Relient K reminds me of a lot of things. Sitting on a bus on the way to Emerald Point with an attractive girl singing along to their then hit “Be My Escape”. Going through a pop-punk phase, which included Relient K, Green Day, and Good Charlotte. And finally, making my mom cry when she heard the 11 minute epic, “Deathbed”. All our happy memories and all are supported by Relient K. I was and still am a bug fan of their 2004 release, mmhmm. It still remains as one of the best Pop-Punk albums of all time, next to Sum 41’s “Chuck” and Green Days “Dookie” of course. So that’s how I came to discover Relient K.
Good Stuff
I first knew about this release “5 Score and Seven Years Ago” while using one of my best friends bathroom. It was sitting in a disc player in there, so I just put it on. Pretty soon the first two songs seeped into my head. Plead The Fifth and Come Right Out and Say It were both highly catchy and a little on the poppy side. Pretty much letting us know that Relient K has not strayed far from their Pop-Punk standard. Songs such as Faking My own Suicide has the band leaning toward a country influence, which they delightfully pull off. Pleading The Fifth is an all acapella number about a death conspiracy on Lincoln. Okay… but the song works well and Matt’s voice seems suited for just about everything. I Need You sounds almost like a normal punk song, with its fast paced beat and minor cords, but is still and almost punk song. Being a guitar band too, Relient K sure doesn’t carry the cool effects and uses of the last album, but employ some cool effects on some of the songs. Bite My Tongue, Devastation and Reform, and Give Until There’s nothing left feature some cool parts. Devastation and Reform is the best song on the entire record (next to deathbed) and employs pretty much everything that Relient K Is known for. Guitar effects, solos, cleverly written lyrics, and Matt using his voice to his full potential are the highlights of this song. Which somehow brings us to Deathbed, the best song on the album and the best song Relient K has ever made. Matt Theissen is considered a genius (at least in my mind) for coming up with this song. A soaring 11 minutes long, it never lets up from the beginning. It literally made my Mom cry when she heard it, because its message is so potent and fits everyone. Needless to say, go and download it right now. Actually pay money for it too. It’s that good.
Bad Stuff
Not much. When a dedicated Relient K fan puts this in the player, their probably going to hate for a while. I know I did. Even if you look at this albums average rating, you’ll understand why. Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I Care is a big waste of time. I’ll even quote the lyrics for you in one easy second.
I Just Wasted/ Ten Seconds Of Your Life (C chord)
I still find it amusing that the song is actually 12 seconds long. Up and Up is boring, but probably only because its placed near the end, before Deathbed. The lyrics for Give Until There’s nothing left, while potent and true, are cheesy and dumb sounding from the very beginning. The Best Thing is a useless filler track, used to just make the album longer. Forgiven (even if I’m in the minority about this) is terrible and only made for Christian radio or something like that. Must Have Done Something Right is annoying and only good for people who like Top 40(or soccer). If you’ve seen the video you’ll know what I mean. That’s pretty much it.
Overall, Relient K made a better produced fifth effort (Ha, just now got that). I look forward to some future material, but still long for the day that the band will better the almighty mmhmm.
Recommended Tracks
I Need You
Devastation and Reform
Faking My Own Suicide
Deathbed
Download NOW!
Deathbed
Individual Track Rating
Pleading The Fifth 3/5
Come Right Out And Say It 4/5
I Need You 4/5
The Best Thing 1/5
Forgiven 2/5
Must Have Done Something Right 2/5
Give Until There’s Nothing Left 3.5/5
Devastation and Reform 5/5
I’m Taking You With Me 4/5
Faking My own Suicide 4/5
Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I Care 1/5
Bite My Tongue 3/5
Up And Up 2/5
Deathbed 5/5
Average Rating. 3.1 = 3
-scars
