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Five Iron Frenzy I'd consider myself a Five Iron Frenzy fan from the beginning. The night I bought their debut CD I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. listening to the album and reading the lyrics. I've attended a dozen Five Iron concerts, and I've even interviewed members of the band more times than I can remember. Yet I'm not sure what to think of Electric Boogaloo, their newest album ever. For some it won't be punk enough, or ska enough, or cool enough. It's typical Five Iron Frenzy in lyrics, passion, and nuttiness. But in music, it's something different. Electric Boogaloo is planted firmly in rock and punk circles. Their signature horns are still there, but say good bye to the bouncing off-beats of ska. "I would say we were never a ska band," said Reese Roper, lead singer. Okay, so they were a third wave ska band, the happy mix of punk and revved up Jamaican ska that was popular in 1996. Roper went on to explain that they've always seen their music as an eclectic mixture of styles: punk, ska, rock. But with Electric Boogaloo they're experimenting with a different mix. It's definitely a darker and deeper Five Iron Frenzy. You might even say mature. The lyrics are tried and true Five Iron, with plenty of goof ball songs like 'Pre-Ex-Girlfriend' and 'You Can't Handle This,' and a classic Five Iron anthem in 'Farsighted.' The writing is typically impressive, honest and blunt. Their passion for some of the fringe issues of typical Christianity, like the mistreatment of Native Americans and rampant commercialism and materialism, are loud and clear on this album. Electric Boogaloo sounds very much like the Five Iron Frenzy I know and love, but it doesn't have the magic I remember. A handful of tracks stick out as gems like 'Pre-Ex-Girlfriend' and 'Farsighted,' but the majority of the album just doesn't grab me like a Five Iron album should. It's a good album and will probably serve to broaden their fan base, but it won't find a permanent place in my CD player. You have no idea how it pains me to say that, but I have to be honest with the band that taught me honesty. In short, it's a different Five Iron Frenzy. Is it a better Five Iron Frenzy? I don't think so, but find out for yourself because, frankly, I hope I'm wrong. (Kevin H.) |
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