American Hi-Fi: Blood & Lemonade

Artist: American Hi-Fi
Title: Blood & Lemonade
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 9th September 2014
Reviewed By: Katherine Tapp

After a semi-hiatus American Hi-Fi are back with their latest album Blood & Lemonade. The album tries to capture the charm of the classic pop-punk sound but unfortunately falls flat. It feels as if the band are holding back and the result is something inoffensive and, well, dull.

The first track, Armageddon Days, would have gone down better a few years ago, but as a modern track it doesn't sit well. The chorus doesn't quite deliver, considering the anticipation brought through the build-up, though it successfully teases the listener into wanting to sit through more of the album. It would work well as a background song once the chorus has kicked in due to its poppy sound, but there's nothing particularly special about it.

Golden State returns to their original sound a little, although it becomes a little generic and doesn't have the same spark as previous albums. The third track, Coma, saves the album in terms of catchiness. It contains memorable hooks and succeeds in making you feel the need to dance and sing along. Although the lyrical content is rather weak the song definitely stands out.

The album starts to take on a heavier tone from Wake Up onwards. The fifth track, Allison, has a lot of potential, it flows together a lot better than some of the other songs so far. It builds on the catchy tunes offered in Coma with stronger vocals and heavier instrumentals; plus some worthier lyrics thrown into the mix.

These two tracks act as a successful rise to the next song, Amnesia, which is easily defined by its heavy guitar riffs. It provides a good mixture of darker tones, confident instrumentals, and a lighter chorus. This all blends together well and the song earns its place as one of the best tracks on the album.

Killing Time lowers the heavy tone, which seems like a disappointment until you hear Carry The Sorrow. It stands out with its bouncy tune, despite it being considerably slower than other tracks. It also shows confidence that was hard to find in some of the earlier songs.

Portland is a track that returns to their original sound but also adds a new spin on it. This particular track succeeds in establishing the classic sound the album was striving for, while creating  a well put together song. It fits well as the penultimate track with its lyrics "it's been a long, long year and I feel like coming home" acting as an appropriate opening to the album's conclusion. No Ordinary Life ends the album with a much needed guitar solo, a factor that could have strengthened some of the other tracks.

Overall, if you're a fan of American Hi-Fi's previous works then you will like this album. However it probably won't succeed in swaying new listeners as its slow to build up and lacks confidence. It's fine as an album, but really it isn't anything special.