The Christian Manifesto

GENRE: CRUNCK ROCK

LABEL: TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 19, 2008

RATING: 4 OUT OF 5

Nutshell Review:

“Dance or Die” doesn’t stray far from “Business,” only adding a dance tone, and liberal use of the auto-tuner, a device which “smooths” the voice (think T-Paine). It indeed adds to the list of fun danceable rock songs, however if you didn’t care for their debut, there’s little to grab your attention here. If you’ve yet to check out FF5, or have been a doubter because of their over the top tactics and stage show, now is your time to give in. It’s dance or die.

Full Review:

Sophomore records can be career defining. Family Force 5 created quite a splash in the pool that is the Christian music world with their debut, a self described crunk rock album, which spawned numerous hits from “Love Addict” to “Kountry Gentlemen.” When vocalist Solomon Olds said they were looking to “blow away” their last record, fans and critics knew such a feat would be a huge accomplishment, and needless to say “Dance or Die” has a lot of hype surrounding it.

As the frontman himself put it, “Dance or Die” is indeed, as the title suggests, a dance album. However the amount to which it caters to conventional dance music orthodoxy is minimal. Some songs are fusions of in your face vocals and crunchy guitars (think their debut), while others are more experimental carrying pop and punk overtones, all done over a bedrock of dance beats.

The opening title track blends retro and modern dance elements, borrowing disco sounds from an era passed and mixing them with auto-tuned vocals, an experiment that works surprisingly well. “Get Your Back Off The Wall” is done in typical FF5 fashion (think Love Addict and Earthquake), hard hitting, and despite being a tad repetitive, shapes to be a solid track. “Share It with Me” is a stand out track, and will either be loved or hated, as it sounds “boy-bandish,” almost as something on an Nsync record. “The First Time” also brings is also a slight surprise, as it’s a pop-punk styled song.

Not all songs are as risky. “D-I-E-4-Y-O-U” and “Fever” will remind fans why they fell in love with FF5 in the first place. “Radiator” is one of the strongest points on the record, and possibly one of the most fun rock songs to come around in a while. Highlights include the begging to be sung along to title track, the next Love Addict “Get Your Back Off The Wall,” lead single “Fever,” and the closing “Radiator.”

“Dance or Die” doesn’t stray far from “Business,” only adding a dance tone, and liberal use of the auto-tuner, a device which “smooths” the voice (think T-Paine). While FF5 is indeed a group that can not only pull off, but benefit from this vocal smoother, it makes a few tracks, more noticeably the slower ballads feel a bit unnatural / overproduced. Also, while their debut offered lyrics which reflected on faith and at times more directly, the Creator (“Love You to Death,” “Face Down,” “Never Let Me Go”) this time around, the theme is overwhelming “dance.”

“Dance or Die” adds to the short list of fun danceable rock songs. If you haven’t liked Family Force 5 to begin with, there’s little here to grab your attention. If you’ve yet to check out FF5, or have been a doubter because of their over the top tactics and stage show, now is your time to give in. It’s dance or die.

Track Listing

1. Dance or Die
2. Get Your Back Off The Wall
3. Rip It Up
4. How in the World
5. Fever
6. Party Foul
7. D-I-E-4-Y-O-U
8. Share It with Me
9. The First Time
10. Wake the Dead
11. Radiator