Dissapointed at first, love it now... not like FIF at all. - I was very interested in Roper ever since the fateful and very real (not many false alarms) breakup of Five Iron Frenzy (FIF). I downloaded (very illegally) one mp3 to test it out before ordering, and was intrigued. So I decided to go out on a limb and order this CD.Some background, I like pop/punk (MxPx, some Blink 182, Rufio, etc) and a wide variety of others. I like energetic music (like the above) or thoughtful/moody music (Coldplay, Nickel Creek). And of course, the all-important FIF, especially their earlier albums. I m not much of a lyrics person, and normally don t know most of the words to the songs I listen to except for some of the good ones. Most of this review is on musical style.When I first got this, I was disappointed. I wanted a really creative album with a bunch of good hits, but it seems like most of them were ok (mediocre?) and with just a few slightly better ones. I decided to keep listening. Now, I really love a bunch of them. They all reek of Reece Roper s rougher vocal style... the more edgy, whiny (for lack of a better word) voice rather than the smoother style used in FIF s stuff. You can really see this on track 2, You re with Stupid... very rough sounding, though it fits the song.A lot of the music seems like it was quickly put together, not as refined and a bit methodical, especially the guitar and drums. I d describe it as a bit standard. However, the real saver are the songs like Quicksilver, 1985, How your Halo Fell, Fireflies, and especially the grand exit and last track, In Excelsis Deo. The rest of the tracks I could take or leave (and probably leave, they re not my style like the regae/rock n roll Red Eye to Miami), but these keepers just dig in and now give me chills.The tracks I mentioned seem to exude more of the deep passion FIF was known for, and I feel make this album worth it. I m not much of lyrics person, though I still loved FIF for being passionate and honest (and goofy too). I really appreciate the music behind about half of the Roper album, and can t wait for the second more refined album. However, who knows how long that ll be, from what I ve read, this was more of a project or collaboration, not a full fledged band. That s disappointing, as this album has got me excited to see what they could come up with given enough time and refinement. Come one Reece... rope em back together and put together a second album, maybe Our Newest Album Ever?
Enjoyable - But I m waiting for the next to blow it away. - I bought this within the first week of its release, highly excited that I finally knew about Reese Roper and friends when he put out an album. Sadly, I came to enjoy Five Iron only after they broke up. Regardless...The album is nice. That s the best word in my opinion: the lyrics are in Reese s usual self-deprecating/personal style that anyone familiar loves, and the music is energetic, catchy, and poppy, but the album seems to be missing the deep stomach that has characterized past albums that Reese has been involved. It is true several of these songs would ve been Guerilla Rodeo songs, but they would have had the minds of John Warne, Sonnie Johnston, and Josh Abbot to add to them if they d have been done under that band s moniker. The album has a good list of musicians contributing, including Ethan Luck (Dingees, O.C. Supertones, Demon Hunter, My Red Hot Nightmare) and Frank Lenz (Starflyer 59) ,but it didn t have any of the current members contributing, Reese was still recruiting them. If you ask the other members of Roper, they say they come from diverse musical backgrounds, much more broad than this album is musically. The album is worth having for those who truly appreciate any project in which Reese Roper is involved. It isn t a bad album, as I said - it s nice. Maybe this album should ve been released later, after the members had time to collaborate, who knows. But if Reese and Co. ever get the money they need to record a new album and tour in its support, then look for the diversity of Roper s members to shine through in an album that exceeds the original. I enjoy all the songs. It s hard to choose favorites. But I ll try: the most mature is probably Day of Pigs, Ouicksilver follows close behind lyrically.
FIF without the trumpets - This CD is O.K. Average. After FIF was over, i guess Reese could make another band to make us smile. well i was in between a smile and a frown on this one. More of a blank stare. This CD has some good songs and some songs that are just not good.Highlights:-You re With Stupid-Amplify-Vendetta-Red Eye To Miami-1985-You re Still The One-In Excelsis DeoEven though these songs are highlights, they will never reach the potential of songs like every new day. This Cd Still deserves a listen though. But a warning...you might be dissapointed.
As good as it could be - I m not saying that this is as good as Roper will ever be, I m just saying that this CD is as good as it could have been. By that I mean that lots of the material on this CD was stuff that had been written for Reese s other project that never happened, Guerilla Rodeo. On top of that, the band wasn t together at this point, the majority of the work on this record is Reese and Reese alone (with the amazing mixing of Saki).That said, this album holds up lyrically to it s Five Iron predecessors in almost every way. It uses Reese s background as a child as well as humor and morals in all of the songs. I particularly like You re with Stupid, Red Eye to Miami, and In Excelsis Deo. Musically, this is very different from Five Iron, no horns at all (since there are no horn players in the band) and largely driven by the vibrosynth I think is what it was called, a little keyboard instrument. Overall, it s very catchy, music that you ll hum all day long if it s the last thing you hear in the morning.This is a good CD, and I highly recommend it. But moreso, I look forward to the next CD that Roper puts out, as it (like Five Iron s albums) will definitely improve on all aspects of this first effort.
Looking forward to more Roper, better than this hopefully. - The first I had heard of Roper was at Creation East, at the fringe stage. Man, it was crazy. Reese has a rubber chicken attached to his keyboard I m going to slap this chicken twice during this song Some guy showed up dressed as batman, and the security let him jump onto the stage. (Unfortunately nobody caught him when he jumped off...poor guy) It was Reese s birthday, and he smeared his blue icing all over his face reenacting that scene from braveheart. It was insane. These guys are amazing live. Afterwards I bought the CD at the shop by the main stage...I was pretty disappointed.It seems that some of the enthusiasm is lost listening to the CD. I m not saying it s dull or they sound bored, the songs just don t appeal to me as much on the CD. The lyrics are humorous in most songs, but somewhat cheesy in others. Altogether worth a listen, but I m hoping the second Roper is a little better. Keep up the good work Reese & co.