Customer Reviews

So Far From Home

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

sat·ur·nine (str-nn) adj. Melancholy or sullen. Brave Saint Saturn, the surprising side-project of poppy ska-punk band Five Iron Frenzy members, just released their debut album "So Far From Home." In the past 24 hours since it's release, I have been hearing nothing but positive reviews. Upon listening to the first track, you realize that those musicians well known for their silly costumes and high energy concerts have begun a musical exploration into a brave new world. Layered lush guitars, strings, percussion, bells and an occasional accordian creates a collision of sound that augments lead singer Reese Roper's searing and heart breaking vocals. Lyrically, this album continues in the Five Iron Frenzy tradition of being brutally honest with the world, often toeing the line of controversy. Roper tackles subjects such as his grandmother's death and the loss of his fiance as well as more general feelings of loneliness and separation. However, the album doesn't become mired in the saturnine. Rather, the music and the words meld together to lift the listener to a place where they can see the hope that lies behind all the tragedy, without denying the tragic itself. The reason I give this album 5 stars is threefold. One, the music is innovative and experimental, but remains highly listenable. Two, the lyrics are outstanding, not only in their poetic style, but in their intelligence and truthfulness. Three, it is not often you come across a band which is stellar in both areas, and Brave Saint Saturn definitely is. If you are looking for a beautiful and thought provoking album, I highly recommend "So Far From Home".

reese, denis, and keith work together beautifully to make this an amazing album, musically and lyrically. the only reason i would give this a 4 is because some of the sound, like the opening beat on the first track is a little scratchy. other than that, it is flawless. i would also suggest jumping at the chance of seeing one of their rare, live shows. i saw them once and it was this that inspired the title of this review...i got shivers watching and listening to them, especially on "under bridges". they really work well together. a 5-star group.

The band members are also members of a sister group called Five Iron Frenzy. Brave Saint Saturn was founded to give the three band members (mainly lead singer Reese) a chance to express their sadder, darker sides in a different musical style than the punk-ska Five Iron. This is a GREAT premier album, although I'm sure that almost nobody will buy it because almost nobody will have heard of the band. In any case, it's a great CD, both when compared to secular and Christian music. I suggest you buy it.

In one word: awesome. From the minute I put the CD into my stereo, my ears were glued (if your eyes can be glued to the TV, hey, why not?). This album, though not at all like the familliar Ska sound of Five Iron Frenzy utilized a different sound to convey, perhaps, a different type of feeling. Songs ranging from lamenting the loss of a loved one (Two Twenty-Nine, Independence Day, Moon Burns Bright), to comparing the Christian Walk to a DJ's dependence on "The Rapper" for his job (Shadow of Def). And, whether you're a Christian or not, Under Bridges will make you think twice before you snub the man asking for change. A wholehearted 5 stars and I look forward to the next release from Brave Saint Saturn.

a_potted_plant@hotmail.com

I am certainly impressed with this CD. I have grown to love Five Iron Frenzy with their poignant lyrics and snappy music, and was greatly anticipating the day their side project came out. I picked up this CD the day it came out. Listening to it during the ride home I was not immediately enthralled as this is not he typical happy songs i was used to from five iron. In fact some of these songs were down right melancholy, i did however get used to the slower style and really appreciated the bold yet smart lyrics used. I sincerely congratulate Reese Roper, Keith Hoerig and Dennis Culp on their creation of So Far Away From Home and hope to see more from Brave Saint Saturn as well as their home band Five Iron Frenzy. Go buy it.

This side project from the FIF guys is simply phenomonal. It shows what they can do when given a chance to work with a different style and sound. The result is some wonderfully deep and emotional songs. With richer themes and some more serious subject matter than you'll find on the FIF albums. The tunes are really catchy and some of the tracks you can really rock out to. I highly recomend this CD to any FIF fan, or just plain anyone who likes good, well made artistic music.

Very few are the CD's that on my first listen i believe are a masterpiece. But in So far from home I've found that. i would recommend this to annyone who likes good, introspective, sometimes emotionally jarring music

For those of you who don't know, Brave Saint Saturn is the side project band of 3 guys from the ska band Five Iron Frenzy. The sound of this album is completely different from anything FIF has done. If you have seen these guys perform live, you know that Reese, who is the lead singer for both bands, has a lot of passion for music. That shows through his lyrics. Much more dark and depressing than anything they've written before. But the bleakness in the songs clears when they describe how God takes the darkness away. Very cool. Any FIF fans looking for something completely different, look no further.

Five Iron Frenzy's side project, Brave Saint Saturn, has produced an album that is a major departure from the band's typical ska/punk mixture. The music is overall slower and more moody than anything previously released, yet it still retains the band's profoundly Christian message. The album "So Far from Home" showcases the darker (yet hopeful) side of lead singer Reese Roper's lyrics. To a devoted fan of the band, this seems strange at first but i'm really starting to enjoy it. If you're a first time listener i'd recommend the songs "Space Robot 5", and "Moon Burns Bright." I can safely say this cd deserves a place in the collection of anyone interested in today's Christian music.

I bought this cd about a month ago, and am now totally satisfied. I actually bought it at the Family Store, and listened to it once. After like 3 weeks, i went back to listen to it and realized what i was missing. It did take another listen to realize it was totally awesome. I listened to it like a week straight in my car. It is a lot different compared to Five Iron Frenzy. Five Iron Frenzy is Ska/ rock. Brave Saint Saturn is pure rock, with some effects. It was the best $3 i spent.