Waikiki (album)

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Waikiki
Waikiki (album).jpg
Studio album by
Fluf
Released1997
Recorded1996
StudioBig Fish Studios
Genre Punk rock
Label Way Cool Music/MCA [1]
Producer Mark Trombino
Fluf chronology
The Classic Years
(1995)		Waikiki
(1997)		Road Rage
(1998)

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]

Contents

Production

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Calgary Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [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

No.TitleLength
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

  1. ↑ "Top 75". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 46. June 1997. p. 46.
  2. ↑ "Fluf Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ "Noise Pop '97 Bands on a Saturday Afternoon". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ Varga, George (December 18, 1996). "Fluf signs new deal". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E6.
  5. ↑ "Music". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. February 28, 1997. p. 12.
  6. 1 2 3 Wallace, Brian (March 14, 1997). "'Waikiki' Fluf". Preview. North County Times. p. 24.
  7. 1 2 Niesel, Jeff (March 13, 1997). "Fluf Way Cool Music/MCA". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 27.
  8. 1 2 "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle.
  9. ↑ Brown, Mark (March 23, 1997). "The band may be fluf, but don't expect a lightweight". Orange County Register. p. F25.
  10. ↑ Bartenhagen, Joe (April 7, 1997). "Fluf's 'Waikiki': 'an audio brushfire'". The Signpost. p. 6.
  11. 1 2 3 Boehm, Mike (May 27, 1997). "Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  12. 1 2 "Waikiki". AllMusic.
  13. 1 2 Muretich, James (April 20, 1997). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F2.
  14. 1 2 Mayhew, Malcolm (March 28, 1997). "Fluf, Waikiki, Way Cool Music/MCA". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 13.
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