When I first heard that the world's greatest ska band, Five Iron Frenzy, was putting out a live album, I was a bit discouraged. It seemed like a decade or so since their last release, which was a mere EP at that, and live albums are usually more of a cop out than EPs. Now I just have one thing to say: "What was I thinking?" What better band than FIF (besides the massive P.O.D.) is there to do a live album?
My recently neglected love for the band was renewed in full by this fun-filled disc. It's packed with 18 tracks, not including the stuff in between each of them, or the hilarious out takes at the end. The energy and adrenalin rush of a Five-Iron show is wonderfully captured here, as well as the band's spontaneous goofiness. I have been blessed to see them a couple of times, and while listening to this record, I got the same vibe I had received at their shows. You feel like you're right in there with the rest of the audience, and you can't help but move and sing along with them.
All three of their past albums are represented here (most of the songs played at a faster tempo), as well as two new songs and, my personal favorite, a cover of Tom Jones' It's Not Unusual. The new songs are just awesome, the first about the Columbine High Incident (A New Hope) and the other about Reese's recent breakup with his fiancee (Ugly Day). A New Hope reminds me of The Untimely Death of Brad, but is obviously more serious, and Ugly Day has an almost swingy feel. Both are heart-rending and very, very enjoyable.
This disc is an absolute must-have for any Five Iron Frenzy fan. If you are bummed out by the fact that this is not a new studio release, go get it anyway - I guarantee that you won't be disappointed. And feel free to sing along, it's just part of the experience.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #81Reviewed by David M. PoggeFor all of you that have had the pleasure of seeing one of Five Iron's wacky performances over the past few years, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that the energy and pure insanity of their live show was somehow captured on something as one-dimensional as a CD. For those of you who have never seen them live, because: a) you still think that the Supertones are the only Christian ska band,…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Shari LloydFive Iron's wacky shows are always a lot of high energy fun. One never knows what to expect-- glam rocker Stryper outfits at this last year's Cornerstone. Well, finally this energy has somehow been captured on CD. Playing songs from all three of their releases plus a few new songs too, these guys attempted to capture a live show and generally succeed. The sound is studio quality. While there was…ReAL Magazine 1999Reviewed by Kevin D. Hendricks"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…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by ConradFIF is a ska/punk band that is really hyper and funny. You might not know who they are if you've been living on Mars, in a hole, with your eyes closed and your fingers in your ears. I don't care if you don't like ska, these guys put on a great show - and this live album proves it. First off they're really talented all around, the horns are great, singing, rhythm section. Then on top of that they…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by Tom BastianThis CD is really cool. The beginning is so rad - it starts out with Five Iron Frenzy's introduction and the first song they did at Cornerstone 1999. If you were not there, which I wasn't, they came out and opened up with the intro to the Stryper tune "To Hell With the Devil." All I can say is that Reese should have been in an 80s hair band. I didn't know a singer for a ska-punk band's voice…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by TimThis record is great. I don't normally like live albums, but this one is great. The recording is really good. The music selection is good, so the CD is like a greatest hits album. They also talk a lot in between songs, and to me, that is the point of a live album, especially when the band is funny. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this the first few times I listened to it. After that, it got old. I…Similar sounding releases
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