My Collection #3 - A - Hi-Fi Serious

A – Suffolk alt-rockers (1993–2005, 2008–present), feat; Jason Perry (voc), Adam Perry (drms), Giles Perry (kybd,voc), Mark Chapman (gtr), Daniel P. Carter (bass,voc). 

The band formed in the coastal town of Lowestoft, Suffolk, where the Perry brothers and Chapman originally started out in a progressive rock outfit called Grand Designs before rebranding as A. They became the town's most famous musical export of the era, eventually trading the Suffolk coast for global tours and Top 10 success with Hi-Fi Serious. Despite their move to the big time, they’ve often been associated with the local East Anglian scene that later produced bands like The Darkness.

They exploded into the mainstream with their third album Hi-Fi Serious (released 4th April 2002), which shifted away from their quirkier pop-punk roots toward a polished, heavy alt-rock sound. It reached No.18 in the album charts.

The record spawned their massive Top 10 hit "Nothing" and the follow-up anthem "Starbucks," earning them a Kerrang! Award for Best British Band and a headline slot at Brixton Academy.

Not sure how I ended up with a copy of this as it's not really my thing; almost bordering and crossing over to that whiny stuff that causes acid reflux within me. Plus, A is an absolutely rubbish name for a band, possibly the worst in the history of shit band names. That said, the album is OK, even if it's not really my bag.

After the peak of Hi-Fi Serious, the band struggled to maintain momentum when their label, London Records, was caught up in a corporate buyout, shelving their 2005 follow-up Teen Dance Ordinance for a year. The delay killed their commercial buzz, and they were dropped by Warner Music shortly after its release, leading to a hiatus due to financial strain. During the break, Jason Perry became a successful producer (McFly, Don Broco), and Daniel P. Carter became the face of BBC Radio 1's Rock Show. They reunited in 2008 and have since remained a "sporadic" live act, playing festivals like Download, and are currently slated to release their first new studio album in over 20 years in 2026.