Hardcore Superstar

Posted by Vicki on 14.09.03

The gap left by the break-up of Buckcherry has damaged the delicate balance in my music, with gloom-mongers producing albums like clockwork it was imminent that the happier glam aspects were going to be drowned out. As such I was overjoyed to see that Hardcore Superstar had a new album out. I only found out about the albums existence by chance, normally Music for Nations are very good at supporting their artists but it appears that all Hardcore Superstar's advertising budget was spent on promoting the last album.

On first glance the cover of 'No Regrets' threw me slightly, gone were the bare-chested glam monsters that I recalled from the last two albums. Instead there was a Davey Havok look-a-like, a reject from the Murderdolls, possibly the last sighting of the Manic Street Preachers' Richey and a guy who appeared to have stolen Gravity Kills' dodgy hat collection.

Having decided that I wanted the album there was the minor problem of actually finding somewhere that stocked it. The staff in HMV were pleasant if dim:
    Me: "I want the new Hardcore Superstar album, where would I find it?"
    Them: "You mean Harmar Superstar"
    Me: "Hell no"
    Them: "Are you sure? I don't think the other band exists"
    Me: "Erm.. Yeah, it came out today; you have it on the computer screen in front of you."
    Them: "Oh, well stay here and I will get it for you. No, don't move! Stay there!"

I stayed put for 5 minutes and then got bored of watching 5 people run around after me so went wandering and found it immediately. It cost exactly what I had predicted which was both nice and depressing, apparently the record companies are too greedy to realise that high prices mean I don't usually buy much.

The first track, 'Wall of Complaint', while reminiscent of the previous two albums reminded me of the last Backyard Babies album, the lyrics and self-reliant attitude made a refreshing change to the corporate-worshipping trash played on the radio. Since track 2 is the title track it can be assumed that 'No Regrets' sums up the bands attitude at this time, the twist being that at the end of 'no regrets' Jocke admits he does "have some regrets." Thankfully these regrets have not ruined Hardcore Superstar's feel good glam rock instincts.

'Breakout' was exactly the sort of song that ensured I adore Hardcore Superstar, it was the kind of song that makes me sing along and dance around the room. By this point anyone unfamiliar with Hardcore Superstar might have gathered that they like to dance, it has been their constant reference point across all three albums and makes them one of the more unique and enjoyable bands ever formed.

The very balanced view taken by this album is possibly best portrayed by 'Soul of Sweetness.' The song sounds happy and contentedly in love but there is a darker edge underneath, "a soul of sweetness still wants to love you, but tomorrow I'll be gone." Like several tracks on this album there is a disconcerting, if vague, resemblance to the 'Grease' soundtrack. Thankfully this does not taint the album in the slightest.

As I understand it 'Honey Tongue' is to be the first single and it is a song made for dancing to. Jocke manages a disturbing convincing high-pitched voice for the female lines. And once again dancing is seen to solve everything in a relationship. It is a cliché to say an album sounds as if the band has matured but it is true, as demonstrated by 'Still I'm Glad.' This song touched a nerve for me since at this time I do feel as if I have grown older without realising, "I'm glad, for the youth I had, way more sensible, say no more." Jocke, Martin, Adde and Silver demonstrate that even if you have to grow old it does not mean you have to abandon what is fun and I am grateful for that. 'Bring Me Back' is a song to a former love that "I wanna dance, I wanna sing my song, but not with you. My new love's... not like you." The kind of glam I grew up loving. Another happy sounding song with discontent lyrics is 'Pathetic Way of Life', it a way it almost sounds like a punk song but played with infinitely more flair. In the same way 'It's so true' is sung with Jocke's recognisable happy-go-lucky voice whilst the lyrics hint at discontent.

One of the songs that reminded me so much of 'Grease' that first time I could barely listen for giggles was 'Why Can't You Love Me Like Before.' Listen to it repeatedly and it is a good song despite the repeated references to "let me be your man." It would be perfectly at home accompanied by a video of the boys playing with car parts and flexing muscles.

I'm not going to try to interpret the band's life from their songs but I know how they make me feel. Since I bought the album I have been walking around with a permanent smile on my face and inadvertently breaking into dance every few steps. The final three tracks are excellent, 'The Last Great Day' is reminiscent of Poison and as such is wonderful and conveys more emotion than the slushiest ballad.

'I Can't Change' is the most rock and roll song I have heard in ages, it is also very pretty. 'You know where we all belong' ends the album perfectly, in the same way as Buckcherry ending 'Timebomb' with 'Fall'. Both songs are mellow and about holding on to someone special against the odds. To summarise: buy this album if you like glam or just well-played happy music. If you like nu-metal in the vein of Slipknot then get a good friend to play this album to you 'Clockwork Orange' style until you are cured.