American Hi-Fi
Hearts on Parade
Maverick Records, April 2005
Offensive Words: 8, hell
Genre: power pop/80's retro
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"Hearts On Parade is the new album, and I think it is our best yet. We cover some familiar ground with songs like "The Geeks Get The Girls" and "Something Real," and branch out on tracks like "We Can't Be Friends" and "Hell Yeah!" Lyrically I've always worn my heart on my sleeve. Struggles, heartache, dark times, parties, its all there. I wrote "Hell Yeah!" after a perfect Hollywood night on the town. Moving to LA for the scenery, the girls and the nightlife, we left our troubles behind…but I guess when you hear "Something Real" you realize, we never really left anything behind. On the surface, you move to a place like Hollywood and everyone looks happy, driving around in their shiny BMW's, but really, there's a darker side to it; the struggles that we all face searching for the real meaning of why we're here." -Stacy Jones written on the road
Music
As soon as you here the first 30 seconds of American Hi-Fi's latest
you here the 80's retro vibe. We are talking early 80's power pop-rock
when Arnold was still an actor and Regan was still Pres. "Maybe
Won't Do" and "Hell Yeah!" could have been hits in 1983
when I was still in grade school. I would have skated at the
skating rink chasing and scaring other kids. Their first single,
"The Geeks Get the Girls" is a catchy power pop/punk tune with
radio friendly hooks that get us moving into the early 90's. A very
diverse album for these guys and the change in musical style is like a
pop lesson in history. "We Can't Be Friends" hits with a
variety of Cake meeting pop rockers of the 90's like Sheryl Crow.
"Something Real" hits yet another side of the diversity of
American Hi-Fi with a piano driven power ballad. "Highs and
Lows" go back to that 80's retro vibe to the point I felt like I
was listening to Police covers. The album hits a low with a boring and
basic song called "Everlasting Fall." "Baby Come
Home" throws in another twist with a garage rock hit with some good
bass lines and creative guitar slides. The album ends a few tracks later
with a modern ballad, "Hearts on Parade." Overall, a very
catchy and diverse album for the boys of American Hi-Fi. The high points
on the album are thrown in with in the first three tracks.
Vocals/Lyrics
I'm sorry but if you are a fan of American Hi-Fi then you probably
enjoy the nasal congestion and whiney vocals of Stacy Jones. Me, I don't
like them at all. He sounds like a Weird Al impersonator. But if
you do like him, then the album will still be as appealing as in the
past. Lyrically, the cd is full of basic boy/girl themes and the high
school/college type life. A few hormone induced tracks put in several
sexual overtones. Also several songs give reference to alcohol and
drinking. The only offensive word is the word 'hell' and hits 8 times on
one track, "Hell Yeah!" Overall, the cd is themes of college
life that many teens face. The problem is American Hi-Fi glamorizes it
without showing responsibility. There are a few more serious tracks
dealing with depressing times in life and just holding on and moving on.
Overall, teens are dealing with enough sexual and alcohol filled temptations, I personally don't see the need to sing about it as well. I pass on this disc with a 'pg-13' rating.
"Hell Yeah!"
Hell yeah so young and fine
Could she be the one my baby
I'm gonna make her mine
At least for tonight
Hey ya'll I gotta know
Did she get my number maybe
You tell her blow me up
I'm one call away, hell yeah
She's everything that you need
The kinda girl we all dream of
Long legs never stop
Like all those videos in zz topp
She got the stars in her eyes
And she don't mind if you tease her
Can't get her outta my mind
Can't you see she put the freak on me
"The Geeks Get the Girls"
Another Friday night, to get the feeling right
At the bar when he sees her coming over
What you gonna do, if she walks up to you
Tongue tied better get yourself together
Pound another drink, to give him time to think
What's your sign hey I think you know a friend of mine
All the stupid lines, that he had ever heard
Wouldn't come to mind he couldn't say a word
Tonight tonight, he's gonna get it right
Even losers can get lucky sometimes
All the freaks go on a winning streak
In a perfect world, all the geeks get the girls