John Ondrasik caught my attention with “Superman,” and his latest album, Slice, reinforces that his narrative storytelling and songwriting continues to get better. Inspecting Americana, Ondrasik’s influence has extended to various charities, and his support of the military has drawn attention to him. In Slice, his inclination to be syimpathetic to various situations shines through in wonderful lyrical ways.
Remembering how things used to be in the title track, the nostalgia that Ondrasik seems to bring with him is palpable. It seems like country music often goes through the cycles of missing what used to be, but this works here, too. His “Letter to The Unknown Soldier” is even better, and admittedly explores questions of love, loss, death, and waking to a different world because of the sacrifice of others. “Tuesday” shows some of the same backward reflection, but “Chances” gets around to the future.
Looking at love, specifically between two young people (in the music video), “Chances” has a hopeful vibe that lets us move forward, where some of the other things (think “Wishing Well”) seem to have the moments already pass us by before we get there. Instead, this is hopeful and sweet, and looking to the future! “This Dance” highlights the piano from the very beginning, and shows a strain in Ondrasik’s voice that passionately reaches out. Ondrasik busts out the falsetto you’ve heard before, and the romance is practically palpable.
Ondrasik is still dealing with real life, but it seems a bit more lighthearted in “Above The Timberline.” It’s back to the melancholy of our lives in “Transfer,” but I’m reminded of While You Were Sleeping. It seems so easy for us to miss each other even when we bump into each other, or even when we live or work together. Still, there’s “Hope” in the words and music of Five For Fighting whether he titles it that or not; he’s looking forward even as he reflects on the past.
I think Ondrasik’s voice sets him apart, but his storytelling, his tone, reminds me of Billy Joel. There’s fun, there’s passion, there’s the ability to reflect on mistakes and success, and somehow, there’s always the belief that you can overcome it. Nothing sums that up better than “Story of Your Life,” and that seems to be a proper wrap up for the album. That’s not to say that the poppy “Love Can’t Change The Weather” or “Augie Nieto” aren’t sweet, they’re just on their own terms.
No matter which one you like the best, there are plenty of songs to move your heart and help you tell your story. And isn’t that what we’re looking for?
