American Hi-Fi - Fight The Frequency

American Hi-Fi - Fight The Frequency
2010, Hi-Fi Killers/The Ascot Club

Boston rockers American Hi-Fi return with their fourth studio album, Fight The Frequency on August 17, 2010, the follow-up to 2005's Hearts On Parade. Over the past several years singer/guitarist Stacy Jones has been musical director and drummer for Miley Cyrus while Jamie Arentzen has been her guitarist. Jones has also produced albums for artists such as Meg & Dia, Ingrid Michaelson, Plain White T's and The Cab. Fight The Frequency finds the original American Hi-Fi lineup together again with a collection of twelve songs that run the gamut from Punk-Inspired modern rock to pop/rock balladry.

American Hi-Fi opens with the title track "Fight The Frequency, featuring a catchy, guitar-driven big rock chorus. It's one of those songs that get stuck in your head the first time you hear it and simply won't leave. The song is optimistic tune about going with the flow of life and letting your dreams take off. There's major single potential here. The same can be said of "This Is A Low" which is edgy pop/rock at its finest with another big catchy chorus. Sliding into the plodding anti-ballad "Where Love Is A Lie", American Hi-Fi begins a more angst-filled trend that recurs throughout much of the album. "Acetate" is a solid example, mixing the band's pop/rock sound with a bit of Nirvana-esque angst and edge. The song works and has a solid arrangement but seems a bit out of place here.

"Lost" is the first single from the album, an upbeat power ballad of sorts that's very catchy. Expect the interest from both radio and the licensing realm to be large for this tune. "Frat Clump" finds American Hi-Fi at their hardest and heaviest, playing with a punk edge that's not their best sound but a lot of fun to listen to. "Lookout For Hope" returns to a more pop-oriented sound as a mildly catchy relationship song with a solid chorus. This mild inertia holds through "A Taste For Crime" and "Stargazer" before the band breaks out with "Bullet". Personal tastes will vary around this song, but it's certain to gather a lot of interest from radio if released as a single. Perhaps the best is saved for last however. American Hi-Fi closes with "Tiny Spark", infiltrating their big rock sound with elements of Americana and southern rock. The big, open chorus and solid harmonies make this song a winner, the sort that becomes a concert favorite and sticks around the band's live set for the balance of their careers.

It's hard to say whether American Hi-Fi will be able to recreate the sort of success they've previously had with singles such as "Flavor Of The Weak", "Another Perfect Day" or "The Art Of Losing", but there are at least three songs on Fight The Frequency with the potential for big radio impact. The time off certainly hasn't dulled the band's pop proclivities or guitar muscle. American Hi-Fi has a winner on their hands with Fight The Frequency.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about American Hi-Fi at http://www.americanhi-fi.com/ or www.myspace.com/americanhifi.  Fight The Frequency drops on August 17, 2010, and can be downloaded from Amazon.com.

Review: Mikey Wax - Change Again

Mikey Wax – Change Again
2008, Last Great Song Publishing

Mikey Wax put out his first album at the age of thirteen, landing an instrumental composition on New York Radio Station 101.9, then a jazz/instrumental outlet. The Long Island native is classically trained in piano and self-taught on guitar. He spent his college years in Nashville soaking up the local music scene, but his true motivation came weeks after graduating from Vanderbuilt University. A letter written by his deceased grandfather nearly 20 years before was given to him. The wisdom and love in his grandfather’s words inspired the song With You Goes, and also inspired Mikey Wax to follow his dream to make music. Wax’ 2nd CD, Change Again, was released in 2008. It charted on the iTunes plus charts in the US, Canada, Australia and UK, reaching as high as #46 in the US. The album has also helped land Wax licensing deals with MTV, E! and ESPN.

Wax has an interesting vocal sound that is half way between John Mayer and The Plain White T’s’ Tom Higgenson. The songs on Change Again are primarily of the non-threatening, artfully written pop variety with a tendency toward big, soaring choruses. The album kicks off with Slow Motion; something of a generic yet aurally pleasing pop tune with the requisite big chorus. Songs like With You Goes, Hourglass (Love Will Find A Way and Love Light (Triad) also fit this generic yet sonically soaring style. I don’t want to call it bubblegum because it’s most definitely not, but there’s some of that same fluffy, feel good quality to the music. It’s when you get to a song like Twisted Fate when you realize that you’re dealing with an artist with a little more than just an ear for a good hook. Twisted Fate is the story of a prophet who foresaw a great tragedy yet never told a soul, and the guilt and grief carried by that individual. It is an incredibly smart and poignant bit of writing; a bit deeper than your typical pop song (perhaps too much so for real impact at radio, but it’s a fine song). The other definitive highlight on Change Again is Last Great Song; an aptly titled tune as it is a special song and it was the last one on the disc that really held my attention.

Mikey Wax is an interesting study on Change Again. There are really two different types of material here; the classic, hook laden pop song with big chorus and harmonies, or the singer-songwriter material that is popped-up but still very strongly rooted in that other tradition. The pop material works strongly for Wax on the commercial side, creating a sound that is instantly accessible for outlets like radio, while allowing Wax to cater to his more thought-provoking side in the singer/songwriter material. Not everything works here, but when Wax is on he is definitely worth making time for. Change Again is a strong album with a few weak moments; A definite keeper.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Mikey Wax at http://www.mikeywax.com/ or www.myspace.com/mikeywax. You can purchase a copy of Change Again at www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikeywax, or you can download the album through iTunes.