John Ondrasik, better known by his stage name, Five for Fighting, became a household name following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His hit single "Superman (It's Not Easy)" became one of the most-played radio hits of the year, launching his career. Since then, he has released three more albums, The Battle for Everything, Two Lights and his latest, Slice.
Like all of his previous albums, Slice is primarily piano-driven, with acoustic guitar, bass and drums playing prominent roles. With each successive album, it seems Ondrasik's piano lines have become more energetic and interesting, a trend that has carried into this latest release.
Out of all the aforementioned instruments, the drums would seem to be the odd man out, as they tend to be a louder and more expressive instrument, and thus might sound out of place next to the other somewhat understated instruments. But Ondrasik fits the drums into his songs seamlessly, such as on the first single, "Chances." The drums provide solid rhythmic support for the active piano line that serves as the main melody. "Chances" also has some lyrical draw: The main character in the song is a man talking to his significant other, saying that while he does not want to be apart from her, "chances are" it may be necessary because of circumstances beyond his control. The song is a refreshing look on love that does not spew platitudes or clich
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