Five for Fighting - Two Lights
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Free Music Notes for Two Lights
Free Music Review: great CD
Hit: 4 Stars
although the CD is a bit on the short side (only 10 songs) all songs are of excellent quality if you are a five for fighting fan. one of their best CDs in my opinion.Free Music Review: Five for fighting
Hit: 4 Stars
Never was a fan until I head this CD. Excellent vocals and many catchy songs. I will buy another from them to see if they are all as captivating as this one.Free Music Review: Solid Album; A Treat to listen to, 3.5 stars
Hit: 3 Stars
Having never heard any of Five For Fighting's work, I decided I'd listen to TWO LIGHTS when it was available to preview before purchasing. I wasn't disappointed and it was refreshing hearing John Ondrasik and his band perform. Power pop is a neglected sub-genre/style these days. It is also very much associated with "Piano power" or "Piano Pop", which is exactly what is exhibited on this solid album by FFF.
The production and the orchestration on this album is one of many highlights. There is often the employment of strings alongside driving guitars, tender falsetto by Ondrasik, and ostinato piano lines. The mix is exceptional and for the most part you couldn't ask for a better mix. Occasionally on a few numbers, the guitars tend to destroy the mix being a bit overassertive within the overall production where volume is concerned. Overall, production is one of the drawing factors.
Other factors making TWO LIGHTS the solid album that it is is the songwriting and Ondrasik's immaculate vocals. True "songwriting" is something that some commercial/mainstream music lacks. Sure "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas had to be penned or "Toxic" by Britney Spears had to be scored, but they aren't a true singer-songwriters song. Its singer-songwriters like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan, or even more recent crossover-Brit success Corinne Bailey Rae that are true singer-songwriters. Ondrasik joins that group with refined lyrics that emote the true essence of what true songwriting is. Even on the most uninspired tracks or the least serious tracks, the lyrics do stand out. Aiding the expression of the captivating lyrics is the exceptional vocals by Ondrasik, which emote the emotions Ondrasik himself sought to acheive when he composed his poignant words. Without his impassioned vocals, something ultimatly would've been missing from TWO LIGHTS. It is production, songwriting, and the impassioned vocals of Ondrasik that make TWO LIGHTS a success. That isn't to say that TWO LIGHTS doesn't have its flaws, because it does.
Along with the exception vocals along Ondrasik, one can't help but to filled annoyed after listening to the whole album. Ondrasik is a great, emotional vocalist, but he does grate on you a bit after he has been oh so tender and sang for too long in his falsetto register. Also, while a lot of the material is inspired, there are a couple of misses track wise on TWO LIGHTS. The biggest flop is the stupid, horribly catchy "Policeman's X-Mas Party" which changes the mood of the album from contemplative and somber to just plain rediculous. Sure it is well produced, but this is the only track where Ondrasik's vocal performance is questionable as well as the track itself. There are no tracks as bad as "Policeman's X-Mas Party", but there are other average tracks that don't standout as much such as "California Justice", "65 Mustang" (which comes over as somewhat unrelated to what the album is trying to emote overall), and "Road To Heaven", which to its credit is OK, but just not great. "Two Lights" isn't per say a hit, but it is better than the preceeded listed tracks. The true standouts are the incredible "Freedom Never Cries" which is simply put one of the most beautiful, touching songs that I've heard this year, period. "World" is good, but not as good as "Freedom", though most definitely a hit. First single "The Riddle" is a great track and Ondrasik sounds a good as ever. "I Just Love You" is another touching track that makes you want to cry about true impassioned love. Track 10, closing track "Johnny America" is a great way to end an overall polished album, only spoiled by such stupidity as "Policeman's X-Mas Party."
Overall, TWO LIGHTS is by no means a perfect album, but it does have a lot going for it. It is also slightly better than average, though if you explore other artists/albums in the power pop arena (ala Ben Folds, SONGS FOR SILVERMAN or other work), you will see there are better, more polished albums that stand on their own a little better. I can't help but to say that TWO LIGHTS impressed me in several ways. 3.5 stars.
Free Music Review: Not on Par
Hit: 3 Stars
I was very excited to pop this album into my CD player after liking both America Town and The Battle for Everything. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
America Town bubbles over with bittersweet songs with an often bizarre twist ("The children gave their blessing though the service weren't half-done / each of them sued the other one" in The Last Great American and "Put away your dinner and have a snack /Tie your little brother up in a sack now" in Love Song.) Though somewhat disturbing and darkly funny, this is the sound that I came to love Ondrasik for.
The Battle for Everything did not disappoint me here either. Though softening with songs like NYC Weather Report and 100 Years, there were still some tracks that, under the dark humor, lie sardonic truths. Examples of these songs would be "The Devil and the Wishing Well" and "Disneyland".
But now enter Two Lights. Gone are the days of America Town's witty, pointed lyrics. Replacing them are cliche piano ballads, slightly stale chords, and a myriad of overused ideas.
The CD opens with "Freedom Never Cries", which is heavy on repetition. The idea behind the song is not bad ("Took a flag to a pawn shop for a broken guitar") but the message just doesn't make it.
"World" too has a decent vision behind it
("What kind of world do you want?
Think Anything
Let's start at the start
Build a masterpiece
Be careful what you wish for
History starts now.")
Like "Freedom Never Cries" it is a soft piano ballad, and as such the magnitude of the opportunity of changing the world doesn't sit as heavy as he intended it.
"California Justice" is more along the lines of what Five for Fighting hooked me with. A story (based on true experiences) about a surfer who kills a man and gets away with it, its lyrics give the usual thrust in the political and social ribs that I have come to love. "Killed a man, I don't know what the fuss is, I'm just looking for some California justice."
And then we come to "The Riddle". Another piano ballad, albeit crafted better than the previous two. It follows the tried and true formula of reflection on life, simple truths, and stirring piano overtones.
"Two Lights" is not bad either, with pensive and sad lyrics.
"65 Mustang" is a fun song. It really has no purpose, but it's upbeat and reminds us of the carefree days of driving in a convertable. "She knows my secrets well, but her backseat won't never tell."
"I Just Love You" is another piano ballad. As its name implies, it's sappy almost to the point of cliche. The only moving part of the song is where John reveals that it's not his wife with whom he's talking, but his daughter.
"Policeman's X-Mas Party" is twisted and upbeat, but where "Love Song" in America Town had a prominent social jab at the failing families of today, no such thing exists here.
I had hope for "Johnny America" when I saw the title. Obviously a personification of the country, I thought it would be chock-full of political ironies and advice. Instead it offers a patriotic, hopeful look at our young nation.
"There goes Johnny America
Riding Hard up Mission Hill
Some think he'll make it to the top today
Some say he never will
Though he's just a child at heart
He's old enough to fall
Nobody in 100 years
Can touch him faults and all..."
All in all, if you liked the first two albums, prepare to be let down. Though producing several "not bad" songs, it would be better to hope and wait the next album is a little better than the last.
Free Music Review: A Few Choice Cuts, But Nothing Spectacular...
Hit: 3 Stars
In 2001 John Ondrasik, better known as Five For Fighting, hit creative paydirt with the tremendous success of his single "Superman (It's Not Easy)," which became a bona fide 9/11 anthem. He followed that up splendidly with "100 Years" from his impressive 2004 album "The Battle For Everything." A sappy pop rock ditty tailor-made for many a senior prom slideshow presentation, it remains an Adult Contemporary radio staple. On the heels of this considerable success, Ondrasik has hit a creative plateau with his new record, "Two Lights."
To say there is a problem with the album is incorrect. However, nothing immediately sticks out as unique, particularly moving, or more than mildly catchy. "The Riddle" is a fine choice for lead single and has the same spare singer/songwriter mentality and melancholy undertones and as his aforementioned smash singles. Lyrics pour left and right in a stream-of-conscious fashion and pearls of wisdom abound, but don't expect this single to reach half the prominence of his previous hits.
Ondrasik also ruminates about the ambiguity of patriotism in "Freedom Never Cries," where he takes a flag to a pawn shop, while also articulating pure romance in the best and simplest way with "I Just Love You." The title track also has a standout chorus and poignant lyrics that manage to be personal and universal all at once.
"Tear out my heart/Feed it to lions/For this one wish I beg you this tonight/Show me no mercy/But spare me my pride/I'm going for a drive/And if you find out he's coming home/When I come around the corner/I'll know that it's alright/Just leave me two lights."
Only a handful of tracks go beyond piano/vocal simplicity, but those that do are worthy of note. For example, "65 Mustang" has questionable lyrics but has downright rousing instrumentation and confident vocal delivery, while "Policeman's Xmas Party" is unmistakably bizarre with both its eyebrow-raising subject matter and its spaced-out arrangement. Also, "California Justice" takes a stab at Springsteen's storytelling style and basically succeeds, along with a pretty sharp hook and an interesting tale to boot.
Last but not least, "Road to Heaven," despite meandering lyrics, is a winner due to its central message, passionate performance, opening music box notes and stark arrangement which fits it like a glove, while "Johnny America," a foot-tapping piece of southern rock, is a fun way to close the album.
Overall, there are many compliments one can bestow on "Two Lights." However, there is nothing here that hasn't been heard before from many a singer/songwriter in terms of subject matter, sonic appeal, and overall holistic outcome. While there are many admirable tracks on the album, in the end the collection works better as warm background music to do paperwork to. Still, while "The Battle For Everything" definitely was a better overall record, one must concede Ondrasik has stuck to the same creative formula that worked for him in the past, which may be sufficient to satisfy some listeners.