If ever there was an album to attempt to incorporate a little bit of each genre, and do it well, it’s “III” by Family Force 5. From a band made of individuals whose performing names consist of Soul Glow Activatur, Crouton, Fatty, Nadaddy and Chap Stique, the lyrical content and sound of “III” fits their crunk rock style perfectly.
The opening song, “Can You Feel It,” gives off an alternative rock vibe with vocalist Solomon Jerome Olds (Soul Glow Activatur) screaming lyrics. In contrast, the second track, “Paycheck,” has more of a hip hop feel with a slight mix of rock that at some points seems more suitable for a club.
Referencing Lil’ Troy’s “Wanna be a Baller” in their lyrics, “I’m a gangster thanks to ya’ll / I should have been a baller, shot caller / but I’m just a blue collar,” the song still manages to maintain an overall rock feel with the occasional hip hop lyric snippets.
“Wobble,” starts out with the lyrics “I’m CEO, Steve Jobs at the Wobs,” referring to themselves as the creator of the wobble dance. While Jobs is a pivotal figure, listeners probably never heard of the song or dance until listening to the album, making the track not very influential at all. The track could potentially be the downfall track of the album.
“You Got It” has more of a reggae acoustic tone that makes the song perfect to blast on the radio. The song is mostly about someone who admires a female that has caught his attention and seems to be perfect. “I got a crush that’s so hard core. / You’re breaking my heart through the sliding doors / Darling turn around / Let me talk to you.”
“Can You Feel It,” and the next track, “Mamacita,” sound like they are by two completely different artists. Halfway through the album, “Mamacita,” a good song choice for a party, has more of a pop-rock feel to it than “Can You Feel It,” which seems a bit out of place on the album.
“Tank Top” is another track on the album that could have club potential. The song replaces guitars and drums with loud bass and synthesizers. Although the song resembles “Wobble” in terms of obnoxious and repetitive lyrics, “Tank Top” has a catchier beat.
The next track, “Not Alone,” is a 180-degree turn in terms of lyrical content. More of an emotional and serious song, the pop-rock ballad includes lyrics like “My greatest fear is losing you / I never want to be the one to fail you / and there’s no doubt, I’m missing out / I’m not there but I should be.” The song shows that the band has a more sentimental side, which the album certainly lacks up to that point.
“Love Gone Wrong” starts out by describing a relationship that took a turn once the girl’s bad habits were revealed. “Shoplifting what she needs / Crime pays when the bill’s on me / She picks pockets because she’s knows it’s free / She’s so hood but she’s good to me.” The listener may notice that as the album nears the end, the band gradually returns back to their rock sound.
The album closes with “Get on Outta Here,” a track that fuses dubstep with hip hop and rap. The song repeats the lyrics, “Get on outta here / Get on out / Get gone / Take yourself home,” making it one of the least memorable tracks on the album.
Overall, the album would make a good party playlist for those looking for a range of sounds. While Family Force 5 stitches together almost every type of genre into one album, it manages to remain cohesive despite being a bit overwhelming at times.