REVIEW: American Hi-Fi puts the power back in power-pop
The rock genre was in a pretty dire state in the early 2000s. Perpetuated by aggro-festivals like Ozzfest and Family Values, nu-metal ruled the time period. It seemed going to any larger-scale rock shows required not only a ticket, but a sense of mandatory depression and self-loathing draped in clothing four sizes too big.
Rock rags like Hit Parader and Metal Edge featured pull-out posters of masked bands proclaiming “We’re not afraid to be who we are!”
Rock needed new heroes. Thankfully, American Hi-Fi came to the rescue.
With its self-titled debut in 2001, the quartet of Boston rockers made mainstream music fun again with their hit tune “Flavor of the Weak,” a standout track on their Bob Rock-produced debut. The record had exactly zero throwaway cuts and is perhaps the most definitive power-pop record to have come out in two decades.
Success kept coming, at least through 2003s “The Art of Losing,” which featured another hit “The Breakup Song.” No one minded all that much that it was essentially a re-worked version of “Flavor” with new lyrics. People were just happy to be hearing new, actual rock ‘n’ roll music with melody and hooks.
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Unfortunately, subsequent label problems and the tensions that result therein saw a decrease in the band’s output and spark. Not even mega-producer Butch Walker could save 2005’s “Hearts on Parade,” and 2010’s “Fight The Frequency” came and went without so much as a proper support tour.
In their downtime when singer/guitarist Stacy Jones wasn’t busy as a record producer, he toured as a drummer with Miley Cyrus and Matchbox 20 among others. He even brought along Hi-Fi axeman Jamie Arentzen, who had spent time moonlighting between Miley and the solo efforts of the aforementioned Walker.
Needless to say, it came as a pleasant surprise when Internet rumblings of a new American Hi-Fi album actually came to fruition with the group’s latest offering “Blood & Lemonade,” set for release Sept. 9 via Rude Records.
Better yet, “Blood & Lemonade” is easily the best record the group has done since its debut.
Opening cut “Armageddon Days” sets the tone. It’s vintage American Hi-Fi — big guitars, introspective lyrics and sports the wall of sound that made the group stand out so vividly some 13 years ago.
The album’s debut single “Golden State” is another hard and heavy rocker with a massive chorus hook. But make no mistake, this album is no carbon copy of the band’s debut.
For one, it’s harder-edged. There’s a lot more power in this power-pop. There’s also far more recognizable influences showing on their California sun-soaked denim. “Allison” sounds like it could have been written for a Foo Fighters record; “Killing Time” thumps along like a Queens of the Stone Age track; “Portland” is reminiscent of “Warning”-era Green Day or even Ryan Adams; and “Carry The Sorrow” sounds a little like all of it and is a potential favorite to be single No. 2.
“Blood and Lemonade” is more than just a return to form. It’s a statement.
The American Hi-Fi boys have triumphantly crawled out from the shadows, dusted themselves off and have taken back their rightful place as leaders of the rock pack.
Reach B.J. at 330-580-8314 or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @BLiskoREP