The timing couldn’t have been better for the release of Five Point Plan’s second album, Rare, in 2002. The album fit right alongside the myriad other neo-soul albums flooding the market around this time, released in the wake of huge-selling albums and Grammy nominations (and wins) by Alicia Keys and India Arie. Despite the glut of neo-soul albums on the market at the time, the sudden interest in good old-fashioned soul music with a contemporary, urban edge no doubt worked in Five Point Plan’s favor. And yes, the group caters to the neo-soul crowd on Rare. The tight arrangements and earthy playing of Five Point Plan’s musicians — Jordan Glasgow (keyboards), Tim Carter (drums, percussion), Michael Cruz (bass, background vocals), and David Metzner (guitar) — that characterized the group’s self-titled 1999 debut are still here, as are lead singer Latrice Barnett’s sultry vocals. However, the group adds extra flavor to the mix, incorporating a roster of guest musicians — most notably Merl Saunders on Hammond B-3 on “Take Me” — who expand Five Point Plan’s standard sound. These additional musicians help make Rare a much more dynamic and engaging album than the first Five Point Plan release; no two songs here sound alike. Overall, Rare finds the group moving forward, inching closer toward excellence without forsaking the attributes that made Five Point Plan such a wonderful group in the first place. – Jason Birchmeier