If I Had A Hi-Fi

About

Nada Surf had a freak surprise hit with “Popular” in 1996 that nearly terminated the band’s chances of ever being taken seriously. Fortunately, they didn’t attempt to feed the beast with more novelty tunes, but stuck to their original power-pop ways. More than a decade later and with musical associations with well-respected peers, Death Cab for Cutie and Calexico, Nada Surf are now safely established as a serious alternative rock entity. 2010’s <i>If I Had A Hi-Fi</i> is a collection of likely and unlikely covers. Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” alongside the Go-Between’s “Love Goes On” with Kate Bush’s “Love and Anger,” The Moody Blues’ “Question” and Dwight Twilley’s “You Were So Warm” slipping past the casual fan to sound just like one of Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws’ originals. This could easily be an album from the mid-‘80s back when bands were emulating the modest jangle and harmonies of R.E.M. To make even more of a celebration, Caws invited a number of guests such as Joe McGinty and Holly Miranda to fill out the sound.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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