Hi-Fi Serious

Hi-Fi Serious is the third studio album by British alternative rock band A, released in 2002.

Hi-Fi Serious
Studio album by A
Released	4 March 2002
Recorded	August–December 2001
Genre	Alternative rock, post-grunge, hard rock, pop rock
Length	45:36
Label	London
Producer	Ken Andrews, Al Clay
A chronology
Exit Stage Right (2000) Hi-Fi Serious (2002) Teen Dance Ordinance (2005)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Alternative Press	6/10[2]
Blender	[3]
Drowned in Sound	9/10[4]
laut.de	[5]
NME	7/10[6]
Nude as the News	(Positive)[7]
Ox-Fanzine	Favourable[8]
Q	[9]

The name "Hi-Fi Serious" was derived from that of a fictional electronics store, from which Alan Partridge purchased a Bang & Olufsen stereo system in the final episode of the first series of British sitcom, I'm Alan Partridge.^[10] The tour in support of the album's release was named the "Inner City Sumo Tour"^[11] – another nod to Partridge, this time referencing a line in the show's very first episode.^[12]

Charts, sales and legacy

The album is certified Silver in the U.K., having sold over 60,000 copies.^[13]

First single, "Nothing", made it to No. 9 in the UK singles chart before the album's release, propelling the band higher up the ladder - the album peaked at No. 18 in the UK album charts - and although they were still not seen as a mainstream artist, the album still won them "Best British Band" at the Kerrang! Awards.

In 2005, readers of Kerrang! magazine voted Hi-Fi Serious the 57th best British rock album ever.^[14]

Track listing

1. "Nothing" – 3:43
2. "Something's Going On" – 2:58
3. "6 O'Clock on a Tube Stop" – 3:14
4. "Going Down" – 4:09
5. "Took It Away" – 3:29
6. "Starbucks" – 3:18
7. "The Springs" – 4:28
8. "Shut Yer Face" – 3:43
9. "Pacific Ocean Blue" – 3:27
10. "The Distance" – 3:38
11. "W.D.Y.C.A.I." (Why Don't You Cry About It) – 3:27
12. "Hi-Fi Serious" – 5:57

B Sides

The album featured many B Sides across the singles that were released as part of the "Hi-Fi Serious" album cycle.

• "Asshole" (Japanese album bonus track) – 4:45
• "T-Shirt Money" (B Side to "Nothing") – 3:27
• "Everybody In" (B Side to "Nothing") – 4:16
• "Getting Me Off" (B Side to "Nothing") – 3:10
• "Some People" (B Side to "Starbucks") – 2:05
• "Champions of Endings" (B Side to "Starbucks" / U.S. album bonus track) – 4:47
• "Monterey" (B Side to "Starbucks") – 2:52
• "Coming Around" (B Side to "Starbucks") – 3:30
• "Rock" (B Side to "Something's Going On") – 4:05
• "Human Condition" (B Side to "Something's Going On") – 4:03
• "Sorry But" (B Side to "Something's Going On") – 4:04
• "Just Like Paradise" (B Side to "Something's Going On") – 4:07

DVD features

Hi-Fi Serious was later re-released with an additional DVD of live footage and other video clips of the band. This included music videos for "Nothing", "The Distance" & "Old Folks" (From Monkey Kong), a 12-minute documentary, UK TV commercials for Hi-Fi Serious, and 20 minutes of "Live at Reading 2002" footage.

2018 Re-Release

Hi-Fi Serious was re-released again in 2018, including a release on CD and Vinyl. This included a bonus CD entitled "The B Sides", which contained a collection of many hard-to-find songs from their back catalogue.

1. "Good Idea" (B Side to "No. 1") - 2:18
2. "Radio Lebanon" (Previously Unreleased from "Teen Dance Ordinance" sessions) - 3:20
3. "Im Over It" (B Side to "Sing-A-Long") - 1:49
4. "Owner Of a Lonely Heart" (YES Cover, B Side to "Summer On The Underground") - 4:37
5. "Champions Of Endings" (B Side to "Starbucks" / U.S. Bonus Track to "Hi-Fi Serious") - 4:47
6. "Alright" (B Side to "No. 1") - 2:41
7. "I Cant Wait Until The Morning" (B Side to "Summer On The Underground") - 3:24
8. "Last Girl" (B Side to "Foghorn") - 4:24
9. "French Kiss" (B Side to "Rush Song" / Japanese Bonus Track to "Teen Dance Ordinance") - 3:14
10. "Look What You Made Me Do" (B Side to "Bad Idea") - 3:13
11. "Sorry But" (B Side to "Something's Going On") - 4:04
12. "Have The Night" (B Side to "Rush Song") - 3:41
13. "Coming Around" (B Side to "Starbucks") - 3:30