave-ups. Drift in. [Oct 2019, p.91]
  3. Paste Magazine
    Oct 2, 2019
    62
    Most of these songs feel like a collection of unused material from their last two album sessions that really should’ve just been scrapped. It all seems phoned-in and apart from the singles, the rest of the tracks shouldn’t even suffice as b-sides. You’ll find yourself returning to exactly three songs, and in a tracklist of 11, they’re completely outgunned and overshadowed.
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