Customer Reviews

Once Upon a Time In the West

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was a big fan of Hard-Fi's debut album, "Stars of CCTV", which went to #1 on the charts in the U.K. I was worried that it would be all but impossible for the band to surpass its first effort. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. Not only is "Once Upon a Time In the West" musically and lyrically the equal of the first album, I believe in many ways it is superior.

Back are the infectiously catchy hooks, the sing-a-long lyrics, and the head-bobbing grooves. Stylistically, the album borrows much from Clash influenced punk rock, the latest trends in indie rock, and Motown R&B. This is one of those albums you can listen from beginning to to end without skipping any tracks. While most of the songs are full of energy, the album does pause several time for slower music (songs which I personally love). Thematically, the album tackles the topics of loneliness, alienation, boredom, and yearning. The mixture of quick paced fun music with mostly melancholic lyrics creates a uniquely satisfying effect on the listener.

The album opens with the first single, "Suburban Knights" and doesn't miss a beat the rest of the way. There are several sing-along anthems: "I Shall Overcome", "Television", "Can't Get Along (Without You)", and "Little Angel". As well as some stripped down rock ballads: "Tonight", "Help Me Please", and the finale "The King". Each song is refreshingly unique without trying too hard to be so.

Hands down, "Once Upon a Time In the West" is one of the best albums I've heard all year - potentially, one of my all-time faves. As if that wasn't enough, it features the greatest cover art ever. Hard-Fi deserves to catch on in America as they already have in the UK. Buy this album! It does not disappoint.

Best Songs: Suburban Knights, The King, Can't Get Along (Without You), Little Angel
For Fans Of: Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Editors

A great album to listen to when THE MAN is holding you down. Fantastic hate-your-job, can't get ahead, love-life-sucks, bluesy, punky angry catchy rock.

I was reading Q magazine's best of 2007. Firstly, there were those top 10 tracks of the year. I checked each one at Amazon and the only one I liked was 'Watch me fall apart'. Were the Hard-Fi a one hit wonder?, I asked myself. No, they aren't. I checked the album at Amazon and found out that 'Once Upon A Time In The West' is a classic. I found out more. The British reviewers of Q definitely need some help from this arrogant Brazilian guy here who is writing this review. The Q writers gave this album the 35th position in their top 50 best! But the problem is the first 34 best are quite inferior to this Hard-Fi album. As a matter of fact, this album is the only 5 star among those top 50. I bought the CD and got completely delighted to see the 60's back. The Hard-Fi's bloke named Archar said that they are not just a rock band but an everything band: house, rock, ska, dub, pop, etc. And, yes, they really come with a fully loaded arsenal of 60's sounds: Motown r&b, rock 'n' roll, catchy hooks, sing-a-longs, groovy beats, oh, oh, oh, ohs, eh, eh, eh, ehs, ah, ah, ah, ahs. 1. Suburban Knights starts with the ehs, ohs and ahs, and guitar cracks announcing the second coming of the 60's. 2. I shall Overcome slows down a little bit but does not miss the beat. 3. Tonight is a pop masterpiece with the ohs, ahs, ehs growing gloriously. Like we say in Brazil: 'Everybody must get out to pay for the tickets again if they want to continue watching the show'. 4. Watch Me Fall Apart is simply grandiose on its own and in a par with the likes of 'Love is All Around'. 5. I Close My Eyes is harder, faster, and raw and with a lot of nahs, nahs, nahs. Cool! 6. Television is another pop masterpiece with its charming halleluyahs that roar. 'Everybody out again, please, and get a new ticket'. 7. Help Me Please is a pause to take a breath, and relax, like Paul used to do in all Beatles' albums. 8. Can't Get Along is a typical 60's pop beat with a break of oohs. 9. We Need Love reminds me of The Animals of the new millennia. 10. Little Angel is 'Tonight' and 'Television' put together therefore once again everybody must get out for a new ticket. 11. The King is a beautiful ballad that ends this classic album in great style and makes me wonder what they will do next like when I was 16 looking forward to the next Beatles LP. It is okay if you do not agree that this album has something to do with 60's. But wonder how J.C. would look like if he returned today? Maybe badly shaved, messy hair, in an old pair of jeans, a worn out waistcoat, a Lennon bottom, an iPod plugged into his ears, and a nailhammer just in case. Halleluyah!!! Alceu Natali

Looking forward to this follow up record from a band whose first record reminds me of great Roller Skating Indie Rock.

I just recently came upon Hard-Fi about 6 weeks ago. After hearing Stars of CCTV I was pleased to hear about Once Upon A Time In The West. I just have to say that it is so nice to hear 'fresh' music as compared to overdone. The melodies are very pleasing, the vocals are superior and the instruments are first-rate. How can you not like this? Just listen and you will be drawn in. Love this band!

I am definitely a big fan of Hard-Fi's "Stars of CCTV" and as soon as I saw that this new album was available I purchased it immediately. At first I wasn't overly impressed with the album. Only a couple tracks really caught my attention, but I felt the album as a whole fell flat when compared to tracks like "Hard to Beat" or "Living for the Weekend". However, after giving the album about three more spins I realized that this is a mature and more polished Hard-Fi and in fact, the album as a whole shows that Hard-Fi are short of neither talent nor inspiration. I'm so glad to know this band and already can't wait for more.

A really fine young band that takes a lot of "by the book" lyrics and sounds, and manages to make them sound fairly fresh. If you have any interest in mid-nineties Brit-Pop check it out.

Hard-Fi's debut "Stars of CCTV" was brilliant and was always going to be (to borrow the title of one of their songs) Hard to beat.

"Once upon a time in the west" gives it a tough fight. Though nothing on it is as brilliant as "Hard to beat" or "Cash machine", it does contain its fair share of great tunes.

The sound this time is a bit edgier, with more ballads this time around. The brilliant "Little angel" has horns and chugging guitar riffs. Lead off single is a galloping synth rocker with traces of ska. The ska influences are also heard in the lovely, more downbeat "Television" and "I shall overcome", the latter is closest in sound to their debut CD and begs to be a huge hit!

For ballads, we get "Tonight" (what a rousing chorus), the tender Beatles-like "Help me please", the brilliant organ sprinkled "We need love" (addressing the current state of insecurity in the world), and closing string laden epic "The king" (think "Move on out").

The album has already topped the UK charts. Here's hoping they find the success they so deserve in the US.

Like the cover art, this album is pretty dull and quite boring - 2.5 stars.

Hard-Fi's first album was catchy and had a lot of good moments. But Hard-Fi have tragically fallen into the dreaded Sophomore slump. The single "Suburban Knights" has a catchy but played-out whoa-whoa-whoa chorus. Other than that, the song doesn't really lead anywhere new; musically or lyric wise. And the song "Watch Me Fall Apart" tries too hard to be a modern day version of "Cashmere" by Led Zeppelin

Not much needs to be said for the rest of the album because truthfully Hard-Fi hasn't really grown up (which was somewhat acceptable for their first album) or improved. Instead, we are left with an album that is quickly forgotten and eventually traded in.