HiFi Superstar

Absolute Powerpop

A place to discover the latest and greatest in power pop releases.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
CD of the Day, 8/7/08: BrownLine Fiasco-HiFi Superstar

Chicago's HiFi Superstar (BrownLine Fiasco) is back with another disc of what they call "positive power pop", on the heels of their fine debut disc of late 2006, New Revolution. I first came across these guys on the strength of their track "Milk & Honey" on last year's IPO compilation, and I'm glad I did, as Superstar is a leap forward from the first disc and a great example of crunchy power pop a la Cheap Trick, The Knack and contemporaries such as Rooney and Weezer.

After the somewhat trippy opener "Lovely Day", the boys get down to business on the title track, which has enough power chords and riffs to keep you busy for a while and gives off a late 90s Collective Soul/Better Than Ezra vibe. "Over Our Heads" is a bit more midtempo and could pass for a Gin Blossoms tune, and "Without Love" is a real gem - a sugary confection with hooky harmonies that recalls Big Kid at their best.

Elsewhere, the midtempo "You're Not Alone" is radio-friendly, and the nearly-six minute "So Into You" takes a sonic detour, as it's a bit of a mini-suite that goes from strings to rock and back before it's over. The album concludes with "Look of Amazement", a catchy track that flirts with an R&B groove. Despite the band's name, HiFi Superstar is anything but a fiasco.
- Absolute Powerpop

WOW!!! A brilliant and simply wonderful 70's classic power pop-inspired effort from this Windy City band that's fast become a favorite here at KKM! "A great example of crunchy power pop a la Cheap Trick, The Knack and contemporaries such as Rooney and Weezer. Lead vocalist Mike Paterson's Peter Case-like at times vocals give this a very Plimsouls-influenced edge as well! A high compliment indeed! Can't say enough about this one that's a grower if ever there was one! GREAT!!!! - Kool Kat Musik

Here’s a band out of nowhere and we are very glad they showed up to the power pop party we like to throw here at Not Lame! They are from Chicago and, as usual, there appears to be something in the DNA in that city and the state of Illinois because they keep kicking out really, really fine powerpop and HiFi superstar (BrownLine Fiasco) is the latest. Bless them, too – they really do appear to be terribly inspired by the 70s. - Not Lame Records

That juicy polished power pop that I first heard on the last IPO compilation was HiFi superstar (BrownLine Fiasco) and the group returns with a very catchy album called "HiFi Superstar." Few would argue that the opener "Lovely Day" hasn't got a touch of Pearl Jam with power chords and a dominant bass line. The title track has melody and beat that compare with Ok Go and The Posies and will drive you to start air guitar theatrics right away. The power chords meet smooth harmonies on the song "Over Our Heads" and recall The Raspberries and Gin Blossoms, with a perfectly delivered vocal over swirling riffs. The very-Brit flavoured "Without Love" is a sweet single that is more overtly pop that anything else on the disc and approaches Wondermints territory. The rest of the album seems to test the genre waters a bit, by flirting with Utopia rock and synth ("You're Not Alone") and then early Bon Jovi melodic rock ("Should have told her"). "Heart Won't Lie" is a good mid-tempo ballad that falls between the Cars and Lindsey Buckingham. It ends with with "Look of Amazement" that adds a bit of funk to the mix. Overall an excellent album that doesn't play safe and refuses to be overtly derivative, and that's worthy of more than a few spins on the ole ipod playlist. - Power pop Aholic