42Five

Review: Mid-Atlantic Harmony Sweeps Regional winners 4:2:Five are James, Earl, Layne, Geoff, and Scott. E.P. was produced by Jeff Thacher of Rockapella, and it shows. There are five songs here, all originals, all excellent, with driving harmonies and tight vocal percussion, reminiscent of Rockapella and The House Jacks. 'look at me,' 'move my way,' 'you gotta know,' our favorite, 'why do you' with its soaring refrain, and 'life,' a sweet crowd-pleaser with an infectious vocal beat. Normally we're kind of so-so about selling what is essentially a sampler, but this one has the goods. We're totally psyched about seeing and hearing them at the Finals on May 5th - these guys have the kind of talent (and looks) that stars are made of, and they could easily win it all!

Songlist: Look At Me, Move My Way, You Gotta Know, Why Do You?, Life

Review: When we first saw the four young men of 4:2:Five at the Harmony Sweeps Finals, we knew they were going places fast. Their sound brings to mind Rockapella, the Coats and the House Jacks, and they do most of their own arranging. The aptly-named 'Time Machine' is mostly classic doo-wop covers like 'Come Go With Me,' Barbara Ann,' the Drifters' 'Under the Boardwalk,' Elvis' 'Hound Dog,' 'Blue Moon,' 'Good Old A Cappella,' 'Love Potion #9' and even the beloved Sweeps anthem 'Goodnight Sweetheart.' What makes these 15 songs really 'sing' is James May's sweet leads, as good as any doo-wop leads we've heard. The other guys are right on the beat with the butter-smooth deep-bass and baritone backup vocals. Although technically not doo-wop, James Brown's 'I Feel Good' and the Doobies' 'Joy To The World' really smoke. A stone winner!

Songlist: I Feel Good, Come Go With Me, Barbara Ann, Under the Boardwalk, Hound Dog, Blue Moon, How Sweet It Is, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, So Much in Love, Joy to the World, Good Old A Cappella, Love Potion No. 9, Goodnight Sweetheart, The Chicken Song, Rules

Review: 'Unstoppable' is the third CD by Earl, James, Layne and Geoff, and they've made some serious changes since we loved their set at the 2001 Harmony Sweeps Finals. Once a solid doo-woppish cover quintet with a sound reminiscent of Rockapella and the Coats who did all their own arrangements, they have become an (almost) all-original (written and arranged by group members) quartet with an infectious, techno sound. 11 songs, the supersmooth 'Baby I'm Waiting,' the precise, soaring 'The Rules,' the top-40ish Title tune, the edgy 'Just Listen,' the love song 'Your Moon,' the vocal percussion gems 'Any Note Will Do' and 'Just Listen,' the harmonic anthem 'Slowly Slowly Stop,' the philosophical 'Life,' a cover (one of two) of the BeeGee's 'Stayin' Alive' that's the best we've heard, and a funky, incongruous 'Winter Wonderland' that gives the Blenders a run for their harmony. All a cappella, but with some added echo and vocal distortion. Ordinarily we might have some reservations about such effects, but here they fit seamlessly into one of the richest, most full sounds we have heard an a cappella group produce on a recording, all the more amazing when we consider that they are basically just 4 guys with mikes. 'Unstoppable' pushes the a cappella envelope in a confident, surprising direction, that needs to be listened to again and again to be savored and appreciated. The fact that all the original material is brilliant is only to be expected. Enough superlatives-we love this CD, one of the best of the year!

Songlist: Baby I'm Waiting, The Rules, Unstoppable, If I Tried, Your Moon, Any Note Will Do, Just Listen, Slowly Slowly Stop, Life, Stayin' Alive, Winter Wonderland