It’s finally here! The album I’ve been waiting for ever since I heard it was coming out. And I got it!
I was thoroughly impressed with the Atlanta-based band’s Business Up Front/Party in the Back (Diamond Edition) because of the catchy lyrics and great guitar riffs. With Dance or Die, FF5 moves into more of a electronic mood. There are still guitars there, but going with the album’s title, there are more dance-themed songs.
- “Dance or Die”: This is the opening track that tells you what the new Family Force 5 is. The synthesizer sets the tone for the rest of the album and outlines the whole dance theme of the album.
- “Get Your Back Off the Wall”: This was the song that was posted on MySpace that was not on the EP. Humorously tagged with the album cover for Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, “Get Your Back Off the Wall” is an anthem with the statement to stop being a wallflower and dance to the music.
- “Rip It Up”: It sounds similar to “Love Addict” at the beginning with the guitar chords, but it progresses into another song about dancing. It’s about a girl dancing well enough to make Soul Glow Activator sing “rip it up, rip it up, don’t stop until it’s torn up.” It’s also got a clever reference to the Terminator series of films.
- “How in the World”: This is the first real love ballad from Family Force 5. It reminds me a lot of a Justin Timberlake mainstream song, it’s just way better. SGA’s got sort of a T-Pain twinge to his voice as well. One of the best songs on the album.
- “Fever”: Another great track that brings back on the Christian roots of the band. It may not be obvious, but “Fever” has the lyrical tone of “Love Addict.” Another classic song by Family Force 5 that is a link to Business Up Front/ Party in the Back, “Fever” is a picture of what this band really is: a band in which they have fun, dance, and praise God at the same time.
- “Party Foul”: This is another fun song. It isn’t necessarily great. It probably won’t be remembered in the top 5 songs from this record, but it’s still worth listening to. Soul Glow Activator sings about a guy hitting on his girlfriend and calling that a “party foul.” He also says, “If you can’t dance, get yourself outta my room.”
- “D-I-E 4 Y-O-U”: This is my personal favorite from Dance or Die as we speak, or type. It’s another link between FF5’s debut and this record. It incorporates guitar, synthesizer, and Crouton’s superb percussion. Just listen to it, it’s great.
- “Share It With Me”: This is the saddest song Family Force 5 has ever recorded, but it’s so well done. The first 20 seconds remind me of a certain Backstreet Boys/’N Sync (I can’t tell them apart) song, but the remainder, starting with Crouton’s starkly different vocals, is a masterpiece. This song is unique because it changes lead vocalists multiple times. It’s always between SGA and Crouton, but it’s a different approach.
- “The First Time”: The second ever love ballad produced by Family Force 5, “The First Time” is the closest Family Force 5 will ever get to “Check Yes Juliet.” It is a wonderful track. “Press repeat, ’cause you’ll wanna see the first time that I saw your face.”
- “Wake the Dead”: Another great song. Gosh, I’m running out of things to say, because I could use the same words to describe almost any song on this album: “Another awesome track from the Atlanta-based band Family Force 5 from their sophomore record.”
- “Radiator”: It might be the weakest song on the record. It’s not really an A or B in my book, but I’ve heard worse.
So, in conclusion, besides the final track “Radiator”, Dance or Die could possibly be the best album this year.
‘Nuff said.
Grade: A
