Relient K has managed to something that rarely we see a band do in their fifth release: top their previous four releases while maintaining that familiar sound that defined Relient K as a gigantic, monstrous musical force to be reckoned with. Light and poppy, but deep and dark, Relient K takes us through the everyman's daily struggle with both, his human and spiritual self. Loaded with the witty lyrics that Relient K is so famous for, "Five Score & Seven Years Ago" is, undeniably, a gem.

"There's a lot more variety in terms of the music[:] it has a broader scope and it's much more diverse," said the band when I asked them about their latest release. "It has more instruments and more vocals." Right they are. With the addition of John Warne (bass) and Jon Schneck (guitars, banjo, mandolin, etc), Relient K now has five (that's right - five) singing voices. The result? A richer, fuller melodic structure that accents in just the right places in every song - most notably in their first single "Must Have Done Something Right" and their album-ending, 11-minute musical and lyrical masterpiece: "Deathbed" (which features the voice of Switchfoot's Jon Foreman as "Jesus"). Musically, the sound is as tight as ever: the progressions, the riffy guitars, the injective drumming - all mixed with excellence (the production, by the way, is phenomenal). One thing that one notices rather quickly is the appearance of the piano in more songs. A welcomed addition, since it truly makes the sound deeper and fuller.

Lyrically, their humor is, as always, evident on some songs, but there are a few darker humored songs that kind of pick up where "Who I am Hates Who I've Been" (from their album "MmHmm") left us. Focusing on redemption, Relient K declares that, no matter what, God can give you another chance: "Yeah, we're fallen people. Yeah, we're sinful, you know? That's going to happen," said the band, "but He's always there, you know? He'll dust us off and give us a hug." Other songs, like "Faking My Own Suicide" and "The Best Thing", take a fresh and fun look at love and relationships.

In short, "Five Score & Seven Years Ago" is an awesome follow-up to "MmHmm" and, in this critic's opinion, out-did it. If you thought blandly of their previous releases: although this album still carries that Relient K flavor of their previous albums, there's definitely something different on this one - you might want to give it a try. It doesn't matter how long you've been a Relient K fan, this is the album that you've been waiting for. If you're not a Relient K fan yet, brace yourself - you're in for a big, happy surprise!

Enjoy!

I had been heavily anticipating Relient K's new album for about two weeks, ever since I had decided on a whim to rip my friend's copy of Mmhm. Well it being my Spring Break and all, I woke up at 11 yesterday and immediately zipped to Best Buy to buy Five Score...

Being a new fan, I hadn't really had the opportunity to listen to a lot of their older stuff, save for Two Lefts Don't Make A Right and SOME of Tongue in Cheek...but you can really hear their musical progression from one album to the next. Matt Thiessen's songwriting has always been Grade A, but with the previous three releases he's taken it to an entirely different level. Mmhm IS the true Relient K sound...with songs like When I Go Down, Be My Escape, Life After Death and Taxes, Who I Am Hates Who I've Been...

But now we have Five Score and the band has once again taken their sound to another level.

From the opening Beatles/Beach Boys-esque harmonies of "Plead the Fifth", and then on to the rocking "Come Right Out and Say It" and "I Need You," it's apparent immediately that the band has raised their game. It's still Relient K, but it's Relient K more refined and focused than they've ever been. Everything is in perfect balance.

We then have "The Best Thing," which is the first of a few songs about the newfound love of his life. As with many songs on the cd, is has a great piano riff throughout as well as a ridiculously catchy chorus.

"Forgiven" is my personal favorite song on the cd. Again, a very nice piano riff underneath a frantic strumming guitar, followed by a chorus that just swells...."We're all guilty of the same things, we think the thoughts whether or not we see them through, and I know that I have been forgiven..."

"Must Have Done Something Right" is a pretty playful love song that is once again very catchy.

"Give Until There's Nothing Left" is probably my second favorite song on the cd with, per usual, a great message.

"Devastation and Reform" is another rocking track with a very nice guitar riff from Hoopes. Great chorus.

"I'm Taking You With Me" is another love song. Pretty good.

"Faking My Own Suicide" has slide guitars and great folk sound to it. Unlike anything I've heard from RK before. Great song.

"Bite My Tongue" has more great guitar work and another great message...don't cause pain through words.

"Up and Up" is yet another well-written, uplifting, happy track about celebrating everyday of your life. Great chorus and great song.

"Death Bed" is about a dying cancer patient. It sounds like a song titled "death bed" might be really heavy, sad way of ending such a happy cd, but while the song is very powerful, it's not what you think it probably is. It's probably not much of a stretch to say that this is the best song Matt Thiessen has ever written. The verses recount the dying man's life behind a very bouncy beat and great piano playing. Matt Thiessen apparently played about 12 instruments in this song which is really a testament to what an amazingly talented individual he really is. This song IS Relient K, and it continues their trend of ending their albums with great songs...ala Jefferson Aero Plane, When I Go Down...

Well, yeah, it's an amazing album. Go out and purchase a copy if you want to hear one of the best kept secrets in pop music. Okay, maybe they aren't THAT big of a secret, but they are still relatively under the radar...probably because of the Christian Rock label. But as Matt T said, "C.S. Lewis wasn't about just writing to Christians to make them better. He was about writing books that everyone could read and expand their minds. That's what music is all about, too. [Not long] ago it was absurd that P.O.D. was doing Ozzfest or that Sixpence None the Richer was all over the radio. Then, all the sudden, it's all changed."

Like most people who reviewed this album, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. As a long-time fan (since 2000--right after their self-titled release), I have seen them mature over the years along with my music tastes.

My first impression wasn't a good one: I heard "Must Have Done Something Right" on MySpace and, although it's alright, it's was not exactly the "mature Relient K" I had expected. Turns out, that is my least favorite track on the album (I hope Capitol Records picked this as their No. 1 single, not they guys of RK). Their lyrics and music have, without question, progressed with each and every CD they release.

The CD concludes with a song called "Deathbed" that is the masterpiece of--not only Matt Thiessen's song-writing career--but I think it's the best piece of work Relient K has ever done. The lyrics are...beyond words. The 11-minute long song tells the story of a man who has made choices throughout his life that he regrets (By '47, I was fourteen/I'd acquired a taste for liquor and nicotine/I smoked until I threw up, yet I still lit 'em up/For thirty more years, like a machine).

As he is dying, he eventually accepts Jesus into his life (I was so scared of Jesus, but he sought me out/Like the cancer in my lungs that's killing me now/And I've given up hope on the days I have left/But I cling to the hope of my life in the next) and the regrets of what he has done in his life (You cried wolf, the tears they soaked your fur/The blood dripped from your fangs/You said 'What have I done?'/You loved that lamb with every sinful bone/And there you wept alone/Your heart was so contrite). It is truly the best song of Relient K's career, and the song ends with the lead singer of Switchfoot, Jon, singing as Jesus. Five days later, this is still my favorite song that I repeat almost ad nauseum.

This does not take away from the rest of the album, though. RK starts to explore new territory beyond the piano and banjo on "Mmhmm." From the a capella "Plead the Fifth" to the Death Cab sounding "Give Until There's Nothing Left" to the folky song "Faking My Own Suicide" that Thiessen did originally with his side-project, Matt Thiessen and the Earthquakes.

While RK has certianly expanded their horizons musically, they have stuck to what got them to be one of the most popular mainstream Christian artists today. "I Need You", "Bite My Tongue" and "Come Right Out and Say It" sound like the old RK, only with more mature lyrics. My other favorites (other than the ones I mentioned in this review) include "Forgiven" and "Devestation and Reform."

Whether you're a new fan, an old fan or someone who has never been a fan of them before, you should give this album a try. They're not the strictly pop-punk band they used to be; they have become something that can appeal to most audiences.

Okay so I've been a Relient K fan for a while now, but I have to admit. This CD is the best, most lyrically profound yet and the music is simply amazing.

1. Plead the Fifth 6/10 ~ The intro to the album is quite...interesting. It sounds cool with the accapella, but I really don't understand the words *blinks*

2.Come Out Right and Say It 9/10 ~ Why don't you come right out and say it? This song will rock your socks. You can say it. Come on.

3. I Need You 9/10 ~ The instruments rocking out at the beginning is awesome and I love how it gradually builds up into the chorus, and then there are the "whoa's" that are everywhere in the album. Fun one to play air drums to. Haha.

4. The Best Thing 8/10 ~ Not one of my favorites, but it's alright.

5. Forgiven 10/10 ~ LOVE IT! It's one of my absolute favorites. The lyrics are great.

6. Must Have Done Something Right 9/10 ~ A great classic-sounding Relient K song. If you haven't checked out the music video yet you must. Go. Now. No, wait and read this review first if you please. =] Haha.

7. Give Until There's Nothing Left 8/10 ~ Nice, kinda slow, but nice.

8. Devestation and Reform 8/10 ~ The guitar at the beginning rocks. Another fun air drums song.

9. I'm Taking You With Me 10/10 ~ Ah! Another of my favorites! The tune is really catchy and there's "whoa's" in this song too. The best "whoa's" in the album, methinks. Wow that sounds weird.

10. Faking My Own Suicide 9.5/10 ~ I really like this song. It's different and fresh

11. Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I Care 9/10 ~ One word. Hilarious.

12. Bite my Tongue 10/10 ~ I can't help but move with this song. Especially the chorus.

13. Up and Up 9/10 ~ More whoa's! They are seriously everywhere, but Relient K can definitely pull it off. And it sounds incredible too.

14. Deathbed 9/10 ~ An 11 minute song! The lyrics are thought provoking, the tune and the vocals are great, as are the instruments.

Relient K deserves a gold star! Yay! *applaudes*

Alright then

There's my review

And that is the end

I hope it was helpful

Relient K fanatic friend

Thank you for your time. =]

After months and months of anticipation for Relient K's newest work I was worried I was setting myself up for dissapointment. I began to love each of their albums more and more since "Anatomy" and they grew to become my favorite band. After first hearing their first fun, catchy single "must have done something right" my excitement hit a peek. Was I to be dissapointed by the album?

Not in any way.

I love every song on the cd. Relient K kept their same sound that I loved from "mmhmm" but yet still matured it in a way with piano and their voices that it got even better (all five members sing throughout the album, including the awesome accapella first track "Plead the Fifth", which caused me to first think I had mistakenly played a Guster cd, and then when I was assured it was Relient K's, the song began to sound like that of the Beach Boys). I was worried when I read that they had two folky sounding songs "Faking my own suicide" and "deathbed" on the album, but they ended up to be my favorite songs on the cd! "Faking my own suicide" is soft and sweet but yet also made me laugh, and "Deathbed" is very powerful, probably the most powerful lyrics Theissen has ever written.

Other personal favorites: "Im Taking You With Me", "Forgiven", "The Best Thing", and "Must Have Done Something Right" (but its hard to choose cause they are all awesome!)

Most definately buy "Five Score"