Slice

Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik is a student of ‘70’s pop. He deliberately quotes Don McLean’s “American Pie” during the title track and his piano playing and melodic instincts are clearly formed from the Elton John and Billy Joel school of pop songwriting. Bright melodies, forceful vocals and lyrics that attempt to define the human (and in Ondrasik’s case American) experience. The arrangements include string arrangements (“Tuesday”) that especially recall the ‘70s AM radio experience. As a singer-songwriting pianist, he is attuned to the pathos that piano balladry brings and tunes such as “This Dance” (with a chilling vocal jump) and “Augie Nieto” (about the ALS “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” advocate) serve up the close emotional ties between man and his instrument. The album’s first single “Chances,” like previous Fighting singles — “Superman,” “100 Years” — flows with a sweet, seamless melody line that’s orchestrated to perfection. "Note to the Unknown Soldier” expresses gratitude to America’s armed forces. Ondrasik is that unusual songwriter who can write with the past in his pocket and the future in his sights.