Five Eight

Five Eight

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 30, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Five Eight
• ASIN: B000280956
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #319,163 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Robin Hilton | NPR "All Songs Considered" Producer | April 21, 2004
"Frontman Mike Mantione writes some of the most melodic, heartbreaking rock I've heard."

Product Description
One moment relentless, another stark and beautiful, the 12-song recording, which was mixed by the masterful John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, The Breeders, Jay Farrar) and produced by Five Eight and Geoff Melkonian (of the Josh Joplin Group), is an engaging yet volcanic amalgam of manic infused melodic rock that flows and explodes from song to song as the band delves into the darker depths of life, death, regrets and relationships. Throughout, Five Eight takes on desperation and gives it hope through soul and song, something (drummer) Mike Rizzi describes as "personal and heartbreaking, for the most part, but for some reason I want to sing them loud". Indeed, never before has it been so enjoyable to listen and sing along to someone else’s pain.

On tracks such as "I’m Still Around," "I Don’t Give a Damn" and "Lousy Decision," Five Eight matches defiance and disappointment with deft melodies that harken back to the definitive Athens sound, standing firmly on the great side of pop music. "A Man Is A Pent Up Thing" and "Square Peg," on the other hand, hit with insistent punk rhythms that pace angular guitar textures while "Bad Juices" and "Bad For Us" take a more melancholy approach, yet strike with intensity through impassioned deliveries, smart harmonies and escalating conclusions.

And perhaps the album’s opener, "Criminal," sums up best the journey taken on Five Eight. Tackling a person’s paralyzing guilt for causing the death of a friend, "Criminal" charges ahead with a propulsive punk rhythmic vibe, and then twists and turns through evocative pop territory as it allures with distinctive countermelodies and builds to a climactic end, with (singer) Mike Mantione declaring, "I’m so gone." But just as the next song begins, he affirms, "I’m still around." It’s a segue that provides a glimpse to an underlying theme throughout the album, a question Mantione poses as: "What if your world changes so drastically that the pain overwhelms you? What do you do?"

Mantione’s answer: "I play in this band."

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD by a great band!!!, June 4, 2004

By	Matt Bowden (Flower Mound, Texas) - See all my reviews

I have been listening to Five-Eight since happening upon them opening for Firehose at Trees in Dallas back in 1990. They grabbed me the minute I walked into the club, and I have been a huge fan ever since. Mike Mantione is a truly unique frontman. His frenetic guitar playing and nonstop energy on stage is like nothing else I have seen. And his song lyrics are genuine and heart-felt. I have actually used some of his lyrics in high school poetry units I have taught. I can only describe Five-Eight's combination of raw energy, humanity, and brutal honesty as being kind of like a spastic kid who has an uncontrollable fit, does his damage, has a quiet moment of embarrassment and shame after realizing what has happened, and then goes on and does it all over again. Their music captures true emotions and moments (feelings of rejection, neglect, alienation, misguided devotion, coming from a dysfunctional family, coping with loss, being a parent, and being a part of this grand, over-medicated world we live in), and it says it in words I wish I had written. I have, on several occassions, been brought to tears upon hearing certain lines from their songs (ie. "Goddamn It Paul," "She's Dropping the Bomb," and "Florence"), and the new self-titled CD is no different. "Square Peg" deals with Mike's life-long feeling of not quite fitting in, "I'm Still Around" captures the band's ability to write a great hook and melody, and "A Man Is a Pent Up Thing" (previously released on 1993's "Angriest Man" EP)explores the fine line between wanting and trying to belong and the struggle to control and hide the fears of it not working out. This is a great band and a great CD, and I wish every music fan could sit down and give them a listen. I only wish they would come through Texas a little more often.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Band..., July 5, 2004

By A Customer

Thank you Five Eight for making another excellent rock album. Raw energy and beautiful lyrics is what makes this album so incredible. I have listened to their other stuff, but I cannot stop listening to this CD. My favorite song on the disc is A Man Is A Pent Up Thing. Originally released on The Angriest Man CD, this song grabs me everytime I hear it. Mike sings, "I've got to love someone some way, I got to make it some someday, It's in my blood, When I write the greatest song, Well you know I still won't belong..." One of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. Go out and buy this now.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than ever, July 5, 2004

By A Customer

Five Eight ceases to amaze me. Been a fan for years and when I thought that they couldn't get any better, they do. This album can stand next to any release in 2004. Buy this CD & turn up the volume and play Square Peg. I promise you will not be disappointed.