The album starts off incredibly promising with the track, “Armageddon Days,” which has an almost grungy pop-punk sound, with a Daisyhead or Citizen type feel. The lyrics are catchy, and passion-filled with lead singer Stacy Jones belting out lines such as, “Save yourself if you can/ Exhausted in your faith/ There was no us, there's never been/ Fear just helped us medicate” and to be honest, I could see this song on a label like No Sleep Records. But sadly, the first track was the highest point on this borderline pathetic album, and it's a shame because it actually invoked feelings of angst and heartbreak many songs can't achieve these days.

 

Now Blood and Lemonade isn't without its stronger points, a few songs start off with a great riff, but as soon as the drums and vocals come in, it becomes bland, like hospital food bland. Two songs that really demonstrate that are “Wake Up,” and “Allison,” during both songs I thought to myself, ‘Oh here's where the album picks up!’ but was disappointed both times when they just became carbon copies of each other. Actually, most songs on this album sound roughly the same. Take a listen to “Portland” and “Amnesia” and tell me they don't sound eerily similar.

 

Another problem I had with this album was lack of lyrical and musical ability. It sounds like Blood and Lemonade was a rushed write, with none of the songs really having depth, or even just having a clean sound. Also, I believe most great songs should be coherent, and get their message across, and the songs on this record just can't quite do that. The content in the songs is unrelatable and when you listen to the album, you can't really determine if American Hi-Fi is trying to instill feelings of happiness, sadness, anger, or heartbreak. There's actually a line in “Coma” that I chuckled at when I heard it, “I'm falling asleep at the wheel/ This shit's about to get real”, when I’m sure the vocalist was trying to be 100 percent serious.

 

To kids growing up in the 90's and 00's, maybe this album is a welcome remembrance and nostalgic piece that reminds them of their childhood, but I don't think I can relate to the sound and subject matter. Blood and Lemonade is an album that loses its way after its first song, and I don't think American Hi-Fi can come back from this. But hey, if Bowling for Soup taking on Foo Fighters is the sound for you, be my guest.