American Hi-Fi (3 stars)
Hearts on Parade
On their third album, American Hi-Fi continue the mix of punk snottiness and pop hooks that worked for them on their first two, enlisting friend and hot producer Butch Walker to smooth things out. In particular, frontman Stacy Jones' voice is much less nasal and annoying this time, while maintaining just the right hint of smugness.
Lead single "The Geeks Get the Girls" harkens back to AHF's first (and really only) hit, "Flavor of the Weak," with its tongue-in-cheek lyrics and instantly memorable hook. AHF are at their best on breezy, jokey tunes like "Geeks" while stumbling on more sincere ballads like the title track.
But Jones' songwriting hasn't gone anywhere in the last few years, and the difference between AHF's strongest work and its weakest is not wide. With bands like Bowling for Soup and New Found Glory achieving larger success with essentially more obnoxious or in-your-face versions of the same formula, AHF might be headed for obscurity, and as easily digestible as Hearts on Parade is, it's not about to put AHF back at the head of the pack.
The Blue Van (3.5 stars)
The Art of Rolling
It's too bad classic-rock stations have mostly given up adventurous programming in favor of playing "Turn the Page" 30 times a week. Otherwise, Danish quartet the Blue Van might get some decent airplay. Their music sounds piped in from a time of free-range Yardbirds, back when the Who had a full Moon and it was a mod, mod, mod world.
The Art of Rolling isn't just a pleasant ride in the way-back machine. The clean, sharp production and frenzied edge in Steffen Westmark's guitar give these guys a contemporary feel. Driven by the flexing organ of Soren Christensen and Westmark's assured vocals, most of the songs are little speedballs of exuberance and energy. "Word from the Bird" is a danceable rave-up that should be on every iPod and "New Slough" shows us a jamming, bluesy good time with its call-and-response chorus.
According to their PR, these crazy kids grew up in rural Denmark, untouched by musical fashion; instead, they were captivated by the timeless structures of classic rock. At the risk of believing record-company BS, it sounds about right. "What do you think is going on," asks the first lyric of the disc's first song. That's easy: classical—not classic—rock for modern times. Radio programmers, take note.