Artist Info:Discography Album length: 12 tracks: 45 minutes, 16 secondss Street Date: June 20, 2000
Sometimes when a band gets big, a few members decide to do solo projects or form their own
side projects. Christian ska masters, Five Iron Frenzy have 3 creative fellas
who decided to do a little extra. This "extra" is Brave Saint Saturn, the creation
of Reese Roper, Keith Hoerig, and Dennis Culp.
Forget the fact that these guys are key members of Five Iron. Forget that Reese not only
does vocals for Five Iron, but for bS2 also. Forget that a couple songs remind you a little
tiny bit of Five Iron. bS2 is s moody modern pop/rock space band that can't help but have fun
sometimes.
So Far From Home opens with a Prologue, which sounds like it could be the theme for
a new Star Trek series along with sleigh bells. A semi-eerie electronic computer voice joins in with
illegible words followed by a count down leading into "Space Robot Five." With a sound along the lines
of older Bleach or Lloyd, Reese's vocals are well placed, but it's almost impossible to separate
them from Five Iron. This is especially true with "Independence Day" which at times sounds as if it
could pass for a FIF song. However, there are no horns on this album. bS2 seems to provide the listener
with the answer to the question "What would 5 Iron sound like as a modern pop/rock band?"
"Shadow of Def" throws a curver ball with a groovy and fun, yet controlled, hip-hop influenced tune complete
with lingo and a silly rap by executive producer Frank Tate that's so humorously bad, it's reminiscent
of Steven Curtis Chapman's attempt on his song "Got to B Tru." But it's all good since it's not meant to be
taken seriously. "Resistor" is a good pop tune, with a sound oddly similar to "The Lumber Song" by Eli.
"Fireworks," although not giving credit to anyone else for lead vocals, does not sound like Reese, but my guess
is, since it's written by Dennis, he leant his vocal talents. This song really illiminates any 5 Iron
similarities and sets the band apart.
"Rocketown," a cover of a Michael W. Smith/Wayne Kirkpatrick tune, was done in horn-less FIF style. The album
ends with "Moon Burns Bright," "Two-Twenty-Nine," and "Gloria," 3 ballads/ rock ballads that stand out
as creating a different and new sound for the 5 Iron trio. So Far From Home is moody, passionate, and
darker than the members' previous material. A unique project from a unique group of guys and an album to
surely check out this summer.
- Review date: 6/5/00, written by John DiBiase
Artist Info:Discography Record Label: 5 Minute Walk Records
Album length: 12 tracks, 45 minutes and 16 seconds
Street Date: June 20, 2000
Buy It:Amazon.com
Artist Info: 
