The End Is Near (Five Iron Frenzy album)
Encyclopedia
The End is Near is the fifth and purported final studio album by Five Iron Frenzy
, self-released on June 18, 2003. The album was later widely re-released as a part of double album titled The End is Here (stylized as The End isNear Here) by Five Minute Walk Records on April 20, 2004. The double album includes the studio album and a live recording of the band's final concert performance.
, the visual artist who had previously worked on three other Five Iron Frenzy covers. The packaging for The End is Near features a red motif for the cover and artwork while the re-release, The End isNear Here, includes a green layout. Otherwise both version contain the same artwork by TenNapel. The self-released version is missing a barcode and instead included a blank space reading "I LAST SAW FIVE IRON FRENZY ON" which the band themselves stamped with that day's date when sold from their merchandise tables on their farewell tour.
On November 22, 2003 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado
, the band played their final show and recorded it. On April 20, 2004, the double disc set The End isNear Here was released for retail and included the studio album and the final performance. On this double disc set the the first disc and the live second disc are titled The End is Near and The End is Here respectively. Another inclusion on the double disc set was one extra studio track "The Cross of Saint Andrew" which was not on the earlier self-release.
Both versions of the studio album feature a hidden track of Five Iron Frenzy talking in the recording studio. Additionally the studio album on the double disc set features a second hidden track. The additional hidden track is composed of outtakes from the final performance: most of the stage banter that was cut from the second disc for pacing purposes.
, and the song features a sample of the line spoken in the video game. "That's How the Story Ends" is a song stlylized along the lines of "The Raven
," a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
. Backmasking
dialog at the beginning of the song is lead singer Reese Roper saying "Sandwiches, they make the best friends." Lyrically the song make references to past Five Iron Frenzy songs and gives epilogue
s to the narrative of those songs. The songs referenced are "Where Is Micah?", "Blue Comb '78", "Shut Up", "The Untimely Death Of Brad", "These Are Not My Pants (The Rock Opera)", "Combat Chuck", "Kitty Doggy" and "Kingdom Of The Dinosaurs". The coda
of the song "On Distant Shores" is borrowed from Five Iron Frenzy's "Every New Day," a song that closed all their live performances.
Jesus Freak Hideout
reviewed the album of its original self-released form and gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 rating. Cross Rhythms
also reviewing the first version of the studio album gave it a 10 out of 10.
Reviewing the double disc set The Phantom Tollbooth
gave the it a five out of five. Likewise, HM Magazine
music critic Doug Van Pelt stated that the live material captured the raw energy and spiritual fervor that the band was known for.
Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band announced they were recording new material on November 22, 2011....
, self-released on June 18, 2003. The album was later widely re-released as a part of double album titled The End is Here (stylized as The End is
Packaging & Release
The End is Here was recorded in early 2003 and sold directly by the band during their farewell tour and through their official website. The cover and packaging artwork was done by Doug TenNapelDoug TenNapel
Douglas Richard "Doug" TenNapel is an American musician, animator, Eisner Award-winning artist, author, essayist and Christian. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a famous video game, cartoon series, and toy line.-Early life:TenNapel was born and raised in the...
, the visual artist who had previously worked on three other Five Iron Frenzy covers. The packaging for The End is Near features a red motif for the cover and artwork while the re-release, The End is
On November 22, 2003 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, the band played their final show and recorded it. On April 20, 2004, the double disc set The End is
Both versions of the studio album feature a hidden track of Five Iron Frenzy talking in the recording studio. Additionally the studio album on the double disc set features a second hidden track. The additional hidden track is composed of outtakes from the final performance: most of the stage banter that was cut from the second disc for pacing purposes.
Music
The song "Wizard Needs Food, Badly" is a reference to the 1985 arcade game GauntletGauntlet (arcade game)
Gauntlet is a fantasy-themed hack and slash 1985 arcade game by Atari Games. It is noted as the first class-based multiplayer game. Released during the emergence of popularity of other role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, the game was a sensation, being one of the first true dungeon crawl...
, and the song features a sample of the line spoken in the video game. "That's How the Story Ends" is a song stlylized along the lines of "The Raven
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845. It is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness...
," a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
. Backmasking
Backmasking
Backmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward...
dialog at the beginning of the song is lead singer Reese Roper saying "Sandwiches, they make the best friends." Lyrically the song make references to past Five Iron Frenzy songs and gives epilogue
Epilogue
An epilogue, epilog or afterword is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature or drama, usually used to bring closure to the work...
s to the narrative of those songs. The songs referenced are "Where Is Micah?", "Blue Comb '78", "Shut Up", "The Untimely Death Of Brad", "These Are Not My Pants (The Rock Opera)", "Combat Chuck", "Kitty Doggy" and "Kingdom Of The Dinosaurs". The coda
Coda
Coda can denote any concluding event, summation, or section.Coda may also refer to:-Acronyms:* Calgary Olympic Development Association, the former name of the Canadian Winter Sport Institute, a non profit organization...
of the song "On Distant Shores" is borrowed from Five Iron Frenzy's "Every New Day," a song that closed all their live performances.
Reception
Both the original version of the studio album and the double disc studio and live set received positive reviews.Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
reviewed the album of its original self-released form and gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 rating. Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
also reviewing the first version of the studio album gave it a 10 out of 10.
Reviewing the double disc set The Phantom Tollbooth
The Phantom Tollbooth
The Phantom Tollbooth is a children's adventure novel and modern fairy tale published in 1961, written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer. It tells the story of a bored young boy named Milo who unexpectedly receives a magic tollbooth one afternoon and, having nothing better to do,...
gave the it a five out of five. Likewise, HM Magazine
HM Magazine
HM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
music critic Doug Van Pelt stated that the live material captured the raw energy and spiritual fervor that the band was known for.
Self-Released "Red" version
Retail released "Green" version
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Top Heatseekers | 13 |