Relient K Albums (8)
'Forget and Not Slow Down'
Release Date 10/6/2009
Tracks 15
Label Jive
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What The Critics Say
Relient K's sixth studio album (and first with Mono Vs Stereo and Jive Records) represents the veteran alternative CCM outfit's official entry in the insufferable/cathartic (depending on where the listener is in his/her lives) "breakup album" category. Unsurprisingly, lead singer and songwriter Matt Thiessen's take on heartbreak is a genuinely hopeful one, a stance achieved by submitting to complete isolation in a remote Tennessee lake house during Forget and Not Slow Down's creation. Thiessen's penchant for machine-gun-fired torrents of both secular and non-secular self-discovery on top of impossibly catchy melodies makes for a remarkably upbeat listen, and the band's efficient, late-'90s alternative rock delivery feels far less stale than bands with a similar feel. That's not to say that its' all Matchbox 20 and Foo Fighters, as Relient K can deal out a jangle pop ("Candlelight") or adult alternative pop/rock ("Over It") gem when called for, but there's a certain fireplace familiarity to the whole affair (think Ben Folds without the snarky bits) that makes it all go down easy, despite the obvious emotional turmoil that spawned it. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
'Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer'
Release Date 10/23/2007
Tracks 17
Label Capitol
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What The Critics Say
Relient K's holiday album is culled from two different sources; seven tracks are new recordings, while the album's bulk is taken from a previous release, 2003's Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hands. Accordingly, listeners are treated to two different sounds -- the straight-ahead pop/punk of the band's early years, and the slick sounds of their post-Capitol debut. One can only assume that Let It Snow Baby...Let it Reindeer is geared toward existing fans only, many of whom already own 60-percent of this album. Still, it's still nice to hear the difference a few years can make, as Relient K has aged rather quickly (and rather well) since the group's previous Christmas offering. Occupying the spotlight is Matt Thiessen, who sings the pre-existing carols with the same snot-nosed bravado as countless other acts but tackles the newer cuts with an improved range and delivery. Having climbed into the upper echelon of punk bandleaders in recent years, Thiessen is now a responsible frontman, flipping into his falsetto during "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and helming a surprisingly catchy rendition of "Sleigh Ride." The latter song also features a slew of varied tempos and textures, two important stipulations for creating an engaging Christmas album. We've heard these songs before, often to an incalculable extent, so Relient K's unique renditions are as gratifying as they are slickly produced. Don't expect Let It Snow Baby to pack the same holiday punch as The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (although "Auld Lang Syne" does feature some spot-on a cappella), but rather enjoy the record for what it unabashedly is: a solid record for returning fans, and a harmlessly appealing listen for everyone else. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
'Five Score and Seven Years Ago'
Release Date 3/5/2007
Tracks 14
Label Parlophone
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What The Critics Say
At times sophisticated, redeeming, and preposterously silly, Relient K crafted a masterpiece of punk-based power pop on Five Score and Seven Years Ago, their fifth album in -- guess how long. The quintet's mature yet playful fare fell far from the fleeting superficiality that has plagued dozens of sound-alike groups. Frontman Matt Thiessen once again showed his knack for constructing a cohesive yet wildly diverse album of radio rock that satisfies every camp, from the band's grassroots Christian fans to the thousands who were introduced to them on the Vans Warped Tour. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, a handsome feat considering the bandmembers still considered themselves "under the radar" at the time. One of the most striking differences between this and their early work is the appearance of love songs that end up happy. Lead single "Must Have Done Something Right" is a buoyant ode to healthy relationships using the band's trademark wit: "We should get jerseys/'Cause we make a good team." Tracks like "Up and Up," "I'm Taking You with Me," and "The Best Thing" are more earnest and positive than fans may typically expect. Other highlights include "Faking My Own Suicide" and the 11-minute album closer, "Deathbed," the latter of which was compared to every theatrical rock epic from the Who's "A Quick One While He's Away" to "Bohemian Rhapsody." Producer Howard Benson (Hoobastank, My Chemical Romance, All-American Rejects) added a radio-friendly sheen to every track. Rather than use the genre as a crutch, Relient K showed that a punk-pop record could truly be innovative and memorable with Five Score. ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide
'Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand'
Release Date 11/7/2006
Tracks 10
Label Gotee
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What The Critics Say
After moving away from their patented pop/punk approach on 2003's Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...But Three Do, spiritual rockers Relient K revert back to their proven formula of yore on MMHMM. Christian punk sounds more like an oxymoron than a subgenre, but frontman/ lyricist Matt Thiessen wins with the subtle, poppy prose ("Live your life for those that you love") heard on "The One I'm Waiting For." Elsewhere, "High of 75" is wryly, albeit overly optimistic and if there's perhaps an abundance of upbeat songcraft, Relient K aren't always shiny, happy people. The best example of this is "Which to Bury; Us or the Hatchet?," where love turns to relation-sh*t and back again in a roaring, cathartic swirl. At times the lads in Relient K come off a bit too mainstream for their own good, but you've got to give them thanks for not going straight for the jugular the way so many other Christian rockers might. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
'Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do'
Release Date 3/11/2003
Tracks 15
Label Gotee
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What The Critics Say
Relient K is a 'can't miss' proposition in the secular market. On their third disc, Two Left's Don't Make a Right. . .But Three Do, the band is very strong, singing relevant lyrics to the X generation and beyond with the fervor of a bull horn. This release may be the crossover vehicle that launches the band into the stratosphere. Matthew Thiessen's snotty vocals are at their height, with bashing guitars making a noise, too. "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry," kicks off the opus with an alternative musical barrage. On a large portion of the disc, guitars are big all over. It's hard to say the band has reached a maturity when lyrical topics include Boy Meets World, Tears for Fears, and cell phones, but on the flip side, cuts like "Falling Out" has "hit single" written all over it, with its driving rhythm and musical interludes that give way to intelligent, well-placed lyrics. "Forward Motion" is punk passion, where most bands would blow through this guitar-charged cut, Relient K pulls back the throttle, as a well-delivered piano brings the song to an eloquent close."Getting Into You" is a tune that will have radio legs. The tune is delivered with an acoustic guitar, and the humbleness and reverence that Thiessen has for his Creator is evident. Two Left's Don't Make a Right. . .But Three Do is a disc that establishes Relient K as the rulers of the punk kingdom. The tunes, the energy, and the guitars will leave your toes tapping for many spins. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide
'The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek'
Release Date 8/28/2001
Tracks 17
Label Gotee
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What The Critics Say
Relient K, named after guitarist Matt Hoopes' well-worn and battered Reliant K car, released their sophomore album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, in August 2001. The Gotee label artists -- with members Matt Hoopes, Matthew Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Stephen Cushman -- combine the styles of ska and punk, resembling the sound of groups such as MXPX and the O.C. Supertones. The highly energetic band, who once intended on leading worship, offers socially relevant topics communicated in understandable language. Geared toward teenagers and young adults, the pop culture references in tracks including "Sadie Hawkins Dance" and "Maybe Its Maybeline" are quickly identifiable and immediately grasp the listener's attention. Definite highlights include the acoustic "For the Moments I Feel Faint" and "The Rest Is up to You." ~ Ashleigh Kittle, All Music Guide
