By Cathy Guiles

Perspectives Co-Editor

The latest release from Christian artists Five Iron Frenzy (FIF), ``Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo,'' features familiar lyrical themes but a somewhat different musical style for an intelligent, enjoyable album.

The Denver-based ska-punk band comes across as more serious and less goofy than in previous efforts. There are still the trademark fun songs like ``Pre-Ex-Girlfriend'' (the title alone is worth a chuckle) and ``You Can't Handle This.'' However, lead singer and songwriter Reese Roper also pens several refreshingly honest, soul-searching songs about spiritual struggles such as the difficulty of living faithfully as a Christian from one day to the next.

One good thing that hasn't changed is the band's strong social conscience. On ``The Day We Killed,'' they chastise the United States government's deplorable history of killing, neglecting and constantly breaking treaties with Native American nations: ``The way you live shows no remorse/ for the day/ the day we killed Crazy Horse/ Innocence with glassy eyes/ Kill the nation, steal their pride.'' But they also go one step further, challenging the listener to confront the reality of the situation and work to rectify it.

Other social ills confronted on this album are consumerism (``Vultures'') and the shallowness and profit-mindedness of the Christian subculture, specifically contemporary Christian music. ``Blue Mix'' follows in the vein of ``Four Fifty-One'' from last year's studio album ``All the Hype That Money Can Buy'' with this challenge to fans: ``You are responsible/ to watch what you buy/ these bands that you love/ pull the wool over your eyes/ So watch them/ Watch us/ Watch them.''

(One minor caveat: The band's anti-materialist stance doesn't completely jibe with the fact that they list several ``sponsors'' on the liner notes, including companies like Jansport and Epiphone guitars, without further explanation of their relationship to the band.)

Another song that deserves special mention is ``Car,'' written by saxophonist Jeff Ortega after the death of her brother Carlos. The lyrics are moving in their portrayal of her stages of grief, and listeners who have lost a loved one can find comfort from this song.

Musically, FIF's style on this album veers towards punk with a few horns thrown in, rather than true ska. Many songs sound like they'd fit better next to Blink-182 on a radio playlist than on a typical CCM station. Given the band's track record of touring with general-market artists, that seems appropriate.