Hi-Fi Serious

Hi-Fi Serious is the third studio album by British alternative rock band A, released on 4 March 2002 in the United Kingdom and later that July in the United States.

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]

The album's 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

All tracks are written by Jason Perry.

No.	Title	Length
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"	3:37
11.	"W.D.Y.C.A.I." (Why Don't You Cry About It)	3:27
12.	"Hi-Fi Serious"	5:57
Total length:		45:36

US and streaming versions

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Champions of Endings"	4:47
Total length:		50:23

Japanese version

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Asshole"	4:28
Total length:		50:04

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", and the song "Old Folks" from their previous album 'A' vs. 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 in 2018, including a reissue on CD and the album's debut on vinyl. The reissue included a bonus CD entitled "The B Sides", which contained a collection of many hard-to-find songs from their back catalogue.

Bonus disc tracklist

All tracks are written by Jason Perry.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Good Idea"		2:18
2.	"Radio Lebanon"		3:19
3.	"Over It"		1:47
4.	"Owner of a Lonely Heart"	Jon Anderson / Chris Squire / Trevor Horn / Trevor Rabin	4:37
5.	"Champions of Endings"		4:47
6.	"Alright"		2:41
7.	"I Can't Wait Until Morning"		3:23
8.	"Last Girl"		4:25
9.	"French Kiss"		3:14
10.	"Look What You Made Me Do"		3:14
11.	"Sorry But..."		4:04
12.	"Have the Night"		3:41
13.	"Coming Around"		3:30
Total length:			44:54