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)
Teenage Alien Nation
American Hi-Fi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No matter what thought you heard me say
No matter what you know you can't escape today
So what if you don't like me
I don't give a fuck if you don't like me
I can change my lock
It seems that I'm rotten to the core
Forget about tomorrow
You and me we're going down in sorrow
Youth of the nation going nowhere
Station to station
Teenage alien nation (woah)
Teenage alien nation (yeah)
It's all wrong
I guess that some of us have come and gone
I guess we kinda shudda known it all along
Never going anywhere
Sometimes you gotta pick it up and roll the dice
Your looking back and you don't think twice
Bout feeling lonely everyday
Forget about tomorrow
You and me we're going down in sorrow
Youth of the nation going nowhere
[Repeat: x3]
Station to station
[Repeat: x4]
Teenage alien nation
The lyrics to the song Teenage Alien Nation by American Hi-Fi express the angst and frustration of teenage rebellion against conformity and the pressures of society. The singer states his desire for everything, and his unwillingness to conform or back down, suggesting that he is willing to change his locks in order to protect his independence. He acknowledges that he may be seen as "rotten to the core" by some due to his unorthodox views, but he does not care.
The chorus highlights the sense of alienation and disillusionment felt by young people, who feel they are going nowhere and are trapped in a system that does not value them. The phrase "station to station" suggests the feeling that everything is the same and unchanging; there is no progress or growth. The repetition of "Teenage alien nation" emphasizes the sense of being different and misunderstood.
Overall, the lyrics express the desire to break free from conformist expectations and forge one's own path, even if it means being ostracized or misunderstood by society.
Line by Line Meaning
I want it all
I am ambitious and I aspire for everything I desire
No matter what thought you heard me say
Regardless of what you may have previously heard, I want it all
No matter what you know you can't escape today
No matter what you know or do, you can't avoid the present situation
So what if you don't like me
I don't care if you don't approve of me
I don't give a fuck if you don't like me
I do not care at all if you do not like me
I can change my lock
I have the ability to change the locks on my doors
It seems that I'm rotten to the core
It appears that I am fundamentally bad
Forget about tomorrow
Do not worry about the future
You and me we're going down in sorrow
We will both face unfortunate circumstances
Youth of the nation going nowhere
The youth are not progressing or accomplishing anything
Station to station
Moving from one place to another
Teenage alien nation (woah)
Teenagers who feel disconnected and isolated from everyone else
Teenage alien nation (yeah)
Teenagers who are a misunderstood and unrecognized group
It's all wrong
Everything is going terribly wrong
I guess that some of us have come and gone
I assume that some people did not succeed and left
I guess we kinda shudda known it all along
I suppose we should have been aware of this from the beginning
Never going anywhere
Nothing is changing or progressing
Sometimes you gotta pick it up and roll the dice
Occasionally you need to take a chance and accept the outcome
Your looking back and you don't think twice
You are reflecting on your past and do not have any regrets
Bout feeling lonely everyday
Always feeling alone and isolated
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STACY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind