Two Lights

Five For Fighting

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000G6BLFG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,747 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On his third disc, the one-man musical marvel known as Five for Fighting proves yet again that all that's standing between him and peace of mind--not the fleeting kind, but full-on, to-the-bone, heart-and soul-cleansing peace of mind--is a song. Two Lights picks up where America Town left off, diving smack-dab into the national consciousness and hitting, predictably, a sorrowful spot. First track "Freedom Never Cries" is a self-skewering lament that calls out to complacent countrymen by way of confession and an artful, piano-enhanced weighing of consequence. It's followed by "World," which reminds unpreachily, and not unpleasantly, that "history starts now." Where Two Lights better resembles 2004's hugely successful The Battle for Everything is in its more inward-looking tracks, the tender first single "The Riddle" among them. There, and on the near criminally pretty "I Just Love You," the mush-hearted may find themselves fighting the urge to hug the closest stranger. But despite his now-dependable dips into mopiness, John Ondrasik--Five for Fighting to you and the rest of the world--doesn't deny himself the opportunity to rock when he wants to. If anything makes this guy happy, it's the state of California: on "California Justice," he kicks off his shoes and works on his tan like a latter-day Beach Boy from the dark side, and "'65 Mustang" rambles down the coast with the kind of carefree vibe that, outside of a song, only a convertible can deliver. --Tammy La Gorce

More from Five for Fighting

Message for Albert

America Town

The Battle for Everything

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Familiar sounds from Five for Fighting..., August 1, 2006

By	A. G. Corwin (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

John Ondrasik, the mastermind behind Five for Fighting, clearly never met a piano ballad he didn't like. Following the successful formula he developed on the mega ballad Superman (It's Not Easy) and the follow-up hit 100 Years, Ondrasik delivers a new album full of sugary ballads and gentle falsettos of the kind that hit the charts on earlier albums. Like those other albums however, Two Lights has only a few standout tracks and not as much of the diverse sound one hopes for on a new record.

"Freedom Never" is a somewhat weak opener that is entirely too soft musically but sentimental enough lyrically to make it difficult to dislike. "World" is the kind of beautiful ballad sure to be a hit and one of the standout songs on the album. On "California Justice" the band tries but fails to capture the sound of Counting Crows; despite similarities with Adam Duritz's voice and style, the song just doesn't work. Solid first single "The Riddle" is commercially viable, full of hooks, and laced with sentimental lyrics sung in Ondrasik's warm falsetto. "Two Lights" is the most elegant track on the record, a story of a father and son surrounded by layered strings and piano. This track is the kind of great track you wish the album had more of.

The second half of the album shows the band being a bit more adventurous. "65 Mustang" is the most different and most admirable track. This sound is a departure from the rest of the album, and thus stands out nicely. "I Just Love You" sounds like every other piano based ballad, but "Policeman's Xmas Party" comes across like a bizarre genetic cross between Devo and Sheryl Crow. "Road to Heaven" is another solid ballad, this time with keyboards instead of piano. The closing track "Johnny America" is another Crows sounding track, but this time the layered harmonies on the chorus and a Billy Joel piano sound produce a solid and enjoyable closing song.

Produced by Ondrasik and his fellow bandmates, Two Lights is a technically competent album clocking in at a touch over 43 minutes. Production values are solid, and the instrumentation is layered elegantly. Fans of the band will find enough on the album to be pleased, and radio will find several singles that will sell, but the obvious comfort level Ondrasik has with ballads renders this a good album that doesn't distinguish itself. In the future I hope someone takes away his piano for a while, gives him an electric guitar, and tells him to rock out and venture out of his comfort zone. The talent is there, but one can't live on ballads alone. This album is better suited to individual track downloads rather than a full album purchase unless you are a big fan.

A.G. Corwin
St. Louis, MO

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highlights and headlights, August 1, 2006

By	Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The San Fernando Valley can relax again. After suffering the after shocks of the disastrous Ray Romano/Kevin James movie "Grilled", along comes California born John Ondrasik with the save, a collection of songs worthy of printing another batch of "Visit California" bumper stickers. (Ondrasik goes by the name "Five For Fighting", which is normally used in reference to a hockey penalty, but he figured it would be easier for people to remember)

A series of little essays about life in America, freedom, war heroes, vintage cars and what have you, this album was inspired by real life conversations, and is the most personal of his three albums to date. First single "The Riddle (You & I)" is already taking the charts by storm, and justifiably so. He shares a conversation with his son, and sings "Here's a riddle for you / Find the Answer / There's a reason for the world / You and I..."

Other notable tracks are "Freedom Never Cries", a non-political war commentary with the lyrics "I only talk to God / When somebody's about to die / I never cherished freedom / Freedom never cries"; and also "World"; the highway anthem "California Justice"; the title track, and the retro "Johnny America". For pure, unadulterated feel-good listening you MUST try "I Just Love You", and for a quirky change try the reggae-tinged "Policeman's Xmas Party"

The one major failing of this album is that it only has ten tracks, but they're darned good songs, so dust off your Americana collection, get a new flag for the porch, and relax with Five For Fighting in your CD player today.



Amanda Richards, August 1, 2006

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Storytelling That Grows on You, August 16, 2006

By	Greg Robertson (West Quincy, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My primary recommendation for enjoying the album "Two Lights" is that you put it into your iTunes mix (or your CD player) and just let it play without focusing on it. Why? Because most of the songs here start a little slow in comparison to, say, "Superman" or "100 Years," so it's easy to think, "Man, he's lost it." When I just let the album play and got busy with work, though, after a while I found myself repeatedly pausing to listen and think, "Hey, that's good...who is it?"

The savior of this album, for me, is the lyrics. That is, most of these are great stories relating to family or the state of the U.S. and the world. "World," in fact, is all about deciding what kind of world you want it to be, because your choices make a difference. "Johnny America" and "Freedom Never Cries," on the other hand, are about the impact of America on the world -- good or bad. While "The Riddle" focuses on what a father teaches a son about living life and "I Just Love You" rings particularly true to anyone who loves a wife, husband, child, or parent well beyond the point of having particular reasons for doing so.

That said, "California Justice" and "Policeman's Xmas Party" don't do much for me, but they're OK. "65 Mustang" is light and fun to drive to -- no surprise there. And while I can't blame anyone for thinking, "Get to the point, will you?" on several of the songs, once they get going, they're well worth the listen.

My personal favorites? "The Riddle" (both versions), "World," "Two Lights," and "I Just Love You."

"Two Lights" isn't a really GREAT album, but if you enjoy Ondrasik's brilliant lyrics and light, crisp piano style, you should give this album the try it deserves.