Waikiki (album)
| Waikiki | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1996 | |||
| Studio | Big Fish Studios | |||
| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Label | Way Cool Music/MCA[1] | |||
| Producer | Mark Trombino | |||
| Fluf chronology | ||||
| ||||
Waikiki is the fourth album by the American band Fluf, released in 1997.[2][3] It was the band's first album with a major label.[4] Fluf supported the album with a North American tour.[5] The first single was "Got Everything".[6]
Production
[edit]Recorded at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California, the album was produced by Mark Trombino.[7][8] The band spent 12 days recording Waikiki, the longest they'd spent on an album; they had to contend with the October 1996 San Diego brushfires.[9][10]
"Of the Bo" is about the prevalence of homophobia in the punk rock and alternative rock scenes.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Calgary Herald | [13] |
| Fort Worth Star-Telegram |  [14] |
| Los Angeles Times | [11] |
| North County Times | A−[6] |
The Austin Chronicle thought that, "ultimately, pure adrenal thunder is fluf's biggest attribute, but whether that's truly enough is questionable."[8] The Calgary Herald called the band "a taut three-piece that simply rears back and delivers edgy, contemporary, no-frills, topical rock 'n' roll that manages to be angry and articulate at the same time."[13] The North County Times said that "the band displays a mastery of the art of writing catchy, sing-along songs without losing rock 'n' roll intensity."[6]
The Los Angeles Times concluded: "In his own gruff way, [singer] O may be the most openhearted guy in all of modern rock. His main subject, as always, is the close-in examination of relationships--romantic or comradely--in which the ties that bind are often unwinding."[11] The San Diego Union-Tribune deemed the album "meaty, Husker Du-like guitar chords and tightly constructed melodies."[7] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram determined that "throughout Waikiki, the threesome with a big sound but a warm heart stirs up all sorts of fun, sweet noise, with first-letter-only leader O's clever guitar playing and husky voice leading the way."[14]
AllMusic wrote that "the lingering influence of Hüsker Dü can be clearly heard in such blasting yet warmly touching songs as 'Pushin' Back Days', while there's even a hint of the Cure's rushed guitar pop at points, especially in 'Class Action'."[12]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Skip Beat" | |
| 2. | "Got Everything" | |
| 3. | "Pushin' Back Days" | |
| 4. | "Bump" | |
| 5. | "The Chooser" | |
| 6. | "Of the Bo" | |
| 7. | "TV Anthem" | |
| 8. | "Sweet Dough" | |
| 9. | "Class Action" | |
| 10. | "Chocolate" | |
| 11. | "Pipe Bomb" | |
| 12. | "Batwing" | |
| 13. | "The Gift Of" |
References
[edit]- ^ "Top 75". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 46. Jun 1997. p. 46.
- ^ "Fluf Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Noise Pop '97 Bands on a Saturday Afternoon". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021.
- ^ Varga, George (December 18, 1996). "Fluf signs new deal". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E6.
- ^ "Music". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Feb 28, 1997. p. 12.
- ^ a b c Wallace, Brian (Mar 14, 1997). "'Waikiki' Fluf". Preview. North County Times. p. 24.
- ^ a b Niesel, Jeff (March 13, 1997). "Fluf Way Cool Music/MCA". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 27.
- ^ a b "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle.
- ^ Brown, Mark (March 23, 1997). "The band may be fluf, but don't expect a lightweight". Orange County Register. p. F25.
- ^ Bartenhagen, Joe (Apr 7, 1997). "Fluf's 'Waikiki': 'an audio brushfire'". The Signpost. p. 6.
- ^ a b c Boehm, Mike (27 May 1997). "Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Waikiki". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Muretich, James (20 Apr 1997). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F2.
- ^ a b Mayhew, Malcolm (March 28, 1997). "Fluf, Waikiki, Way Cool Music/MCA". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 13.