Review Summary: Overlooked no more.
2001 Pop Rock. A genre that is frightening to a lot of people. I, for one was right in the thick of it in 2001. Good Charlotte broke out and I was on the Motivation Proclamation train into studded belts and hating on my parents.
Why revisit a 23-year-old album that no one really cares about? Because there is a lot more to the self-titled debut from the American Hi-Fi lads then ‘Flavor Of The Weak.’ Admittingly, FOTW was massive and it still hits all the right spots despite the overly childish lyrics incorporating NINENTDO and TOO STONED. The reason it still works is the infectious guitar leads and Stacy’s vocal melodies combining to provide an undeniable pop rock classic that has one of my favorite little guitar solos behind Sum’s ‘In Too Deep’.
Listening back on the album, it’s clear to see that FOTW despite being so good, is easily the weakest song on the album. Opener ‘Surround’ is a catchy track with some impressive guitar work and the last 20 seconds really hitting harder than I expected from the Pop Rockers.
Hitting Harder will be a reoccurring theme when going through the album. There is a surprising number of riffs and lead work here behind the melodies that are easy to overlook, and you would be a fool if you did.
Speaking of fools, ‘I’m a Fool’ is a certified banger with DO DO’s and all the clichés you would expect from a song about being a fool in love in 2001. It’s an easy song to hate, but it’s an easier song to love if you just accept it for what it is and the time it came out, 2001. ‘Don’t Wait For The Sun’ is the first real ballad we get on the album and lyrically Stacy approaches the song in a much more mature way, and it is a shining example of a soppy ballad, done correctly whilst not straying too far from the tried and tested formula the early 2000’s hit us with.
‘Another Perfect Day’ has my favorite chorus (maybe) on the album and ‘Scar’ has some juicy riff work and drums that hit
surprisingly hard with a driving bassline that leads into yet again, another chorus that will run circles in your head if you let it.
The whole album flows with softer acoustic moments and ever-present Drop D guitar work that Stacy and lead guitarist Jamie bring in which leads us to the most memorable track on the album, ‘My Only Enemy’. A track that has no right going as hard as it did in 2001 and it hits just as hard now. Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t talking breakdowns (
there kind of is lol) and screams (
again there kind of is) I am talking just big riffs and Stacy’s vocals reaching a breaking point towards the end when the band just go for a Jam sesh with drummer Brian letting loose over a simple, yet beefy riff that will surely get your head nodding.
American Hi-fi didn’t turn the music world on its head. Most would view them as a one hit wonder band and nothing more. That’s fair if you haven’t given them a chance how are you to know? Well now, you have that chance to revisit what very may well be one of the most overlooked pop-rock albums of the 2000’s.
ye was weird it didn't have a review after all these years.
