You Were Robbed – American Hi-Fi

"You Were Robbed" features artists and bands that should have gotten much more recognition and fame than they did. Check them out now...better late than never!

In 2001, the L.A. pop punk band American Hi-Fi splashed onto the scene with the hit “Flavor of the Week”. In many respects, the band unfortunately was a victim of that theme as they were rapidly crowded out by hundreds of similar bands capitalizing on this popular sound. “Hearts On Parade” was their third effort released in 2005. The band appeared poised for a major comeback – “Parade” took a markedly more mainstream approach and was produced by songwriting and recording guru Butch Walker (Marvelous 3). But this just didn’t happen – some long-time fans were not happy with the catchier tunes and the new label fumbled the release date stateside.

“Hearts On Parade” should be revisited by any fan of pop rock. There is no end to the string of ear candy on this record and it still sounds good after all these years. You can hear the switch to the pop end of the rock spectrum right at the get go in the chorus of the excellent lead off track, “Maybe Won’t Do”:



“The Geeks Get The Girls” was the official lead single that should have been a repeat performance of “Flavor of the Week”. Very Blink-182.



The band ventures into some sugary sweet harmonies with the near bubblegum feel of “We Can’t Be Friends” and explores some very tasty chord changes on the terrific “The Everlasting Fall”.



The record ends strong with the pleasant mid-tempo feel of “Where Do We Go Wrong” and an epic power ballad in the title track.



For just a penny, you can’t go wrong with this CD. What has become of the band? 2010 saw the release of a follow-up record called “Fight The Frequency” (reviewed here http://nowthisrocks.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-american-hi-fi-fight-frequency.html). While it didn’t reignite the band’s career, we’re excited about recent news of a fall 2012 release (press release follows).

March 28, 2012 – Goomba Music is proud to announce the signing of American Hi-Fi. The original line-up--Stacy Jones (singer/guitarist), Drew Parsons (bass), Jamie Arentzen (guitars) and Brian Nolan (drums)¬is currently recording their as-yet-untitled new album in Los Angeles, CA with an expected worldwide release date this fall. It's being produced by the band and John Fields (Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World) and recorded at Stacy Jones' studio, The Deathstar.

"It feels great to make music with these guys,” exclaims Stacy Jones. “11 years in, American Hi-Fi is a brotherhood. We made this record because we feel like the world needs a few more guitar bands. We are just doing our small part to keep Rock-N-Roll alive!"

For the past six years, members of American Hi-Fi have been working with Miley Cyrus. Singer Stacy Jones has been her music director and drummer, Jamie Arentzen has been her guitarist and Drew Parsons has played bass at a few concerts. Stacy and Jamie have been featured in everything Miley Cyrus since the beginning of her “Hannah Montana” days, including the 2009 movie and “Best Of Both Worlds” concert film/DVD.

Over the course of their 10-year career, American Hi-Fi has sold over 1 million albums thanks to hit singles such as the Top 10 smash “Flavor Of The Weak,” “Another Perfect Day” (which was used as Coca-Cola's theme for the 2002 Winter Olympics) and “The Art Of Losing,” and they've toured the world with artists such as Elvis Costello, Matchbox Twenty, Bon Jovi, Sum 41 and Fall Out Boy. Before teaming up as American Hi-Fi, the band members performed as part of various influential bands from the '90s Alternative Rock scene, including Veruca Salt and Letters to Cleo, and with Tanya Donelly, Tracy Bonham, Aimee Mann, and Juliana Hatfield individually. Their songs have been heard on TV shows and commercials such as Coors, Labatt Blue, Verizon, “Boston Public,” “24” and “Dawson's Creek,” video games including “Guitar Hero 3,” and in movies including “American Pie 2,” “Freaky Friday,” “Van Wilder” and “Superman Returns.” And Stacy has produced albums at The Deathstar for such artists as The Downtown Fiction, Ingrid Michaelson, Meg & Dia, The Cab, Plain White T's, Hey Monday and Academy Is… and many others.

Tour dates and other news from American Hi-Fi here.

Review: Butch Walker “The Spade”

Singer/Songwriter/Rock
Readers of this blog should be well acquainted with our love of all things Butch Walker (see here). Walker got his start with the glam band Southgang, achieved one hit wonder status with his spectacular post-grunge alt rock band (The Marvelous 3), and is one of today’s most heavily sought after record producers. Along the way, he’s consistently cranked out numerous solo records filled with sharp melodies that are branded with his wry sense of humor.

The ten songs on “The Spade” were written and performed with Walker’s band, The Black Widows, with some help from Patrick Keeler of The Raconteurs. As expected, each song sparkles with Walker’s masterful production and rewards the listener with an abundance of tasty hooks to savor. Leadoff single “Summer of ‘89”, a nod to the Bryan Adams hit “Summer of ‘69”, is a fantastically nostalgic piece that is a modern song about life in the late 80s (video below). Lots of the other tunes allow Walker to indulge in his love of throwing different decades of sound into a single melting pot, as you’ll notice on “Every Single Body Else” and “Bodegas and Blood”. Be sure to check out the soulful rock of “Sweethearts”, the superb falsetto harmonies of “Day Drunk”, and the satirical “Synthesizers”, which has a distinct Dexy’s Midnight Runners feel in the chorus. The record doesn’t end as strong as it begins, although “Bullet Belt” has a terrific chorus worth holding out for.

For fans of Butch, you also don’t want to miss his autobiography, “Drinking With Strangers”. Check it out here.

Butch Walker – Official site.

Check out the video for “Summer of ‘89”

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview

Alpine White “The Hale” [EP] – The band did not take its name from the at-home teeth bleaching system, but rather the Gibson guitar. Colin Denker (lead vocals, guitar, piano, drums) is the mastermind behind this San Francisco quartet, which is rounded out by his brother Ian (bass, vocals), Ivan Wence (guitar, vocals), and Javier Benavides (drums). “The Hale” EP consists of four songs, the first half being superior to the second half. The gentle yet bright acoustic strumming of “When She Gets Home” serves as a fine introduction to this mellow rock band that straddles indie rock and power pop. “When She Gets Home” is memorable and moving, with enchanting backing vocals providing a sobering warmth. “The Evidence” picks up the pace a bit, practically floating with its soaring harmonies and crisp guitar line – another winner. “Days and Nights” is plagued with a lumbering introduction, but even when the vocals finally kick in, the song just doesn’t seem to get out of second gear. The record ends on a decent note with the steady “All The Weight” – lyrically strong, but musically less exciting than the standouts. Check out Alpine White if you like Snow Patrol, Arctic Monkeys, or Band of Horses. The EP is due out November 1 – learn more here.

Surprise of the week
Science has spoken – what are the catchiest songs ever? Some of them might surprise you…

News
I think this one will be a contender against the Lou Reed/Metallica collaboration for worst record of the year. Listen to William Shatner covering Black Sabbath here.

It has been a long time since we’ve heard from Alien Ant Farm (remember their awesome cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”)? I’m looking forward to the new record from these guys due early 2012. Details here.

Def Leppard discusses the state of music business: "The music industry went from being an art form to a business, and then to an industry." Read more here.

Butch Walker autobiography details here.

It’s confirmed: Jani Lane died of alcohol poisoning. Story here.

Rooney frontman Robert Schwartzman has announced the release of a new solo album and a supporting tour this fall.

And finally, in memory of Steve Jobs – a man who changed the face of the music business as much as he did computers.

Random iPOD song of the week
The Jayhawks – “Blue”


Reminder: we’re now on Twitter! Follow us for even more updates, news, and reviews!

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview
Simon Felton “Surrender, Dorothy!” – This is the second solo record from Garfield’s Birthday’s Simon Felton. His last solo CD, “Failing In Biology”, was a notable nugget of smart Brit pop (read review here). Felton marches along the same track on “Surrender, Dorothy!”, constructing careful melodies augmented with airy harmonies and psychedelic overtones. The hooks take longer to sink in than last time and the abundance of slower tracks is going to make some people yawn. On the other hand, there is some more sizzling guitar work to be found – check out the solo on “Peepshow” for example. The main attraction is the pop perfection in “Marbles”, and “Novelty” is another highlight I’d encourage you to check out. Recommended for fans of The Smiths, XTC, and The Divine Comedy.
Simon Felton – Official site.

Surprise of the week
Footloose is being remade. But the surprise comes from looking at the soundtrack artists…dissing Kenny Loggins and recruiting the likes of Cee-Lo Green amongst a bunch of country stars and…Smashing Pumpkins?! What sort of musical schizophrenic is going to want this? Here are the gory details.

And if that isn’t bad enough, they are remaking Dirty Dancing too.

News
Swallow this: Poison frontman Bret Michaels believes the band will make another album when the time is right. Here’s to hoping they can recapture the magic of their heyday. Read the story here.

Whose gonna buy your wild reissues? Get a load of all you get with the 20th Anniversary edition of U2’s landmark record “Achtung Baby” – check it out here.

Another hodgepodge of “new” stuff is coming from Foreigner in September. A 3CD collection – one acoustic disk, one full of re-recordings of hits (why?), and one of a live concert. Read all about it here.

New Butch Walker called “The Spade” arrives August 30. In the meantime, grab a FREE DOWNLOAD of the first single, “Summer of ‘89”. Details here.

Michael Sweet has left the band Boston for his old band, Stryper. Good news, bad news, who cares? Story here.

Random iPOD song of the week
Pop perfection. Squeeze’s “Hourglass” – one of their finest moments.

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview
Drew Martin and the Limelights [EP] – Drew Martin is a singer-songwriter from Richmond, VA, leading the band Drew Martin & the Limelights. Their first EP is self-titled and available on iTunes and Amazon – it features five jangle pop tracks to enhance your chilling out this summer. Drew is also a member of the Jim Ivins Band, which we’ve covered a couple times here previously on BMF (click here), and Ivins plays along here as one of the Limelights. Martin has a soothing voice, which can kick up into an ear-pleasing falsetto, perfect for this style of mellow yet upbeat pop rock. Most of the tunes are acoustic-based and feature cozy melodies atop of smart lyrics telling stories of deceit, nostalgia, and hope. Highlights include the driving rockers “Calling Your Bluff” and “Bring The Light”, but don’t miss the breezy closer “Just Call Me” either. Learn more about the band and their music here.

Great new video from Neil Nathan
Check out this great new animated video from Neil Nathan, “a homage to the perfect Sunday drive and to my uncle who used to drive a 67 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray Convertible and refurbish 'em for other collectors”. See more on Neil Nathan here.



Surprise of the week
Um…Rob Zombie has done a commercial for…wait for it…WOOLITE! You know, the gentle laundry detergent. Perfect match up, wouldn’t you say? It’s actually kind of cool – check it out here.

News
Tyketto reunion and new album for 2012. “Well...the ink is finally dry, and we can announce that Tyketto has signed with worldwide giant, FRONTIERS RECORDS. Tyketto happily joins the Frontiers family, which houses such heavyweights as Def leppard, Whitesnake and Journey! We have been busy finalizing the deal, and working on material for our fourth studio release. This will be our first new album since 1995's SHINE. These are some of the best ideas we have worked on in years. There's plenty of the classic DON'T COME EASY sound, mixed in with some new ideas and some great surprises! Look out for a Spring 2012 release....everywhere! All FOUR ORIGINAL MEMBERS WILL BE A PART OF THIS SPECIAL EVENT!”

American Idol David Cook will be celebrating the release of his sophomore album “This Loud Morning” on June 28th, 2011 with a special event at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square, NYC. Read more about it here.

New Butch Walker coming this Fall – not many details at this time, but you can read the story here.

Check out three new songs by Morrissey from his forthcoming new album here.

Paul McCartney opens up about the release of his first solo album and the breakup of the Beatles. McCartney said, "I was not a popular bunny". Read the full story here. By the way, Sir Paul turns 69 today - Happy Birthday!

Random iPOD song of the week
Never understood why the leadoff single, “Didn’t Know It Was Love”, from Survivor’s “Too Hot To Sleep” album didn’t help the record blaze up the charts. What is there not to like about this song?

Rare Trax: Marvelous 3 "Indie Queen"

Every Saturday at BMF we present rare or deep tracks from my collection for your listening pleasure, or perhaps for your amusement!

This week’s track is "Indie Queen" by the Marvelous 3 from their amazing 1999 album, "Hey! Album". Without question, this track is one of the most melodic tunes of the 90s, driven by the masterful skills of the prolific Butch Walker. Walker was introduced to the masses as a member of the hairband come lately Southgang, and today his solo career has produced diverse efforts with mixed reviews. To me, nothing tops his time in Marv3 and songs like "Indie Queen" illustrate why. One listen and this stunning chorus is in your head for life.

Listen to "Indie Queen"

News: Butch Walker - new album download only 3.99

News flash! You have until tomorrow to grab the new one from Butch Walker for only $3.99. Go here to download. Read our review of "I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart" right here.

Review: Butch Walker "I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart"

Now four decades old and a father, Butch Walker is back with his follow up to 2008's "Sycamore Meadows" (reviewed here). On his latest, "I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart", Walker struts through more than four decades of musical genres and styles to produce another eclectic collection of unique tunes.

Despite the twisting and twirling of genres, the one thing that Walker strives to remain devoted to is having a good time with a good melody. To that end, "I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart" is modestly successful, but what stands out as a stronger plus is the marvelous production - from the weepy strings on "Don't You Think Someone Should Take You Home" to the gleeful harmonies on "House of Cards" - the record should be textbook for sonic quality. But the common criticism long time fans have of Walker - that his songs are not as strong as they used to be - is not remedied on this release...and no matter how hard you try to decorate a mediocre song, it's still a mediocre song.

Things get off to a reasonable start with catchy pop rockers like "Trash Day" and the aptly named "Pretty Melody", and the excellent ballad "Don't You Think Someone Should Take You Home". Then the record descends into a valley of slow tunes that make C-SPAN look exciting. But like a team that got yelled at during half-time, Walker comes out swinging at the start of the second half with several consecutive goodies. The autobiographical fun of "She Likes Hair Bands" and the sunny melodies on "House of Cards" make these two instantly likable. The album closes with "Be Good Until Then", a sparse acoustic Walker-styled lullaby that no father could dislike.

Since "Letters", Walker has evolved into a singer/songwriter that knows no musical boundary. Many of his compositions end up working brilliantly when he stays focused on a strong hook, but I am with the fan who remains disappointed that he's not been able to deliver something as masterful as his work with Marvelous 3 or even his first solo outing, "Left of Self-Centered". Walker has the 'Midas Touch' in the music business, writing songs and producing hits for everyone from P!nk to Avril Lavigne to Dashboard Confessional. "I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart" was written and recorded in just 5 days. It boggles the mind to think of the type of solo record he could create if he weren't spread so thin.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11

Butch Walker on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Dashboard Confessional "Alter The Ending"

I must confess: Dashboard Confessional is not normally a band that drives me wild. Yeah, I enjoyed their radio songs, but found many of their previous CDs uneven. However, with each CD they've released, it sounds to me like they move further and further away from the banal indie and alternative rock and closer to a more melodic and memorable sound. And with their 6th CD, "Alter The Ending", the band has finally hit their stride and put out a record that I look forward to hearing time and time again.

I wasn't under this impression after the first track, "Get Me Right", but right after that they launch into a fantastic streak of catchy pop rock tunes that changed my mind about these guys. "Until Morning" and "Everybody Learns From Disaster" are awesome preludes to the monster single, "Belle of the Boulevard" (although I can't get the tappers out of my head when I hear that song - Tap Tap Revenge fans know what I'm talking about here!). The infectious tunes keep coming with the peppy "I Know About You" and title track. Soon you realize these guys were just getting warmed up after they deliver one of the catchiest tracks they've even written, "The Motions", where they tattoo the following into your brain: "If this is chemical, then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science." The record ends on a couple more very strong notes with the infectious "No News Is Bad News" and power ballad, "Water and Bridges".

Some might attribute the victory that is "Alter The Ending" to the masterful producers, Butch Walker and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and no doubt this is partially true. But I believe that after six albums, the guys have matured, refined their songwriting chops, and found their groove. "Alter the Ending" is an example of the magic that happens when all the stars are in alignment.

I received the "Deluxe" edition, which includes a second CD of acoustic renditions of all the tracks on the studio release in the same order. It is a good listen - not just vocal and acoustic guitar like you might expect - the guys spice it up with piano, strings, and percussion. Definitely worth the little bit of extra money.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

Dashboard Confessional on MySpace. Official site.

Check out the video for "Belle of the Boulevard":

Rare CD: Butch Walker "This is Me Justified and Stripped"

"Incredibly rare promo only release from 2004 from Butch Walker of Marvelous 3 and Southgang fame!!! This is a ten song cd that was given away free as a promo release for those who purchased one of his cds. It has been long out of print, and is the holy grail for collectors of Butch's. VERY hard to find!!!"

Sold for $200 on ebay (17 bids)

Review: Butch Walker "Sycamore Meadows"

You never know what to expect from Butch Walker these days. Since the demise of one of the greatest modern rock bands, The Marvelous 3, his solo work has been considerably diverse. Each record is consistent in and of itself, but not amongst the others. Each explores a different stratum of the rock genre, some working better than others. His first solo effort, "Left of Self-Centered" was a brilliant continuation of the glorious and bombastic power pop rock that the Marv 3 perfected. "Letters" was strikingly subdued as Walker strutted into rather banal singer/songwriter territory. "Rise and Fall..." was his tribute to 70s glam rock, but it was so unmelodious and flat that I could not get rid of it fast enough.

"Sycamore Meadows" strikes me as a return to the ground he broke in "Letters", but with a better sense of hook and melody, and some of the best lyrics to have gushed out of his pen. The record feels more organic and personal than anything he's done, with lots of acoustic guitar and airy production. The big bold guitars are largely absent and most of the tunes are mid-tempo or slow. As always, his voice is fantastic, but he generally doesn't go out of his way to give you chills like you know that he can. So fans hoping for a full-fledged return to his Marv 3 or "Self-Centered" days are going to be disappointed. Personally, I would have preferred Butch to repeat history in that way, but hey - he's an artist, he's evolving, and he's doing his own thing...that is rock and roll.

The first single and lead off track, "The Weight of Her" is an upbeat acoustic-based rocker that should please Walker fans of all stripes, especially if they also like Tom Petty. "Here Comes The..." is the first of several ballads, and this one works great with its bouncy acoustic strum and engaging harmonies. The horn-laced "Ponce de Leon Ave" is very catchy, bright, and fun. We're back to ballads with "Ships in A Bottle", but it is another hit out of the park for Walker, with emotive lyrics, gentle horns, and a spine tingling vocal. While I am not crazy about the tune "Passed Your Place...", it does exemplify some of his lyrical prowess and insight. Walker laments the loss of a girl he let get away, "You can't trust a man - it's a species that captures things just to let them go". Butch Walker does a little Bob Dylan on "A Song For the Metalheads", but the addition of brass and xylophone over the frantic strumming on "Closer to the Truth and Further From the Sky" make for a more entertaining tune. A final highlight lurks toward the end of the disc...the sparse piano ballad "ATL" ranks as one of his best - it left me speechless, like something Bernie Taupin and Elton John would have done in their 70s hey day.

The verdict: "Sycamore Meadows" is emerging as my second favorite Butch Walker solo record (second to his debut). What is interesting is that this release and his debut are at such opposite ends of the spectrum that they sound like two completely different musicians - a reflection of a versatile and multi-talented artist.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12

Butch Walker on MySpace. Official site.

Rare CD: Marvelous 3 "Hey! Album" ORIGINAL

"Both the CD and the insert are in mint condition. Hey! Album. VERY RARE independently released version with a different cover and 3 songs not on the major label version. Tracks: 1) You're So Yesterday 2) Freak of the Week 3) Until You See 4) Let Me Go 5) Every Monday 6) Indie Queen 7) Lemonade 8) #27 9) Just Wanna Go Home (NOT ON MAJOR LABEL VERSION) 10) Over Your Head 11) Mrs. Jackson 12) Fastboat (NOT ON MAJOR LABEL VERSION) 13) Cold as Hell (NOT ON MAJOR LABEL VERSION)."

This is the independent release of the album with the same title, from 1998. As a huge Butch Walker/Marv 3 fan, I'd love to hear those unreleased tracks. "Hey! Album" is about as good as modern AOR gets.

Sold for $152.50 on ebay (30 bids).

Free MP3: Butch Walker "Leavin' the Game on Luckie St"