Teenage Alien Nation (The Art Of Losing - American Hi-Fi)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	The Art Of Losing - American Hi-Fi
Date:	24/03/08 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excellent album packed full of Pop Punk gems.

Disadvantages: Some may not appreciate the sound that this band produces.

'The Art of Losing' is the 2003 album release from the American rock band that is American Hi-Fi. It was their second studio album and features the singles 'The Art of Losing' and 'The Breakup Song'. Fronted by vocalist Stacy Jones who had formerly been a drummer in both Veruca Salt and Letters to Cleo, American Hi-Fi produce a powerful brand of music which combines elements of pop punk, powerpop, and alternative rock to great effect. 'The Art of Losing' is an excellent album from the band and is in fact one that I have listened to many a time over the years.

Opening with title track 'The Art of Losing', this album begins with a bang and never do American Hi-Fi disappoint as they progress their way through this release. Every moment is excellent and always American Hi-Fi impress with their great sound. What I like most about this band are their choruses, and 'The Art of Losing' is perhaps blessed with the best chorus on this album. It is a greatly effective track, one that would sound absolutely perfect in any teen comedy film (and did in fact work incredibly well in both 'American Pie: The Wedding' and the 2003 edition of 'Freaky Friday'). When I first heard this track I spent many months playing it over and over again, and even now some years on I still tend to play it an awful lot.

For me this album is blessed with many highlights and yet there is one track here that stands out to me more so than any other. The track I am speaking of here is 'Teenage Alien Nation', an exceptional piece of music with a fairly intelligent and witty title also. The lyrical content is not exactly greatly intelligent, the musical ability shown is not of an exceptional standard, but what is apparent about this track is that it is fantastically catchy and a hugely entertaining track to listen to. It is fast and frantic, fun and exciting; 'Teenage Alien Nation' is perhaps the best track that this band have ever come up with as far as I'm concerned.

In an album packed full of promise there are a number of brilliant tracks to speak of here. From the fiery 'Gold Rush' right through to the uplifting and softened tones of 'This Is The Sound', American Hi-Fi are always impressive in this album and not one single moment of weakness can be spotted in all of 'The Art of Losing'. Never are the band fighting a losing battle on this album, each and every track present here is packed full of great promise and great energy is expelled as the band power their way through this album

Throughout much of this album American Hi-Fi do not sound like a band that are filled with joy and yet the track they have chosen to close this album is entitled 'Happy', quite ironic really. The lyrics focus on subjects such as faking smiles and trading passion for fashion however, so it would seem that the irony was intended here. The funny thing is though that listening to this bands music does actually make me really very happy as it is so well produced and the choruses are ever excellent. 'Happy' is the perfect end to a brilliant album from American Hi-FI, it caps the album off nicely and always I enjoy listening to it.

American Hi-Fi is an excellent band and 'The Art of Losing' is an incredibly fine album from them. This year is the fifth anniversary of the release of this album and yet it is still one that I listen to frequently. I love American Hi-Fi and appreciate their music greatly, always it is energetic and fun and never on this album do the band ever let themselves down. Included on this 'The Art of Losing' album are eleven terrific tracks, whether or not this is their best album is debatable but it's certainly an excellent release from them. There is such a brilliant array of fantastic tracks here that I really can't recommend the album highly enough, not one single track here disappoints and each and every of the eleven is equally essential to the album as whole. I wholeheartedly recommend this album to all, and if you do happen to take my advice and give this album a listen then I'm sure that you will enjoy what you hear. Fans of pop punk should love 'The Art of Losing', it really is one of the definitive albums of the genre in my opinion; and this is coming from someone that listens to a considerable amount of bands from this genre.

Label: Mercury
Release Date: 31st March 2003

Summary: 'The Art of Losing' is without doubt an album that I would recommend to all.