English Rock: Five Eight's Five Eight

Five Eight’s lead vocalist Mike Manitone happens to sound very much like Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Except that Five Eight’s been around longer and is from Athens, Georgia. Therefore, Five Eight doesn’t truly belong in the English Rock section, but the similarity is too much to over look. It’s like the symphonic English rock sound busting at the seems beyond even some of the edgier Oasis sounds.

However, besides the fact that I love Five Eight’s self-titled 2004 album, that’s not why these short comments are here. No, it just happens that Five Eight’s “The Liquor Song” sounds very much inspired by the Old 97’s song “Wish the Worst.” Both have a waltz feel, an AltCountry rebellion against the typical beer barroom swaggering song. Then before it can waltz off into oblivion, Five Eight charges the air with that thrown down energy.

Oh, the lights are like liquor
They know how to thrill
The lights are like liquor
Cause they’re my favorite pill

Check out the entire album, because the swirling English Rock sound coming out of Georgia from a band whose supported R.E.M. and the Ramones in concert has turned out a tremendous collection of rockers splitting my Spectrum categories wide open.

Thanks to Five Eight for the review copy.