Hi-Fi Serious

Marking out the crucial mid-point between the impassioned emo-pop of Jimmy Eat World and the dumb-assed gross-out punk splatter of Blink 182, Hi-Fi Serious is a cackling, cartoonish descent into fearlessly tuneful power-pop larkery. It's saturated in an obvious love for beach-bum Americana: "It's an endless summer/ It's the summer forever" breezes the bronzed power-punk of "Pacific Ocean Blue". And while the five are frighteningly eager to dally like playful puppies through all rock's cheesiest cliches--just check out guitarist Mark Chapman's Eddie Van Halen-style fretwork on "The Distance"--it's always performed with enough charm to win the day. Think the Brits can't do rock? Crank up Hi-Fi Serious and let A put a smile back on your face. --Louis Pattison