American Hi-Fi

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American Hi-Fi
Origin	Image:Flag of the United States.svg Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Genre(s)	Alternative Rock Pop Punk punk rock
Years active	1998–Present
Label(s)	Island Records Maverick Records
Website	Official website
Members
Stacy Jones Jamie Arentzen Drew Parsons Brian Nolan
Former members
Jason Sutter

American Hi-Fi is a power pop/alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for their 2001 hit "Flavor of the Weak". To date they have released three studio albums, as well as a live album released only in Japan. The band returned to the studio to record their fourth album in May 2007. According to a radio interview given by the band in 2001, their name came from a chance meeting with Keith Richards at a club. When they mentioned to him that they were looking for a name, he suggested "American Hi-Fi."

1 Label troubles
2 Took a break
3 Back to the studio
4 Influences
5 Band members
6 Discography
7 External links

[edit] Label troubles

In early 2004 and without a backing label, the band headed to Los Angeles to begin work on a new album with producer Butch Walker. The album, Hearts on Parade, was released in Japan on July 14, 2004.

In 2005, American Hi-Fi were signed by Maverick Records, a division of Island. Maverick helped promote the lead single from Hearts on Parade, The Geeks Get the Girls, releasing it as a single for radio airplay and following with a music video in February 2005. American release of the full album was repeatedly delayed, finally occurring on April 12, 2005, almost a year after the initial release in Japan. Neither single released with the album broke into the Billboard Modern Rock charts. Fans complained that the new album was too "pop". Maverick dropped the band in autumn 2005 citing poor record sales.

In the winter of 2005, Playtone Records began seeking submissions for the Superman Returns soundtrack. The band submitted a demo, The Rescue, which had been recorded for Hearts on Parade but was cut from the album. The Rescue was selected for the soundtrack and ran in promotions for the film. The Rescue also received frequent radio airplay into the spring of 2006, but did not result in a new record contract for the band.

[edit] Took a break

The members of American Hi-Fi were by 2007 involved in a number of side projects. Stacy Jones married long-time girlfriend Jade Loop in California in the fall of 2006. Jason Sutter left American Hi-Fi and joined Smash Mouth. In late 2006 Jones and Arentzen helped produce an album for recording artist Candice. In early 2007, Jamie joined up as part of Butch Walker's touring band the Let's-Go-Out-Tonites for their spring tour.

[edit] Back to the studio

In December 2006, Parsons and Jones met for plans for a follow-up album, the plans were put on hold due to Jones busy schedule and Arentzen plans to join Butch Walker's touring band in Spring 2007.

In April 2007, American Hi-Fi announced that the band will record their fourth follow up record in May 2007. There is no word on what "Sound" will be involved with the new Record nor when the release date is. Former Drummer Brian Nolan has re-joined the band for their follow up and will stay in the band until further notice.

[edit] Influences

According to their myspace, they are influenced by Cheap Trick, The Pixies, Teenage Fanclub, Blur, The Posies, Joe Jackson, The Jam, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Mötley Crüe, Squeeze, XTC, My Bloody Valentine, Superdrag, The Lemonheads, Nirvana, Buffalo Tom, The Clash, Pearl Jam, Rancid, Finch, Black Sabbath, and Local H.

[edit] Band members

Stacy Jones - vocals, guitar, drums
Jamie Arentzen - guitar, piano and backing vocals
Drew Parsons - bass and backing vocals
Brian Nolan - drums (1998-2003) (2007-present)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Date of Release	Title	Label(s)	US Billboard Peak	US Top Heatseekers	UK Alternative Rock
February 27, 2001	American Hi-Fi	Island Records	#81	#2	-
April 11, 2002	Rock N' Roll Noodle Shop: Live From Tokyo	Universal Records	-	-	-
February 25, 2003	The Art Of Losing	Island Records	#80	-	-
February 27, 2005	Hearts On Parade	Island Records	#129	-	-
April 4, 2005	Live In Milwaukee	Island Records	-	-	-
2008	TBA	Island Records	-	-	-

[edit] Singles

Year	Title	Peak Chart positions		Album
Year	Title	US Hot 100	US Modern Rock	Album
2001	"Flavor of the Weak"	#41	#5	American Hi-Fi
2001	"Another Perfect Day"	-	#33	American Hi-Fi
2003	"The Art of Losing"	-	#33	The Art Of Losing
2003	"The Breakup Song"	-	-	The Art Of Losing
2005	"The Geeks Get the Girls"	-	-	Hearts On Parade
2005	"Hell Yeah!"	-	-	Hearts On Parade
2006	"The Rescue"	-	#49	Sound Of Superman
2007	"Transformers Theme"	-	-	Transformers: The Album

[edit] Non-album tracks

"Black Satellite" - bonus track on the Japanese and UK version of American Hi-Fi.
"Still Sideways" - bonus track on the Japanese version of American Hi-Fi.
"Vertigo" - featured on the American Pie 2 soundtrack
"When the Breeders Were Big" - bonus track on the Japanese version of The Art of Losing
"Message in a Bottle" - featured on the Rugrats Go Wild soundtrack.
"Deceiver" - on the Australian single for The Art of Losing
"My Soul To Lose" and "Victory Song" - featured on a "Hearts On Parade" EP, given during the Butch Walker vs. AHF tour (July 2004)
"Dead on the Inside" and "We're Gonna Find a Way" - demos from a free EP given out with preorders of Hearts on Parade.
"The Rescue" - featured on the Sound of Superman album
"Transformers Theme" - Not in film; single available on Yahoo Music Unlimited (July 3, 2007)
"Art of Losing" - featured (although significantly edited) on the "Freaky Friday" sountrack. The line "screw you" was replaced with "1, 2" and the line "Can't you see, it's killing me" was replaced with background music.