Five Iron Frenzy "Upbeats and Beatdowns" (Five Minute Walk)

Five Iron Frenzy - Upbeats and Beatdowns (Five Minute Walk)

Denver ska is here! Five Iron Frenzy sports a trumpet, trombone and saxophone along with the regular line-up of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Ska, the general musical movement with which Five Iron Frenzy fits into, descends from a heritage older than the average listener would guess. Now in it's third and most recent wave, the music can best be generalized as part punk, part jazz/swing, part rock and part madness. But as Five Iron Frenzy would tell you, they donŐt really care to be labeled.

Upbeats and Beatdowns is an excellent record which is one of my current favorites. Five Iron Frenzy's horn section is very strong. They are also quite capable of switching back and forth between distorted and clean guitar. The "toasting" (extraneous vocal effects, much like skatting in jazz, but more true to the ska nature) is well done. Besides the impressive display of musicianship, Five Iron Frenzy sings mostly about bringing Jesus Christ to the world. Lighthearted in nature, but serious about the subject, these songs are lyrically sound.

Also true to ska, there is a certain quirky, witty flavor to these songs. Besides the Amy Grant cover ("Everywhere I Go") and the cover (of sorts) of "Beautiful America" from "West Side Story," their own original plots and developments are more interesting that your average song. "Third World Think Tank" is (initially) the most bizarre song of the collection, however the point is very clear after critically listening to the lyrics once. Effective.

For anyone who is tired of the anger and brutality in much of todayŐs music, Five Iron Frenzy is not only a good break, but a good change. The music is busier than, say the average pop song, but thereŐs really no comparison to be made there. ItŐs something completely new (definitely lacking in much of even Christian modern rock today).

Brian Smith
briansmi@ecn.purdue.edu

CCM