Customer Reviews

Hi-Fi Revival

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off I would like to say that this CD is AWESOME!!! I have been a fan of the Supertones since "Supertones Strike Back", and my love for the group has only gotten stronger since then. This CD is similar to the previous CD's in that you can tell that it's the Supertones when you listen to it, but the experience is somewhat different. In "HI-Fi Revival" the Supertones deliver a more in-depth experience of what it is like to be a true Christian. This is a very encouraging CD that helps to strengthen your faith in Jesus and draw you nearer to God. The music style is different than the other CD's but it is a good change. The song "Hold On To Jesus" really grips your heart when you listen to it and just makes you want to cling to Him and Him alone. This CD is well worth buying if you are interested in furthuring your relationship with God!
!!!PRAISE JESUS MAN!!!

At first I reacted much like the rest of these reviews...that the theology had shallowed and the music had weakened.

Then I realized the ENTIRE POINT Matt was trying to get across in his lyrics...all the intellectual feather ruffle we do means absolutey nothing without Love. I think if Francis Schaeffer had a favorite Supertones album it would be this one...it's what it is all about...Love, and perfect love. The goal isn't simply intellectual stimulation, but moving towards knowing the God who is there. And, writing music that is truly from the heart. Props to supertones for keeping it real and challenging all of us to wear our hearts on our sleeves and not be afraid to see the gospel as a child would.

The production on the album is dope, and the music is the most well written they've put out so far.

So it's not "ska ska ska"- I'm glad the dudes play what they feel.

Great cd. They have come out w/ a newer sound (a bit more rockier) but definitly do it well. I'm convinced these guys can play any style of music and still make a great song. Die heart supertone fans of the older music (adventures, strike back) may not like this cd as much simply because of the lack of pure brass and ska. But as for everyone else you'll love this cd. It starts off w/ 'superfly' letting everyone know they can still rock. then go swing w/ 'welcome home'. 'hold on to Jesus' is a bit slower, but great to throw into a fast paced cd. "radio plays' is one of my favorites saying how there is nothing good on the radio. and 'glory hallelujiah' is a rocking song that just wont end. The lyrics are still great and i love how they tones' write so diverse dealing with different issues. Overall great cd

Wow, what an awsome CD. The Tones get back to basics with their 5th Studio LP Hi-Fi Revival. They get your toes tapping and your fingers snapping with songs like "Superfly" and the radio friendly "Brand New Thing".They also slow it up a bit with an awsome worship type song "Hold on to Jesus". MoJo's vocals are better than ever and Ethans guitar licks [are great], Tony pumps up the bass and Chief and Dan will "Blow" you away, making this the best Supertons LP to date. Catch the boys live on the "See Spot Rock" Tour this spring. All in all I think Jesus would be proud. Rock on Supertones!!

You'll find that energy on this cd. While it isn't exactly the third wave ska they were playing in the nineties it sure does have tons of energy and not to mention lots of horns. Here's a track description:

Superfly: A fun, fast, catchy, funky ska tune that just makes you wanna jump around like crazy.

Brand New Thing: Slowed down a bit but still very good. More of a two-tone ska/rock song. Some great melodies and horn parts in this song.

Welcome Home: Another fun, fast ska song. Lots of cool riffs, horns, and melodies. Very catchy.

Hold onto Jesus: The one and only slow song on the entire cd. A little too slow for me but it isn't bad. Worth a listen.

Go Go Go: Definately one of the greatest songs by the tones. When you hear the drum beat and the guitar part together you'll immediately be reminded of the ramones. Good ska/punk tune.

Let It Go: Two-tone ska once again. This song is really cool. It has great harmonies and a cool trombone solo.

Just A Man: This song is rockin. It's a beefy ska/punk song with awesome horns. It has more of the typical tones sound. Great lyrics as well.

Attitude: One of my many favorites on the cd. Very fun catchy ska/punk song. Great to skank to.

Perfect Love: This is more of a ska/rock song. It really stands out but is really good.

Fire: This is a heavy punk/rock tune. Lots of screaming which isn't a bad thing. Great horns on this one.

Birth of Uncool: Good ska/rock/punk tune but my only complaint is that the horns don't come in until midway through the song.

Go Your Way: The only song with no horns in it. This song really reminds me of the clash.

Radio Plays: Really good song that talks about all the garbage they play on the radio nowadays. The horn parts are really good on this one and there's another trombone solo.

Forever: Awesome punky ska tune. The chorus is so awesome and brings back the old school punk rocker in all of us.

Glory Hallelujah: When you look at the title you think 'slow and drawn out worship song'. Well, not really. Probably the craziest song on the whole album. Pretty much a punk/ska/rock song. They go completely nuts at the very end. IT'S SWEET!

I can definately say that this album beats out loud and clear by a long shot. In fact in puts loud and clear to shame. This is the craziest the supertones have ever been since their debut and it's the most songs they've ever put out on a full length cd. Oh and another thing. Have you noticed I did not once mention rap while reviewing this cd. There is no rap influence whatsoever on this album. If you're like me and were getting fed up with it from their previous cds that's a good thing. Don't get me wrong I love songs like 'little man' and 'strike back'. They made the rap sound awesome in the beginning but they just really over did it on loud and clear. More than 1/2 of that cd was rap and very annoying at times. Well anyways, to say the least this is the BEST album put out by the tones. If you like ska, punk, and/or rock you will love hi-fi revival.

This is a very fun and entertaining CD which is worthy of buying. It doesn't have the excellent theology like L&C but it is alot of fun. If you are a thick ska lover you won't like it much. If you're a fan, you'll have fun. If you're like myself looking for a good dose of the 'rap' and Morginskyology than you will be a 'lil bit downed. He does hint at his genius from time to time but his skills were definitely more evident in previous albums, esp. Loud and Clear.

That is the question you ask yourself once "Glory Hallelujah" finishes. And the answer...pretty darn close. Although Supertones Strike Back is the favorite among most Supertones fans (yeah, it's pretty sweet), this CD seems more timeless and not so SKA. The production is better and the guitar work is better. And let's face it. These are some of the best and catchy lyrics you'll ever hear! I won't tell you which songs are good because they're all good but will say that I LOVE "Perfect Love" the best. "Radio Plays" is a funny song and there is a perfect mix of fast and slow songs, funny and serious songs, and there is a perfect amount of horns. I have seen Supertones in concert 3 times and the thing that sticks out the most about them in concert is their energy level and their love for God. Both show through on this CD as well. Go get it and see what I mean.

While not exactly what the Supertones have done in the past, but it still fits typical Tones profile: Loud, obnoxious and more addictive than any illegal substance. While no longer just ska, the rowdy boys from the west coast put out another great album. Matt "Mojo" Morginsky again puts powerful lyrics in a casual package, all with a bit of humor. Don't believe me? Check this out: "I don't wanna be known as the handsome guy with the attitude." it runs so fast you almost don't notice it. Emphasizing self-renewal and God's grace, as well as taking bites at pop culture and radio, disguised in punk/ska/rap/whatever, every song gets to you. It isn't a five because the Tones have done much better before, but this album is definately worth it.

Jesus-driven punk. Who would've thought?

2 years, 12 days, and a live album after loud and clear, the supertones release their 5th studio album hi-fi revival, and they let you know it in the first song superfly. let me tell you it is awesome i think it might be their greatest work ever. they can't make a bad album. if you like the supertones you will love this album unless your like that other reviewer who must have decided before they listened to this they wouldn't like it because any true supertone fan would love this cd. my favorite songs on this cd are: superfly, welcome home, let it go, perfect love,and basically tracks 10-15. but all are good. buy this album it is awesome.

Every album by The Supertones has a different feeling that goes along with it. Adventures showed them off as kids who loved the lord, and weren't afraid to show it. Strike Back followed it up with more complex lyrics, and a more refined ska sound. Chase the Sun had them experimenting with many different styles, some of which worked, and other that didn't. Loud and Clear was their hardest album, with some really rocking songs and intense, distorted guitars. This album is another form of The Supertones, and one that I've learned to enjoy just as much as the others.

There isn't really one song on this album that I can say "I love this song, it is among the best that The Supertones have." Saying that, though, I'd also say that this is my favorite Supertones album, because the songs all flow together, and present a major theme. I'd relate this feeling to The Rolling Stones and Exile on Main Street. Exile is their best all-together collection of songs, but none of their most memorable songs are on it (Satisfaction, You Can't Always Get What You Want, Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for the Devil). The same goes for Hi-Fi Revival.

I'd even go as far to say that Hi-Fi is a concept album. All of the songs on it are based around the rejection of "popularity," and that living for Jesus is a much better (and more useful) way to live. This is a theme that is pretty important in Teen Christian music (Five Iron Frenzy has a lot of songs about it), but it's especially prominent here. "Birth of Uncool" talks about it directly, declaring that it's a waste of time to focus on being cool. "Radio Plays" is all about how none of the popular songs say anything that matters. As for the greatness of living for Jesus, "Forever," "Hold on to Jesus," and "Welcome Home" all go in depth about that subject. This album is all about not being afraid to be different, and how living for Christ is a great way to live. They have other songs about this subject as well, but this whole album seems to be based around that theme.

As far as the sound goes, this album just oozes energy. You can tell that all the band members are a having a good time making it. The bass is much more fast-paced than before, with a more direct rock-oriented sound, instead of the usual ska jazz bass-lines that previous albums had (which are great). It really keeps the energy high here, though, with a lot of fills by the bassist that really pump you up. The lighter (but still powerful) sound of the guitars give a more upbeat and uplifted feel to it, which goes along with the positive message that's being presented here.

Overall, it's not something that you could use to convert others to Christianity (Strike Back or Loud and Clear would be better choices for that, I think), but it's the type of album that every Christian should listen to when they're feeling down. Well, if it's Christmas time and they're feeling down, they should listen to B.O.B.'s "Ska-la-la-la-la," but that's another review for another day.