If I Had a Hi-Fi by Nada Surf

If I Had a Hi-Fi by Nada Surf, Mardev, 2010
ASIN: B003AO3CIK

Plot Summary and Critical Evaluation

While some may feel that Nada Surf’s covers do not compare well to the original songs, I believe that If I Had a Hi-Fi is a welcome addition to Nada Surf’s discography. In If I Had a Hi-Fi Nada Surf covers twelve songs that range from peppy to staid. Indeed, Nada Surf’s re-imaginings leave some of the songs in a more catchy condition than they were in their original state. For example, while Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence is enjoyable it has a distinct 1980s vibe and, when compared to Nada Surf’s danceable cover, seems to play as slowly as molasses. Nada Surf also infuses additional life into Spoon’s The Agony of Laffitte, making it more upbeat. In addition to songs sung in English, Nada Surf includes tracks that will appeal to their international fans such as the French song , Bye Bye Beaute, and the Spanish song, Evolucion.

While Nada Surf sometimes changes the tempo of the tunes they cover and occasionally uses different instruments, they remain remarkably true to the original songs. In fact, there have been several times when, after listening to If I Had a Hi-Fi, I will hear one of the original songs and get excited as Nada Surf has made me able to recognize them. Overall, Nada Surf has done a great service to their favorite songs, especially for those that come from obscurer bands (like Mecromina). No doubt after listening to If I Had a Hi-Fi some fans will go in search of the original pieces and discover new bands. Although If I Had a Hi-Fi is simply an album of covers I believe its clever re-imaginings make it one of Nada Surf’s best albums.

Reader’s Annotation

Upbeat, alternative rock band Nada Surf presents a cover album in which they reinterpret their favorite songs including Bill Fox’s Electrocution, Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence, The Go-Betweens’ Love Goes On, Arthur Russell’s Janine, the Dwight Twilley Band’s You Were So Warm, Kate Bush’s Love and Anger, Spoon’s The Agony of Laffitte, Coralie Clément’s Bye Bye Beaute, Moody Blues’ Question, The Soft Pack’s Bright Side, Mecromina’s Evolucion, and The Silly Pillows’ I Remembered What I Was Going to Say.

About the Artists

With six albums to their name, Nada Surf is indeed lucky. As Pete Freedman (2008) writes for the Dallas Observer, “Matthew Caws formed Nada Surf way back in 1993 and the band found success two years later when the song ‘Popular’ became just that. Yet after a successful tour with alt/pop kindred spirit Superdrag, various snafus led to the band being dropped by its label. Luckily, Caws and fellow Surfers Daniel Lorca and Ira Elliot somehow kept from breaking completely apart and released…2000’s The Proximity Effect”. After the Proximity Effect the band would go on to produce Lucky in 2008 and their most recent album, If I Had a Hi-Fi in 2010. They are currently hard at work on an, as of now, untitled seventh album.

Explaining on how the band chose the songs they covered in their album If I Had a Hi-Fi, lead singer Matthew Caws explains, "[We focused on] whatever we felt like covering in the moment, rather than trying to sum up our influences or something. It's whatever we were excited about in the months before making it. And I think we got everything we wanted to" (Lewis, 2010).

Freedman, P. (2008, Nov. 19). Q&A: Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws wishes his band was Spinal Tap. Also: Another giveaway! Dallas Observer. Retrieved from http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2008/11/qa_nada_surfs_matthew_caws_wis.php

Lewis, C. (2010, Jan. 6). Nada Surf take on Arthur Russell, Depeche Mode and the Go-Betweens on New Covers Record, announce massive spring tour. Retrieved from http://exclaim.ca/News/nada_surf_take_on_arthur_russell_depeche_mode_go-betweens_on_new_covers_record_announce_massive_spring_tour

Genre

Alternative rock, Indie

Curriculum Ties

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Booktalk Ideas

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Reading Level/Interest Level

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Challenge Issues

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Why Was This Included?

I decided to include this album because I like the way Nada Surf re-imagines some of their favorite songs. I have also heard that Nada Surf has a large following amongst teens so I decided to include them in my blog.