IfIHadAHiFi is a

noise rock Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise music, noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimal music, minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, a ...

band from

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

. The group originally formed in Central Wisconsin in 2000, following the breakup of the band The Pop Machine. Following the style of the band's name, each member took a

palindrome A palindrome (Help:IPA/English, /ˈpæl.ɪn.droʊm/) is a word, palindromic number, number, phrase, or other sequence of symbols that reads the same backwards as forwards, such as ''madam'' or ''racecar'', the date "Twosday, 02/02/2020" and th ...

as a

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: DrAwkward (drums), MrAlarm (bass, synthesizer, guitar) and YaleDelay (guitar). All three founding members share vocals. Shortly after forming, they expanded to a quartet with the addition of their first fourth member NoiseLesion (synthesizer, keyboards, sampling). In 2001, shortly after the release of their first album ''Ones and Zeroes'' NoiseLesion was replaced by RenoLoner (synthesizer, guitar) who played on ''No More Music'' (2004) and ''Hot Nuggets'' (2006). In 2007, RenoLoner was replaced by RevEver (synthesizer, guitar, keyboards, bass) playing on ''Fame By Proxy'' (2008), ''Nada Surf'' (2012), ''Songs From Sexy Results: Cedar Block's Dig for the Higgs and How the Quest Was Won'' (2012), and ''We're Never Going Home'' (2019).

History

In 2001, IfIHadAHiFi released ''Ones and Zeroes'', their debut album, on Milwaukee'
No Karma Records
The album was reviewed favorably in ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'', ''Milk Magazine'', ''Splendid'' and ''Slide the Needle''. It was after this album that NoiseLesion left the band and RenoLoner joined the group. Shortly afterwards, the group began regularly touring the US. Their second album, ''No More Music'', was released o
No Karma
in 2004. It received strong reviews from ''Rockpile'', ''Read Magazine'' (where it was an Editor's Pick), ''Devil in the Woods'', ''

Skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Most modern sources define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition, other than being very tall high-rise bui ...

'', and ''Splendid''. Following ''No More Music'', ''

Alternative Press Alternative press may refer to: Individual publications * ''Alternative Press'' (magazine), an American music magazine Alternative journalism * Alternative media ** Alternative media (U.S. political left) ** Alternative media (U.S. political r ...

'' named IfIHadAHiFi as one of their "Bands You Need to Know" in 2005. Crustacean Records released ''Hot Nuggets!'', an IfIHadAHiFi/Modern Machines split CD/LP, in 2006. Each band performed six songs – one new song, one cover of the other band, and four additional covers. In 2007, RenoLoner was replaced by RevEver and the group started work on a planned EP, ''Tragedy Breeds Success'', throughout 2006 and 2007, but these recordings were shelved in favor of a new album. ''Fame By Proxy'' was recorded in late 2007 and released the following year on Latest Flame Records. While writing new material, the band learned that

Nada Surf Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City in 1992, consisting of Matthew Caws (guitar, vocals), Ira Elliot (drums), and Daniel Lorca (bass, backing vocals). After initially operating under the name Helicopter, Caw ...

had named their next album ''If I Had a Hi-Fi''; in return, IfIHadAHiFi announced that their next album, planned for 2011 but finally released in January 2012, would be titled ''Nada Surf''.Nada Surf announce covers record If I Had a Hi-Fi, tour; Milwaukee band IfIHadAHiFi very pleased
accessed January 17, 2011. At Die Kreuzen's 2011 induction into the

Wisconsin Area Music Industry Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) is an American volunteer organization founded in 1980, and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its stated purpose is "to educate and recognize the achievements and accomplishments of individuals in the Wisconsin music ...

(WAMI) Hall of Fame, they cited IfIHadAHiFi as a current band that they thought "should be in consideration for a WAMI." During the massive Madison protests against Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, the band quickly released a single titled "Imperial Walker," with all proceeds from the sale going to benefit Progressives United. IfIHadAHiFi was prominently featured in the Cedar Block show ''Sexy Results: Cedar Block's Dig for the Higgs and How the Quest Was Won'', for which they composed and performed six brand-new songs. The songs were also recorded and released as a digital download, as well as a handful of hand-dubbed cassette tapes. The band released ''We're Never Going Home'' in 2019 and won a WAMI award in response to it as "Punk Artist" of the year by the

. They had accepted an invitation to play the WAMI Awards ceremony,Tweet by @hotshotrobot, 28 February 2020
/ref> but the ceremony was cancelled and the winners were not announced until 18 months later.

Discography

*''Ones and Zeroes'' (No Karma Recordings, June 2001)
*''No More Music'' (Contraphonic / No Karma Recordings, March 2004)
*''Hot Nuggets!'' Split LP with the Modern Machines (Crustacean Records, April 2006)
*''Fame by Proxy'' (Latest Flame Records, September 2008)
*''Nada Surf EP+3'' (Latest Flame Records, January 2012)
*''Songs from Sexy Results: Cedar Block's Dig for the Higgs and How the Quest Was Won'' EP (February 2012)
*''We're Never Going Home'' (May 2019)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ifihadahifi American noise musical groups American noise rock music groups American post-punk music groups Rock music groups from Wisconsin Musical groups established in 2000 2000 establishments in Wisconsin