Hot Panda - Go Outside

2012 release, the third album from the Canadian Indie Rock band. While tackling crippling social disorders like cynicism, depression and closed-mindedness in their lyrics, Go Outside retains the energy, humor and sub-genre diversity of their earlier releases and renowned live performances. This is not a transition from Hot Panda's freewheeling, light-hearted roots to soul-baring egotism and moralizing: Go Outside is not about reveling in negative thought patterns, but the struggle and value in overcoming them. Overall, Connelly's lyrics are more worldly, while his voice itself, processed but not pitch-corrected, sounds more grounded. Go Outside presents a snapshot of a band reaching a new plateau, solidifying Hot Panda as a one of the brightest stars on the Mint roster. Once again recorded by the famed JC / DC team of David Carswell and John Collins (The New Pornographers, Tegan and Sara), the album is just as vibrant as their first two, yet significantly more developed. Last one to file this in their record collection between Destroyer and Hunx and His Punx is a rotten egg.