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For those who don't know, Five For Fighting consists of only one person: an accomplished opera singer and instrumentalist named John Ondrasik. His 1997 album A Message For Albert didn't do much, but that didn't stop him from creating a generous sophomore effort.
"Superman" took a while to really get to the masses, but it opened everyone's eyes to good music. Smooth melodies like this can also be found in tracks like the touching "Jainy", as well as the memorial for everyman, "The Last Great American". Also found on this album are catchy tunes like "Out Of Love", "Easy Tonight", and the best track, "Something About You".
Three songs on this album could stand to be slightly improved. "Michael Jordan" is more weird than creative, the lyrics and music to "Love Song" doesn't make it sound like a love song at all, and the hidden track "Do You Mind" perhaps should have stayed hidden.
This album is neither too long nor too short (45 minutes), and for the most part, it'll give you a taste of interesting, feelgood music.
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I bought this becuase I saw the singer doing a live concert on Comcast Live. The song I heard was "Love Song," which I could NOT get out of my head for hours. I sampled other songs, and found myself humming many songs right afterwards.
If you like catchy pop tunes (my favs are Barenaked Ladies, Crowded House, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, Ben Folds) and interesting vocal stylings--this guy has an interesting use of falsetto--get it; you'll like it!
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In America Town, Five for FIghting produces a piano based record with beautiful (and opportune) guitar accoompainments, that are complimented by a soft-sad voice in this second release which could easily be Satchel's pop-effort-third album, or a melodic contemporary release by Billy Joel's younger 30ísh alter ego.
Most tunes are composed un a melancholic manner where remembrances and memories play an important role. The happy-sad combination tends to surprise in the first half of the record.
"superman" and "america town" deal with issues of nationality and american ideals as well as the humanizatiooon of a great popular american icon.
Then when you least expect it comes "Michael Jordan," a song where the subject is refered to as "god," and where the character would give anything to be like "him."
"Boat Parade" and "the last great american" continue with the records melodramatic tone, using the help of a very filling string sectioon, that mellow the distortioon of the fuzzed guitars and tend to reminensce the likes of an acoustic performance.
John Ondrasik's voice resembles a warm and tender version of Shawn Smith's, Brad's lead singer. His high toned vocals give the music that extra punch that an acoustic piano lacks, and that the percussion does not contribute to the album.
America Town has great production, and features sad songs with a twist in a soft-rock effort that we have heard before in the likes of Ben Folds FIve. Even the album does not come off as innovative, the music is of its own class and needs a well deserved applause for its pureness and somplicity.
Hopefully this could be the album that turns more of todays youth to less comercial actas and finally lead the back into the essence of rock music.
I salute this album... and classify it as a "must hear it!"
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Comparisons to Dave Matthews Band abound and are also unjustified. FFF makes a strong case for originality with this multi-faceted release. Soaring vocals and power chords accompany sections of acoustic quiet and introspection. The single 'Superman' is OK, but many of the others shine brighter, noteably the first two tracks, 'Jainy', 'Out of Love', and 'The Last Great American', the latter being a beautiful acoustic number. One of the better discs I've heard in the last year or two. I'm looking forward to more from them. Recommended.
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After searching for a CD to suit my taste in American Rock music, I was overjoyed when I eventually found Five For Fighting's America Town. With a voice similar to that of Dave Matthews (D.M.Band), Matthew Good(M.G.Band)and Jason Wade(Lifehouse), John Ondrasik has you hooked from the moment he opens his mouth on Easy Tonight.
However it's not just Ondrasik's vocal ability that puts this album on a different level. Ondrasik's lyrics are superbly written, making this an album that you would be stupid not to haave in your collection.
If you thought that bands like Matthew Good, Nine Days, Fade to Shade, Ryan Adams, Far Too Jones etc had something special, Five For Fighting have managed to combine a little bit of all of them to make this truely excellent sound!
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