Customer Reviews

Slice

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before I bought this album, more than one reviewer here (and on iTunes) have said that this may be the best FFF ever. I have to agree.

John Ondrasik is a genius with his thoughtful lyrics and beautiful melodies. My personal favorites are "This Dance" (what a love song!), "Note to the Unknown Soldier" (brings a tear to my eye), "Augie Nieto" (for the founder of Augie's Quest), and of course, "Chances" and "Slice." "Tuesday" is about 9/11 and the melancholy melody says it all for me. I also enjoy "Above the Timberline" so much. The rest of the album is really great, too.

I can't wait for the acoustic version of these awesome songs!!!

This album is tremendous. You know how some CDs have a couple of good songs but the rest are only okay or not so good? "Slice" is the rare album where each song is a quality song. Five For Fighting puts out some of the best pop-rock and piano ballads going, and this album shows why. Especially nice are the songs "Slice" and "Chances." Also, thanks to John Ondrasik for another great song honoring the American serviceman, "Note to an Unknown Soldier." In an era where artists increasingly trash American ideals its refreshing to see an artist that honors them. This is an awesome CD for fans of Five For Fighting and even those that are new to the sound. Highly recommended.

John Ondrasik is far from my favorite singer but he has had some great songs and albums performing as Five For Fighting! But this is by far the best songs he has written or composed. These songs are just beautiful, well written and crafted pop songs! It's the opposite of so many other artists who remain more popular than this alt band but lack material anything even close to this. Some might say it's a bit too lush and orchestrated, perhaps too mellow or melodic? But I like that kind of music and ballads like these. His voice glides so nicely on these tunes and I havent heard a bad song on the entire album. Perhaps the commercial success of this band is already behind them, but the QUALITY of the music has hit a peak with Slice! I love it!

This is a wonderful disc - everything you'd expect from the FFF that put out "100 Years" and "Superman." A decently driven amount of rock with a wonderful piano laced throughout. Strings on "Tuesday" so sweet you might want to avoid them if you're diabetic but they still work just beautifully. Intelligent lyrics of course. I am sorely tempted to say this is the best FFF disc yet. YMMV.
What's my peeve? I pre-ordered this from the 'Zon and ended up paying about a buck and a half more than it's selling for now. But the $1.00 free mp3 download mollifies me. I may hold off on pre-ordering things after this experience.

On "Slice," the latest album by Five for Fighting, John Ondrasik skillfully weaves tales of American life over strong piano melodies, resulting in a stellar album, not just a couple of downloadable songs.

After of week of listening, I found five songs to be outstanding. "Chances," the song playing while the credits roll in the movie "The Blind Side," is an ode to taking chances on love and is the highlight of the album (recognized by its strong Adult Contemporary chart performance). "Slice (of American Life) is a mainstream tribute to the days of 60s shared youth with references to the classic "American Pie" over against the individualism of today's "300 million little USA's." (Above the) "Timberline" soars skyward, taking us lyrically to a high perch to gain perspective on life as Ondrasik`s falsetto reaches those same heights on the chorus. "Hollywood" is reminiscent of 80s pop-rock with a synthesizer backing the verses that describe a girl's failed attempt at Hollywood and going on with life. Finally, "Augie Nieto" is a thought-provoking ballad based on the true story of Augie Nieto, founder of Life Fitness, who discovers living after his diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease.

Only one song does not work. "Hope" lumbers along with a slow, old-time Southern gospel feel, but never really gains traction musically or lyrically, which ends with Ondrasik telling us to "Scream into the abyss" for the coward to get off our lawn. Huh? Fortunately, this is an anomaly on an otherwise amazing collection.

The rest of the songs on the album are good, featuring orchestral arrangements such as on "Tuesday," a haunting song about lost love, and "Note to the Unknown Soldier." which thanks those who served their country. "This Dance" features Ondrasik's buoyant piano in a song about taking the opportunities to "dance" because there "only so many chances." In "Love Can't Change the Weather" Ondrasik takes a few cues from the group Chicago with a brass section that distinguishes this song's sound from the rest.

Overall, "Slice" secures Ondrasik's place as one of the foremost singer-songwriters of today. The musical and lyrical substance of the songs make listening to this album an experience of discovery, where hidden gems will be discovered in subsequent passes that are not apparent the first time through.

This album is really that good, all 11 songs are easy on the ears, my favourite songs are "Slice", "Chances" & "This dance".

I love music. I sit here typing up reviews and I have my iTunes playing most of the time. Music has a calming effect on me even if it's one of those screaming bands. I have an appreciation for all music (except for country, I just can't get into it) and I listen to different types depending on my mood.

For me, Five For Fighting is a great CD to listen to when I want to hear something that has meaning and when you think about the words, you feel like you can better understand life. I give this CD 5 stars!

What a lovely set of songs. The more I listen, the more I'm falling in love with every one of them. Note to the Unknown Soldier and Tuesday are incredibly moving, non-political songs, that should touch the heart of every American. John Ondrasik walks a very fine line masterfully and pays tribute beautifully. I don't care what side of the political aisle you sit on, I doubt you can listen to Unknown Soldier without at least a lump in your throat. Though I have no family or friends serving in the military, I am so grateful for both of these songs. They are gifts.

You just don't come across a CD that you listen to for the first time around a say I have to hear every one of those songs again. Then again and again. There isn't a song on the CD that you think, yeah they shouldn't have put that one in. It is just an absolute pleasure to listen to!

It's hard to believe the group was named for a sporting penalty. John Ondrasik writes such gentle lyrics with orchestration that's like pinpoints of light shining through a forest. This latest offering by the pop singer-songwriter is no exception.

The CD opens with the title cut, which talks about the difference between then and now and exposes you to just a brief 'slice' of life. In addition to this song, the other eleven songs talk about the unknown soldier, who they've named "Sam", climbing to the top of the mountains to find peace, and various philosophies of living life and finding joy.

Pop is generally not my favorite musical genre, but I have discovered that FOF's sparkling music is as hard to resist as ginger beer and equally uplifting. Another gem to add to their collection.

Rebecca Kyle, October 2009