American Hi-Fi is a rock band originally from Boston, Massachusetts, best k… Read Full Bio ↴American Hi-Fi is a rock band originally from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for their 2001 hit Flavor of the Weak. Their musical style incorporates various elements of the pop punk, power pop, alternative rock, and pop rock genres.

To date they have released Four studio albums, as well as two live albums. Their self-titled album (2001, Island Records) was their best known release, with singles Flavor of the Weak and Another Perfect Day. Their 2003 follow up album Art of Losing had a slightly rockier edge to it and includes the singles The Art of Losing and The Breakup Song (both of which appeared on various movie soundtracks). However the album failed to meet the success of their first album and they were dropped by Island Records. Their third studio album Hearts on Parade was released by Maverick Records in 2005 with a much more poppy sound. It included the singles The Geeks Get the Girls and Hell Yeah!. There was much division between fans due to the "new sound" and poor record sales meant Maverick dropped American Hi-Fi in Autumn of 2005.
The band retured after 5 years, releasing their forth studio album Fight the Frequency but the album did not follow any sort of promotion nor much tour for support of the album.
As of 2012, the band is currently working on a new studio album and are now signed with Goomba Music.

American Hi-Fi have also released 2 Live albums. One released only in Japan called Rock N' Roll Noodle Shop: Live From Tokyo through Universal. The album is a live recording of a concert performed in Tokyo and includes mainly tracks from the self-titled album. However, it does include an early version of the track Teenage Alien Nation titled Waking Up to the End of the World, Happy (both from the Art of Losing Album) and cover of the Cheap Trick song Surrender.
The second live album was Live from Milwaukee.

According to an radio interview given by the band in 2001, their name came from a chance meeting with Keith Richards at a club. When they mentioned to him that they were looking for a name, he suggested "American Hi-Fi."

Frontman and founding member Stacy Jones previously drummed for the often mis-labelled all girl punk rock outfit Veruca Salt on their Eight Arms To Hold You tour but never recorded for the band leaving in 1998 to start American Hi-Fi.

Jones is a renowned producer and songwriter and has produced a mixed bag of artists from Hana Montana to Towers of London, also playing drums on various Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana tracks. Jones is also married to international photographer Jade Loop.

Band Lineup
Stacy Jones - Vocals, Drums and Guitar (2001-present)
Jamie Arentzen - Guitar and Vocals (2001-present)
Drew Parsons - Bass and Vocals (2001-present)
Brian Nolan - Drums (2001-2004,2007-present)
Jason Sutter - Drums on Hearts on Parade (2004-2007)

A Bigger Mood
American Hi-Fi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need a bigger mood
To block out the sun
I don't want to see what I've become
And you could fight your way
Give back what you really want
It's nothing special anyway

[Chorus:]

Yeah, you're always in my way
I'm falling faster everyday
Yeah, you're always in my way
I gotta spit you out
You bring me down
Everything just crashes to the ground
'Cause you were always in my way

I can feel a brake
A bruise from another day
It's hard to say just what I feel
It all seems broken now
When I'm stuck on the in-between
Staring at something out of reach

[Chorus]

Go!
Yeah, you're always in my way
Yeah, you're always in my way
You bring me down
Everything just crashes to the ground
'Cause you were always in my way
'Cause you were always in my way

'Cause you were always in my way
Yeah

Overall Meaning

In American Hi-Fi's song A Bigger Mood, the singer expresses their need for a bigger mood - a greater emotional state - to block out the sun, which could be interpreted as avoiding reality and not wanting to confront the truth about themselves. The line "I don't want to see what I've become" suggests that the singer is not pleased with who they have become and may be struggling with their identity. They mention the possibility of fighting to get back what they really want, but then downplay it by stating that it's nothing special anyway. This could indicate a lack of motivation or confidence in themselves to achieve their goals.

In the chorus, the singer addresses someone who is always in their way and bringing them down. Their frustration is evident as they express that everything crashes to the ground because of this person, and they need to "spit them out" to move on. The line "I can feel a brake, a bruise from another day" could be a metaphor for the emotional pain that this person causes the singer.

Overall, the song portrays a sense of dissatisfaction with oneself and a desire to break free from someone who is holding them back. The lyrics are somewhat ambiguous, allowing for various interpretations, but the general theme is clear.

Line by Line Meaning

I need a bigger mood
I require a stronger emotion in order to cope with my current state of mind

To block out the sun
To obscure my realities

I don't want to see what I've become
I'm unhappy with the person that I have transformed into

And you could fight your way
You could struggle in your efforts

Give back what you really want
Return to what you genuinely desire in life

It's nothing special anyway
It holds no true significance

Yeah, you're always in my way
You frequently impede my progression

I'm falling faster everyday
I'm losing control of my life at an increasing rate

I gotta spit you out
I need to rid my life of your negative influence

You bring me down
You have a negative effect on my well-being

Everything just crashes to the ground
My life seems to be crumbling apart