There is a time and a place for in-your-face obnoxiousness. Pep rallies, for example. Or political campaigns. Or cheesy TV commercials. Unless you're cheering at a football game, running for office, or trying to sell soda, though, the high-energy sonic bubblegum of the Orange County Supertones is moderately amusing, at best.
The Supertones' latest record, Hi-Fi Revival, is yet another contemporary Christian rock album that sounds more like propaganda than art, likely due to the fact that...well, it is more like propaganda than art. In a time when Christian artists should be overflowing with meaningful messages of hope for our broken, terrified, post-9/11 world, the Supertones offer little more than stale cliches, lyrics that may look good on T-shirts, but fail to bring any substance to this musically solid disc.
The most glaring example of trite Christian bumper sticker slogans (say, didn't lyricist Matt Morginsky preach against those on the band's previous album?) comes in the form of "Forever," which boasts not only such profound sentiments as "I've never had this feeling like someone really loves me/ but Jesus really loves me" but also one of the most creative choruses to come along in years: Morginsky repeating the word "forever" until the listener wishes he or she was deaf. Sarcasm aside, it's this kind of self-important, preachy, and banal fluff that generates a lack of interest in the church among believers, and makes a lot of us Christians make a mad dash for a good "secular" CD, many of which have far more spiritual relevance than this stuff.
Fortunately for the Supertones, many of their fans care far more about having a rocking soundtrack for their daily activities than poetry and introspection, and, if good, clean, youth group-friendly rock is what you crave, then the Supertones are sure to satisfy. On the heels of their new home at Tooth and Nail Records and farther from their ska-core roots than ever before, the California quintet serves up a scrumptious platter of exuberant party tunes with Hi-Fi Revival.
The group found inspiration for the album in classic soul and pop records, and their emphasis on melody and funky instrumentation is evident from the get-go with the hip-hop flavored "Superfly," a declaration of intent that harkens back to "Supertones Strike Back." Elsewhere, the band offers up bouncy surf-pop on "Go Go Go" and the fast-paced headbanger "Glory Hallelujah," two songs that clearly demonstrate why this band has developed such a loyal following among teenage listeners.
With musical influences as diverse as rap, swing, and classic R&B, not to mention a brass section that has never sounded better, it's a shame the Supertones resorted to penning such preachy, shallow lyrics. Still, the album is not totally without merit; if you're in need of a contagiously fun soundtrack for a long drive or a fall bash, revive your music collection with the contagiously fun yet unfortunately insipid sounds of the Supertones.
Review summary:
1. What does the album sound like?
An all-out adrenaline rush, Supertones style, mixing elements of rock, hip-hop, and classic pop/R&B with peppy bursts of horns in the background.
2. Is the album well made?
The performances are good, but nothing to write home about. Lyrically, Hi-Fi Revival is annoyingly trite, self-important religious cheerleading.
3. Will you enjoy the album?
If you can overlook the wretched writing and you desire some energetic yet ridiculously cliche Christian rock, then you might.
4. Final score: 2 out of 5
2/5
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #99Reviewed by Dan MacIntoshThe new Supertones CD is not Ska, but then again, purists might well question if this Orange County, CA band was ever truly Ska in the first place. If Hi-Fi Revival is any kind of a musical revival at all, it's a reinterpretation of classic horn-drenched '60s soul, colored by modern hip-hop, rock and R&B elements. Not to get too overly historical about it all, but Ska and Reggae was invented by…ReAL Magazine 2002Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksAfter a few so-so albums searching for that successful post-ska formula the Supertones have finally found it. Hi-Fi Revival is a mix of rock, punk and a softer version of the rap-rock hybrid, with some brass thrown in for good measure. The album is solid and the production is tight. Definitely worth a listen, especially if you haven't liked the Supertones' last fast few albums.The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Mark BakerWith a name like Hi-Fi Revival, and songs called "Hold on to Jesus," "Perfect Love," and "Birth of Uncool," the Supertones' fifth LP was looking like a sure fire youth group album before I even heard the first song. Let me say first thing: it is. It looks like the Supertones filled the Christian music mold perfectly with few exceptions on their latest project. But entering into the listening…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Josh McConnellThe O.C. Supertones have reunited once again this year for their second release of 2002, Hi-Fi Revival, and it is a fairly good release at that. Hi-Fi Revival starts things off with the upbeat track they used for their new video, Superfly, and then moves on to the slower track "Brand New Thing." The tempo keeps changing like that throughout the rest of the album, from ballads (IE: "Go, Go, Go")…Similar sounding releases
2003Grand IncredibleG.I.gantic
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2001BuckBusiness As Usual
2003Elemeno PLove & Disrespect
1999PlankeyeRelocationMore from The O.C. Supertones
1998At the Movies!
1997Supertones Strike Back
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1996Adventures of The O.C. Supertones
2000Loud and Clear
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