Hi-Five Soup!

Last updated
Hi-Five Soup!
The Aquabats - Hi-Five Soup! cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 18, 2011
Recorded2010 at Maple Studios in Orange County, California
Genre
Length34:54
Label Fearless
Producer Cameron Webb, The Aquabats
The Aquabats chronology
Radio Down!
(2010)
Hi-Five Soup!
(2011)
The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One
(2019)
Singles from Hi-Five Soup!
  1. "Radio Down!"
    Released: November 9, 2010
  2. "The Shark Fighter!"
    Released: December 14, 2010

Hi-Five Soup! is the fifth studio album from American band The Aquabats, released on January 18, 2011 by Fearless Records. [2] [3]

Contents

Overview

In interviews leading up to Hi-Five Soup!'s release, lead vocalist Christian Jacobs (The MC Bat Commander) described the album as " Yo Gabba Gabba! -meets-The Aquabats", noting "[the] themes of the songs are just kind of silly and stupid...it's less trying to appeal to a little bit older crowd and just trying to appeal to the Halloween costume crowd". [4] [5] Of the album's music, he mentioned "there's more stripped down punk kind of sounds" and "we have been relying a lot more on the keyboards and there's a lot more electronic stuff in there, but I think kids will be surprised that there are some songs that sound a lot like old school Aquabats". [5]

Musically, Hi-Five Soup! continues in the guitar and keyboard-driven rock and new wave sounds that The Aquabats established on their previous album Charge!! , though incorporates slightly stronger elements of synthpop and electronica. The album also includes touches of hip-hop, present on songs such as "Hey Homies!", "Luck Dragon Lady!" and "Radio Down!", the latter featuring an appearance from Biz Markie, as well as a ska song, "In My Dreams!".

Lyrically, the album makes no deviation from The Aquabats' trademark style of comedic comic book-influenced narrative songs (most notably on "The Shark Fighter!") and pop culture homages (such as on "Luck Dragon Lady!", which is based on the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story and directly quotes a line from "Girl U Want" by Devo), while also retaining some of the geek-centric social satire present on Charge!!, as heard in "Pink Pants!" and "Just Can't Lose!".

Hi-Five Soup! is the first Aquabats studio album to feature guitarist Ian Fowles (Eagle "Bones" Falconhawk), who joined the band in 2006. Thus, it was also the first not to feature Falconhawk's predecessor Corey Pollock (Chainsaw, the Prince of Karate) as an official member, though Pollock did contribute guitar tracks to the album under the credit of an additional musician.

Production history

In March 2010, after almost five years of minimal recording activity since the release of Charge!! , The Aquabats announced plans on their website to hopefully release a new studio album by the end of the year. [6] The project went entirely unmentioned until October, when the band confirmed that an album had in fact been independently recorded with producer Cameron Webb and was set for release on November 9, 2010. However, The Aquabats secured a last-minute distribution deal with Fearless Records, who chose to push the release date to January 2011 to allow proper promotion and marketing, instead releasing the EP Radio Down! on November 9, containing the album's first single. [5] [7]

In mid-December, The Aquabats revealed the album's title and artwork, releasing its second single, "The Shark Fighter!", for digital download shortly thereafter. [3] [8] In promotion of the album, The Aquabats embarked on a tour supporting Reel Big Fish, playing 21 shows across the Midwest and east coast regions of the United States. In December 2011, the band underwent a five-show tour of Australia, their first visit to the continent.

Two months after Hi-Five Soup!'s release, it was announced that The Aquabats' independently filmed television pilot, The Aquabats! Super Show! , had been picked up as a series by United States cable channel The Hub. Spending most of 2011 in production, there was no further touring behind the album, nor was a music video produced. However, several songs from Hi-Five Soup! have appeared in the series, most prominently in the first-season episode "EagleClaw!", which included a live performance of "The Legend Is True!" filmed at a concert at The Glass House club in Pomona, California on November 5, 2011, and the second-season episode "The Shark Fighter!", which was based on the song of the same name and features both the original song and an orchestral arrangement.

Reception

Upon its release, Hi-Five Soup! became the highest-charting Aquabats album since 1997's The Fury of The Aquabats! , peaking at 181 on the Billboard 200, as well as reaching 5 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers, the band's highest placement on the chart until 2019, when The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One debuted at number one. [9] [10]

Critical reception to Hi-Five Soup! was mostly positive, though many reviewers had slightly mixed feelings towards what they perceived was a prominent influence from Yo Gabba Gabba!, the popular children's television series Aquabats singer Christian Jacobs created and composed for, due to the album's light-hearted lyrical content and accessible synthpop and electronica elements. Punknews.org gave the album a 3.5 out of 5 star rating, feeling ambivalent towards the album's "kid-friendly" slant but stating "there’s still enough of the Aquabats’ exciting musical arrangements mixed with a newfound obsession with electronica alongside their zany cartoonish storytelling to make the album enjoyable for listeners of any age". [11] Alternative Press echoed similar sentiments in another 3.5/5 rating, writing "While the Aquabats have never been known for mature songwriting, Hi-Five Soup! walks a thin line between fun pop-punk and a full-on children’s record", summarizing "The album is by no means a masterpiece, but the addition of a few of its most promising tunes to the Aquabats' live show will make the experience that much more entertaining for the parents and kids in the audience". [1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by The Aquabats

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Shark Fighter!"I. Fowles, C. Jacobs, C. Larson2:56
2."B.F.F.!"R. Falomir, C. Jacobs, C. Larson3:20
3."The Legend Is True!"J. Briggs, R. Falomir, I. Fowles, C. Jacobs, C. Larson3:21
4."Radio Down!" (Featuring Biz Markie)R. Falomir, C. Jacobs3:31
5."Poppin' A Wheelie!" 2:15
6."Hey Homies!"R. Falomir, C. Jacobs3:04
7."In My Dreams!"C. Larson3:04
8."Just Can't Lose!"C. Jacobs, C. Larson3:39
9."All My Money!"J. Briggs, R. Falomir, I. Fowles, C. Jacobs2:48
10."Pink Pants!" (Featuring Strong Bad)J. Briggs, I. Fowles, C. Jacobs, C. Larson2:31
11."Food Fight on the Moon!"A. Deibert, C. Jacobs, C.Larson2:39
12."Luck Dragon Lady!"R. Falomir, I. Walton, C. Jacobs, C. Larson3:46
Total length:34:54

Personnel

The Aquabats [12]
Additional musicians

Billboard charts

YearChartPeak position
2011 Billboard 200 181
2011 Heatseekers 5
2011 Independent Albums 24
2011Rock albums45
2011Kids albums7

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Aquabats</span> American rock band

The Aquabats are an American rock band formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1994. Throughout many fluctuations in the group's line-up, singer the MC Bat Commander and bassist Crash McLarson have remained the band's two constant fixtures. Since 2006, the Aquabats' members also include keyboardist Jimmy the Robot, drummer Ricky Fitness and guitarist Eaglebones Falconhawk.

<i>Yo! Check Out This Ride! EP</i> 2004 EP by The Aquabats

Yo! Check Out This Ride! EP is an EP by American band the Aquabats, independently recorded and released by the band themselves in 2004.

<i>The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!</i> 1999 studio album by The Aquabats

The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death! is the third studio album from American band The Aquabats, released on October 26, 1999, on Goldenvoice Records.

<i>Charge!!</i> 2005 studio album by The Aquabats

Charge!! is the fourth studio album by American comedy rock band The Aquabats, released on June 7, 2005 by Nitro Records.

<i>The Fury of The Aquabats!</i> 1997 studio album by The Aquabats

The Fury of the Aquabats! is the second studio album by American rock band the Aquabats, released on October 28, 1997, by Goldenvoice Records and Time Bomb Recordings.

<i>Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2</i> 2000 compilation album by The Aquabats

Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2 is a compilation album by American band The Aquabats, released on November 7, 2000 by Fearless Records. The album is a collection of studio outtakes, b-sides and miscellaneous unreleased tracks recorded during the production of the band's 1999 studio album, The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Jacobs</span> Musical artist

Christian Richards Jacobs is an American musician, television producer, and actor. He is perhaps most recognized as the co-creator of the award-winning Nick Jr. series Yo Gabba Gabba!, on which he additionally serves as a writer, director, composer, and voice actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supernova (American band)</span> American pop punk band

Supernova is an American punk rock band, founded in Costa Mesa, California in 1989. The band has released three full-length albums, numerous singles and EPs and were part of the original 1995 Vans Warped Tour line-up. They are perhaps best known by wider audiences for their song "Chewbacca", which was featured on the soundtrack to Kevin Smith's 1994 independent film Clerks. They are also known for the song "Up & Down", which was performed in 2007 on the Nick Jr. children's show Yo Gabba Gabba!

<i>Serious Awesomeness!</i> 2003 video by The Aquabats

Serious Awesomeness! is a two-disc live DVD by American band The Aquabats, released on Fearless Records on November 18, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Fowles</span> American musician, author, and actor

Ian Fowles is an American musician, author, and actor, best known as the current guitarist for the Orange County rock band The Aquabats, in which he performs under the stage name and persona of EagleBones Falconhawk. Prior to joining The Aquabats, Fowles was also one of the founding members of the hardcore punk band Death by Stereo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Larson</span> American musician (born 1965)

Chad Albert Larson is an American musician, best known as the co-founder and bass guitarist for the Orange County rock band The Aquabats, in which he performs under the stage name and persona of Crash McLarson. From 2012 to 2014, Larson also played Crash McLarson on The Hub original series The Aquabats! Super Show! and on the series' 2019 YouTube-based revival The Aquabats! RadVentures!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Falomir</span> American drummer

Richard Falomir is an American musician and composer, perhaps best recognized as the current drummer for the Orange County rock band The Aquabats, in which he performs under the stage name and persona of Ricky Fitness.

Courtney Adam "Corey" Pollock is an American musician, best known as a member of the Orange County band The Aquabats, in which he played guitar under the stage name of Chainsaw, the Prince of Karate from 1995 to 2006.

<i>The Aquabats! Super Show!</i> American television series

The Aquabats! Super Show! is an American action-comedy musical television series which aired from March 3, 2012 to January 8, 2014 on The Hub Network, later resuming as an independent YouTube series from September 2019 to July 2021. The series was created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, both the creators of the Nick Jr. Channel series Yo Gabba Gabba!, and Jason deVilliers.

<i>Radio Down!</i> 2010 EP by The Aquabats

Radio Down! is an EP single by American band The Aquabats, released on November 9, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Aquabats discography</span>

The discography of The Aquabats, an Orange County, California-based rock band, consists of six studio albums, one compilation album, one soundtrack album, two EPs, one live album, one video album and three music videos, among other recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shark Fighter!</span> 2010 single by The Aquabats

"The Shark Fighter!" is a song by American band The Aquabats from their fifth studio album Hi-Five Soup!, released on Fearless Records in 2011. The song was issued as a single in December 2010, the second single released from Hi-Five Soup! following "Radio Down!" in November 2010.

"Pool Party!" is a song by American band The Aquabats which appears on their 2000 album Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2, which itself was a compilation of B-sides and unreleased tracks from the recording sessions for the band's 1999 studio album The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burger Rain</span> 2017 single by The Aquabats

"Burger Rain" is a song by American band The Aquabats, released as a 7" single in July 2017.

<i>Kooky Spooky...In Stereo</i> 2020 studio album by The Aquabats

Kooky Spooky...In Stereo is the sixth studio album and the ninth album overall by American band The Aquabats, released on August 21, 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "Reviews – The Aquabats – Hi-Five Soup!". Alternative Press . January 18, 2011.
  2. "Hi-Five Soup! – The Aquabats". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  3. 1 2 "The Aquabats detail Hi-Five Soup". Punknews.org. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  4. Ferguson, Brandon (December 27, 2010). "An Interview with Aquabats Singer The MC Bat Commander". OC Weekly . Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Evans, Tyler (October 11, 2010). "The Aquabats: Interview with The MC Bat Commander". Archived from the original on December 27, 2010.
  6. The Aquabats (March 15, 2010). "The Aquabats! News Update". www.theaquabats.com.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  7. The Aquabats (October 28, 2010). "The Aquabats! News Update". www.theaquabats.com.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. "Media: The Aquabats!: "Shark Fighter"". Punknews.org. December 14, 2010.
  9. "Hi-Five Soup! – The Aquabats > Charts & Awards". allmusic.com.
  10. "The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One Chart History – Top Heatseekers". Billboard.
  11. "The Aquabats – Hi-Five Soup! review". Punknews.org. January 25, 2011.
  12. "ACE Repository". ASCAP. Retrieved 1 February 2023.