Nada Surf

If I Had A Hi-Fi

(Mardev)

Record Review by Angel M. Baker

Nada Surf embraces the possibility of disaster with a record consisting entirely of covers on If I Had A Hi-Fi. Most critics have prepared for impending doom, like releasing a covers record is equivalent to a death knell or dating the Grim Reaper or planning your own funeral. But most of those critics have been humbled by If I Had A Hi-Fi. Including this writer. This record, though not groundbreaking, is a great showing for the band. Nada Surf performs covers of semi-obscure tracks from mostly no-longer-existing bands in the way that they do, with a levity that is calm and utterly listenable. They make new the old and re-energize songs we didn’t know needed the boost.
 
Highlights include “You Were So Warm,” originally by Dwight Twilley. Caws’ vocals reach epic heights with the chorus and give this track a sincerity that makes it feel new. “Bye Bye Beaute,” originally by Coralie Clement, is performed in French without a hint of an accent. It has a slow, steady beat that feels like boots clicking on the sidewalk after a breakup. “Evolucion,” originally by Mercromina, is performed entirely in Spanish, again with perfect pronunciation, and is this writer’s favorite track. It opens with a beautiful orchestral strings duet that rolls into a dramatic fuzzy guitar / drums accompaniment that swells. Repetition of the hymn, “Evolucion” builds and crescendos with a guitar solo that is electric. 

“Love Goes On” by The Go-Betweens is a fitting choice for this record. Nada Surf has been around for a while and they have every right to make statements about love lasting in this retro-chamber pop track. Soft Space’s “Bright Side” is a fun and perky jam that feels like an '80s montage when the guy gets the girl. The record comes to a close with a sweetly pleasant instrumental version of  “I Remembered What I Was Going To Say” by The Silly Pillows, one of the original at-home-tape bands.

Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence” comes the closest to sounding like the original and makes this one of the weaker tracks on the record. Likewise, “Question” by the Moody Blues, lacks the wartime urgency of the original and there isn’t enough of a twist to make it relevant today.

The songs on If I Had A Hi-Fi share a common theme loosely based on the ending of things but Nada Surf makes the doomsday lyrics buoyant and breathy. Don’t listen to this record if you have any attachment to the original songs sounding like they did at their inception. They have been Nada-Surf-ized in every sense.