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Waikiki (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waikiki
Studio album by
Released1997
Recorded1996
StudioBig Fish Studios
GenrePunk rock
LabelWay Cool Music/MCA[1]
ProducerMark Trombino
Fluf chronology
The Classic Years
(1995)
Waikiki
(1997)
Road Rage
(1998)

Waikiki is the fourth album by the American band Fluf, released in 1997.[2][3] It was the band's first album with a major label.[4] Fluf supported the album with a North American tour.[5] The first single was "Got Everything".[6]

Production

[edit]

Recorded at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California, the album was produced by Mark Trombino.[7][8] The band spent 12 days recording Waikiki, the longest they'd spent on an album; they had to contend with the October 1996 San Diego brushfires.[9][10]

"Of the Bo" is about the prevalence of homophobia in the punk rock and alternative rock scenes.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Calgary Herald[13]
Fort Worth Star-Telegram[14]
Los Angeles Times[11]
North County TimesA−[6]

The Austin Chronicle thought that, "ultimately, pure adrenal thunder is fluf's biggest attribute, but whether that's truly enough is questionable."[8] The Calgary Herald called the band "a taut three-piece that simply rears back and delivers edgy, contemporary, no-frills, topical rock 'n' roll that manages to be angry and articulate at the same time."[13] The North County Times said that "the band displays a mastery of the art of writing catchy, sing-along songs without losing rock 'n' roll intensity."[6]

The Los Angeles Times concluded: "In his own gruff way, [singer] O may be the most openhearted guy in all of modern rock. His main subject, as always, is the close-in examination of relationships--romantic or comradely--in which the ties that bind are often unwinding."[11] The San Diego Union-Tribune deemed the album "meaty, Husker Du-like guitar chords and tightly constructed melodies."[7] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram determined that "throughout Waikiki, the threesome with a big sound but a warm heart stirs up all sorts of fun, sweet noise, with first-letter-only leader O's clever guitar playing and husky voice leading the way."[14]

AllMusic wrote that "the lingering influence of Hüsker Dü can be clearly heard in such blasting yet warmly touching songs as 'Pushin' Back Days', while there's even a hint of the Cure's rushed guitar pop at points, especially in 'Class Action'."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Skip Beat" 
2."Got Everything" 
3."Pushin' Back Days" 
4."Bump" 
5."The Chooser" 
6."Of the Bo" 
7."TV Anthem" 
8."Sweet Dough" 
9."Class Action" 
10."Chocolate" 
11."Pipe Bomb" 
12."Batwing" 
13."The Gift Of" 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Top 75". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 46. Jun 1997. p. 46.
  2. ^ "Fluf Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Noise Pop '97 Bands on a Saturday Afternoon". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Varga, George (December 18, 1996). "Fluf signs new deal". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E6.
  5. ^ "Music". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Feb 28, 1997. p. 12.
  6. ^ a b c Wallace, Brian (Mar 14, 1997). "'Waikiki' Fluf". Preview. North County Times. p. 24.
  7. ^ a b Niesel, Jeff (March 13, 1997). "Fluf Way Cool Music/MCA". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 27.
  8. ^ a b "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle.
  9. ^ Brown, Mark (March 23, 1997). "The band may be fluf, but don't expect a lightweight". Orange County Register. p. F25.
  10. ^ Bartenhagen, Joe (Apr 7, 1997). "Fluf's 'Waikiki': 'an audio brushfire'". The Signpost. p. 6.
  11. ^ a b c Boehm, Mike (27 May 1997). "Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  12. ^ a b "Waikiki". AllMusic.
  13. ^ a b Muretich, James (20 Apr 1997). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F2.
  14. ^ a b Mayhew, Malcolm (March 28, 1997). "Fluf, Waikiki, Way Cool Music/MCA". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 13.