Family Force 5
Business Up Front – Party in the Back
Gotee/Maverick

This is not your usual “family-five” acapella group; this is a force to be reckoned with.  With similarities to TobyMac and 4th Avenue Jones, Family Force 5 has a very aggressive rock-rap repertoire with heavy guitars, hammering backbeats, and hyper-fast lyrical delivery. 

In general, the CD is more party up front and business in back, as there are very little Christian references upfront.  However, the band isn’t going to apologize for this.  In fact they have openly pointed out that their music isn’t “dripping with ‘Christian’ lingo.”  I can live with that, because they appear to be on fire for the lord and they know where they are going with this.  Although several mainstream labels were sporting them, they held out for dual citizenship with Gotee and Maverick Records.  This will give them the opportunity to release both in the general market and the CCM market.     

I really like the music for what it is – loud and fun!  My favorite track would have to be “Earthquake,” a loud dance track that actually brings back the use of the cheerleading squad in a sports-jam sort of way.  Even though it’s not so upfront with the “lingo,” I can feel good knowing that I when I crank it up in the car, the people around me are not going to be inundated with vulgarity. 

- Ken W.