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Five Iron Frenzy "Revolting – verb 1) To renounce allegiance to, the act of revolution. 2) To be extremely offensive or disgusting" (from the liner notes). Are you prepared for a Five Iron Frenzy concert in your living room? No matter how ready you think you are, there's just no way you can be fully prepared. Five Iron Frenzy attempts to cram their wildly energetic live show into their fourth release, Proof That the Youth Are Revolting. The live CD was recorded over eleven festival shows this past summer and the best performances were chosen for the CD. If you've never experienced Five Iron Frenzy before, you're in for quite a shock. If you've seen Five Iron live before, this will stir up some of your fondest concert-going memories. The CD starts with Reese Roper and his very best Stryper (see: big-hair 80's Christian metal) impersonation followed by a rousing rendition of 'Final Countdown.' At this point you're not sure if the team is about to take the field or if you're in fact listening to a Five Iron concert. 'Final Countdown' shifts gears into 'One Girl Army,' and rest assured, this is a Five Iron Frenzy concert. So hold on tight. The live CD succeeds in capturing not only Five Iron's onstage wackiness--and there's plenty of that--it also captures their energy and intensity. The sound quality is impressive for a live CD--with an honest touch: the audience cheers are never cranked up at opportune times. The recording features all the Five Iron favorites, including 'A Flowery Song,' 'Handbook For the Sellout,' 'Dandelions,' 'Blue Comb 78,' 'Every New Day,' as well as the live version of 'Anthem' with the crowd echoing the added line, "Who holds your freedom? / Who holds your liberty?" Proof That the Youth Are Revolting also features a few new songs, including one written in response to the Columbine shootings and a cover of the Tom Jones classic, 'It's Not Unusual.' Five Iron Frenzy constantly sways between the serious and the ridiculous. The album culminates with 'Every New Day' and Roper's passionate vocals rising to a scream as the momentum of the song builds. The song finally finishes and Roper's lone voice returns with a few lines of a worship song before the album slowly fades out--a common occurrence at most of the band's live shows. If you're at all a fan of Five Iron Frenzy, this is a must have CD. If you're not quite as familiar with the band, be prepared for the ridiculous--you're supposed to laugh. The CD even comes complete with a hidden track of outtakes, and the liner notes unfold for a claymation poster from animator Douglas Ten Napel (who did the artwork on the band's last two projects). Proof That the Youth Are Revolting is as close as you can come to a live Five Iron Frenzy show minus the sweat, the wall to wall kids, and Roper in costume. (Kevin H.) |
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