“Made in the Dark” – Hot Chip

Rating: 6/10

Some bands were created with the sole intent of making people dance. The British band Hot Chip demonstrates how to do it effectively on its third full-length album, “Made in the Dark.”

However, as most electronic albums tend to be, this one is hit-or-miss. There are some great songs that hold up well through headphones. The songs pulse and groove, and there are even a couple of tracks with some great R&B-influenced songwriting.

But this is not an album as much as it is a random grouping of tracks. And while some of them really make this awkward white kid want to stand up and sway, a majority of the tracks could be skipped.

“Made in the Dark” is party music. It’s great to throw on if you want to get people dancing. Tracks such as “Shake a Fist,” “Ready for the Floor,” and what could only be described as a great Boyz II Men B-side, “We’re Looking for a Lot of Love,” should get the people moving.

Even the repetitive songs on here I didn’t enjoy, such “Bendable Poseable” and the title track, would be great if nobody listened and just danced. But I listened to this album in my living room while playing video games, and the effect was lost on me.

If played loud and for a lot of people, the new Hot Chip album makes for a good experience. However, if you’re looking for good electronic music that can be played both at a party and on the way to class, “Made in the Dark” falls short.