Having given up on emo for synth-charged snark a few years back, Gabe Saporta continues to live his Eighties-pop dreams with Cobra Starship's third album. Hot Mess is packed with electro-sleaze tunes that go over the top in both their bright sound — sassy hook-singing girls are prevalent — and wink-wink mien. Sometimes the former Midtown singer's snark falls flat, as with the title "Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous" or the part where the singer brags about his ass. But Saporta does have some pop gifts, apparent on the disco "Living in the Sky With Diamonds," where he delivers a sculpted, earnest-sounding chorus about a high-living lady — and also quotes Hall and Oates' "Maneater."