I was almost ready to dismiss Five Iron Frenzy as a "has been," no longer able to make quality music since Ska has faded from the spotlight. Their last record, All the Hype That Money Can Buy, left me much less than impressed with the band's ability to overcome the death of Ska. However, on Electric Boogaloo, the ex-thrash and now ex-Ska band has reinvented their sound and, to a certain degree, their lyrical exploits. Five Iron Frenzy, always good, is now a higher quality band far surpassing anything they've been in the past.
The sound of Electric Boogaloo best fits into the broad category of alternative rock, with a punk influence mixed into the new musical style. Of course, the horns are still there and actually sound better than ever before. The songs are very catchy and do a wonderful job of sticking in your mind long after you press the stop button. "Farsighted" and "The Day We Killed" are musical favorites.
The lyrics on Electric Boogaloo are more thought-provoking and serious than previous efforts. Five Iron Frenzy takes on loneliness ("Spartan"), the persecution of American Indians ("The Day We Killed"), the choking effect of Christian culture ("Juggernaut"), "Christian" rock stars ("Blue Mix"), and death ("Car"), among other things. "Eulogy" provides a perfect conclusion to the album, ending it in a worshipful way: "If Jesus Christ is true/ then I am mostly lies/ if Jesus Christ is Love/ then I have failed to try/ if Jesus Christ is life/ then please just let me die/ let this die."
One hopes that Five Iron Frenzy will continue in the direction that Electric Boogaloo has dawned. The making of catchy and witty intelligent rock music, for those who are dissatisfied with average Christian music.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Josh HurstI am a Five Iron Frenzy fan, though I've fought it every step of the way. When the group released their debut album, Upbeats and Beatdowns, a few years ago, I shrugged them off as just another band jumping onto the ska bandwagon, which was quite trendy at that time. Just some silly Christian rock group with horn players. What could be good about that? Five Iron Frenzy wouldn't last long. Well, it…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Olin JenkinsI've been waiting for this one for over two albums now! While I enjoyed the live Proof That the Youth Are Revolting and FIF's return to the studio with All the Hype That Money Can Buy, something was missing from the last studio project (including heavy cynicism, e.g. "Four-Fifty-One"), and that's the zany trademark quality of Five Iron Frenzy. From the first moments of "Pre-Ex-Girlfriend" from…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksI'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…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksThe Denver-based band is back with their newest album ever, and you might be in for a surprise. They've left the off-beats of third wave ska behind for the greener pastures of musical diversity. If you're looking for another FIF CD of skankin' hits, this isn't it. After the shock wears off, you'll find another album of passionate lyrics set to passionate music. Of course they don't leave their…The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by AmberAfter a long wait, Five Iron Frenzy has hit us with their 6th release, Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo. Yes, it's a slight change from recent projects, but it is most definitely a change for the better. The album starts out with "Pre-Ex Girlfriend," which has a bit more of a punkish sound. It is similar to recent stuff, and could probably be compared to "Arnold, Willis, And Mr. Drummond."…Similar sounding releases
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