There's more to Roper than is obvious. The All Music Guide classifies the band under the broad category of Gospel. Yet, to these ears, it's maximum punk pop that is punching through the speakers with tracks like "Hello Lamewads" and "You're With Stupid!"
Despite the pervading dumbing down images thrown into the CD sleeve, the website, and in lyrics like "Cross yourself for the Virgin Mary/Don't turn your back on a mercenary" ("Red Eye to Miami"), in truth, Roper is a fairly sophisticated outfit, and its musicality is never in question as the pristine tunes, sweet harmonies, and spot-on reference points raise Brace Yourself For The Mediocre, well above average.
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Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Phil NicholsDon't let the band's age fool you: though this five-piece has only been together for a little over a year, they are no strangers to the world of rock and roll. As an astute observer might have guessed, Roper is the brainchild of ex-Five Iron Frenzy front man, Reese Roper. On Brace Yourself For The Mediocre, Reese has assembled an all-star cast to assist him on his debut venture. Combined, the…Decapolis December 2004Reviewed by Justin BrinkerIt is hard to believe that a year has gone by since Five Iron Frenzy bid farewell to many fans in Colorado. A band that was always heads and shoulders above its colleagues in a genre that was irrelevant and stale as soon as it had reared its head from the so-called "underground." Front man, Reese Roper, had dabbled in his side project, Brave Saint Saturn, throughout the remaining few years of the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Sarah VernoAs I witnessed the final moments of Five Iron Frenzy's last concert here in Colorado, the thought of Reese Roper (the former front man of FIF) hitting the road with another band and a new album was merely a question blowing in the wind. Less than a year later, Reese is at it again and hasn't seemed to miss a beat. It's as if Reese has raised Five Iron Frenzy from the dead, except this time around…Similar sounding releases
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