Five for Fighting

Piles of platinum testify to the addictive, lasting power of John Ondrasik's hooks, and by bookending this live session with his two biggest singles -- "100 Years" and "Superman (It's Not Easy)" -- this plays like a mid-career greatest hits compilation. Most of the songs here support Ondrasik's expressive falsetto melodies with gently rollicking piano chords and simple backbeats, allowing the essentials of his craft as a songwriter to shine through. With just vocals and piano, the rendition of "Superman" is a particularly uncluttered delight.