Hi-Fi Serious

A | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 16, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hollywood Records
• ASIN: B000069COD
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,476 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Something's Going On

2. 6 O'Clock on a Tube Stop

3. Going Down

4. Took It Away

5. Starbucks

6. The Springs

7. Shut Yer Face

8. Pacific Ocean Blue

9. The Distance

10. W.D.Y.C.A.I.

11. Hi-Fi Serious

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As Hi-Fi Serious so ably demonstrates, sometimes it's just a matter of waiting for the rest of the world to catch up with you. At the time their second album, Monkey Kong, was released, A were pegged as a poor Brit-rock substitute for their angst-heavy American peers. Come their third album, though, A sound every bit the globe-straddling international rock band. Marking out the crucial mid-point between the impassioned emo-pop of Jimmy Eat World and the dumb-assed gross-out punk splatter of Blink-182, Hi-Fi Serious is a cackling, cartoonish descent into fearlessly tuneful power-pop larkery. It's saturated in an obvious love for beach-bum Americana: the lines "It's an endless summer / It's the summer forever" breeze through the song "Pacific Ocean Blue." And while the five are frighteningly eager to dally like playful puppies through all rock's cheesiest clichés--just check out guitarist Mark Chapman's Eddie Van Halen-style fretwork on "The Distance"—the music is always performed with enough charm to win the day. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Album of 2002, July 16, 2002

By 

drew m (maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hi-Fi Serious (Audio CD)

Despite all the doom, and gloom, and artifice, something glorious is happening in music this year. Kids reared on 80's pop metal and 90's grunge are growing up to create music that brings the two genres together into the perfect power punk combination. Witness Andrew WK, Jimmy Eat World, the Hives, Weezer, and now A. Hi Fi Serious is A's latest album, and if this isn't a bid for commercial superstardom, nothing is. But here's the thing: when you try and reach a broad audience by concentrating on melody, and not image, great things can happen. And here's proof.

Hi Fi Serious is a gloriously overproduced 50 minutes of fun. Only the opener, "Nothing," is a dud (and even it has a killer bridge). Everything that follows is straight pop rock out of Def Leppard's playbook, only with that little bit of 90's edge that makes all the difference between wimpy poser music and rock star glory. "Something's Going On" and "6 O'Clock on a Tube Stop" set the tone with quietly tuneful verses and soaring choruses. The band then rockets through 9 more songs, ditching ballads, and emphasizing melodies so big you could surf down them. Sure, the lyrics leave a little to be desired, but who cares? You'll be too busy hopping up and with a silly grin on your mug to care. A gets away with it because it's musical sensibility is as innocent as a first kiss. Songs like "Nothing and "Shut Yer Face" try and give them a little more attitude, but they don't need it. Not when they have a song like "Pacific Ocean Blue," a song so big and wonderful it makes you remember why pop is king. Try sitting still while hearing it. You'll fail miserably.

This newest breed of pop rock (which A fits squarely into) hasn't truly broken through yet to mainstream dominance. But efforts like Hi Fi Serious make it an issue of when, and not if, one of these great acts blows sky high and sells 10 million records. A's put out as worthy a candidate as you can find. Highly recommended.

(Note: American issues of Hi Fi Serious include a bonus track "Champions of Endings," a Jane's Addiction-inspired soarer that is absolutely brilliant. Make sure your copy has it.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Don't You Cry About It?!, April 5, 2002

By 

Ollie (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hi-Fi Serious (Audio CD)

As I am the first reviewer and maybe the last I just want to say how well these boys have done to get here, they have worked so hard and created a brilliant album called hi-fi serious. The bigger fans like me would also know that they have 3 other albums. Monkey Kong, How Ace Are Buildings & a mini-live album called Exit Stage Right. Anyway from hi-fi serious I had only heard "Nothing" but knew I would love the album so I went out and brought it, I came home very impressed as there is a collection of pop, punk, metal & rock - same as the other albums. Hi-Fi Serious is their best album made in my opinion. Starbucks is set to be the new 1 releasing in may sometime. Best tracks are "Nothing" "Somethings Going On" Starbucks" Pacific Ocean Blue" & "Why Don't You Cry About It". I hope there is more reviewers like me that are very impressed by these 5 guys. (by the way Jason, Adam & Giles Perry lived in Suffolk for a few years - It's where I live :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brit talent, March 25, 2005

By 

Angel Duque (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hi-Fi Serious (Audio CD)

In south america, at least in Venezuela, we mostly listen to music from the US when it comes to rock and pop. That limits us from enjoying music from other sources where you can find all sorts sounds. That I realized while living in the UK for 3 years when I came across bands like Coldplay, Muse, Ash, Travis, The Darkness, and many more... but then I came across with a band called "A", which to my surprise has been neglegted even in their own native England. I bought their CD Hi-Fi serious after watching their video in MTV UK, an I can tell that these guys have talent, starting by their vocalist who's voice has traces of Sting with a more edgy sound. Get this CD and you won't regret it... and another thing the guys are taking out a new CD this spring... so be alert for good rock from the old country... don't forget to check out other brit bands like the veteran Catherine Wheel and Sundial