Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago

Rating

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RIYL

Anberlin
Fall Out Boy
New Found Glory
Plain White T’s

Tracklist

1. Plead The Fifth
2. Come Right Out And Say It
3. I Need You
4. The Best Thing
5. Forgiven
6. Must Have Done Something Right
7. Give
8. Devastation And Reform
9. I'm Taking You With Me
10. Faking My Own Suicide
11. Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I Care
12. Bite My Tongue
13. Up And Up
14. Deathbed

Users Rating

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2 ratings

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Recent Ratings

Relient K hit it big with their major label debut Mmhmm in 2005. Selling over 500k copies, the guys were determined to outshine the previous endeavor tenfold. Some might think it would be hard to beat out tracks like “Be My Escape” and “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been”, but on Five Score and Seven Years Ago the group has produced their best material to date.

The new album’s production is what really drives the songs home. The guys picked up producer Howard Benson to produce most of the album, but 3 tracks were produced by Mark Townsend (who produced their last album). Songs like “Come Right Out and Say It” burst through your speakers with Matt Theissen’s charismatic singing and anthemic melodies. This song alone beats out any track on their previous CD. Track by track you hear a progression in Relient K’s sound that will make instant hits. It’s almost like the guys went into the studio to write single after single.

Although the CD says it is 14 tracks, there are basically 12 songs. It seems most albums tend to wear down towards the end, but on Five Score and Seven Years Ago you don’t get that. “Bite My Tongue”, which is the third to last song, is jam-packed with energy and when the chorus hits it’s ecstatic. The last track, “Deathbed” (featuring guest vocals from Jonathan Foreman (of Switchfoot), is the stand out track on the album. It differs from all the previous tracks, sound wise. It has a more indie sound with the melancholic guitars and soft spoken drums. The melody fits the song to a T because it is from a first person perspective of a cancer patient. The song ends the album flawlessly.

Going into the Christian aspect of the band is not necessary, because it takes away from the album. It almost seems like labels think you can stamp “Christian” on a band’s forehead and it will sell. Well, Relient K doesn’t need that stamp of approval because their music speaks for itself. They have a positive message and play some of the best pop/rock music around. It won’t be surprising if this album easily surprises what Mmhmm accomplished.

--Chris Conlan

Author

Chris Conlan
Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:55PM

Comments

zrbrown
02/20/2007
06:58AM
Age: 30
Location
Cincinnasty, OH
I have been a Relient K fan since their first album and unlike many bands I have continued to follow and enjoy all of their releases with each one topping the last. That trend continues because this is an excellent disc. I agree with you Chris that they don't have to push their Christian beliefs to sell albums (which sadly, some Christian artists/labels do) because their music is good enough to generate buzz. Great all around disc and I completely agree with the score you gave. Nice review.
Rick Gebhardt
02/20/2007
07:10AM
Age: 31
Location
Minnesota
Chris, seriously, wtf? I'm ashamed to say I know you.

Find me EVERYWHERE:

genuhaven
02/20/2007
07:13AM
Location
MA
Howard Benson is one of the worst producers in the industry today. I hate everything he has ever recorded because he makes it sound so "produced". I guarentee that every single note the singer hit on this record was auto-tuned and pitch corrected. He destroys any natural feel a record could potentially have.

I haven't heard this record yet though...
HEARTandSYNAPSE
02/20/2007
07:14AM
Location
Manchester, England
i cant believe i havent heard this yet.
Mmhmm is an incredible record, im so looking forward to this.

Aenimaniac
02/20/2007
08:31AM
Location
East Lansing, MI
Four and a half stars for Relient K makes my stomach turn.
tim
02/20/2007
09:04AM
Age: 28
Location
Green Brook, NJ
their first album is definitely a 4.5/5 record. i haven't heard this one, i hope it's good though.
JohnnyL
02/20/2007
09:33AM
Age: 30
Location
Columbus, Ohio
I haven't heard the album, but Relient K definitely makes 4 * pop music.

Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes

Chris Conlan
02/20/2007
09:47AM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
rmgebhardt
Chris, seriously, wtf? I'm ashamed to say I know you.


You love me and you know it.

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awake_and_avenge
02/20/2007
10:15AM
Age: 29
Location
Tucson, AZ
I haven't listened to this, because for me this band has always been like the musical equivalent of candy that's so sugary it makes me wanna throw up after one bite.
HEARTandSYNAPSE
02/20/2007
11:52AM
Location
Manchester, England
awake_and_avenge
I haven't listened to this, because for me this band has always been like the musical equivalent of candy that's so sugary it makes me wanna throw up after one bite.



i have a sweet tooth.

awake_and_avenge
02/20/2007
11:57AM
Age: 29
Location
Tucson, AZ
Hahaha fair enough
sovietnoodle
02/20/2007
12:14PM
Location
Colorado
awake_and_avenge
I haven't listened to this, because for me this band has always been like the musical equivalent of candy that's so sugary it makes me wanna throw up after one bite.


couldn't have said it any better...

DINGY
02/20/2007
03:08PM
This is the best album i've heard so far this year.
Roncag
02/20/2007
03:52PM
Age: 32
Location
Anytown USA
DINGY
This is the best album i've heard so far this year.


That really sucks dude.

You play to win the game.

Genre: Corecore
02/20/2007
04:01PM
Location
St. Louis, MO
DINGY
This is the best album i've heard so far this year.

Wow. You must hate music.

~Tom



The Silent Ballet: The very best in instrumental and post-rock reviews and coverage.

Rick Gebhardt
02/20/2007
04:35PM
Age: 31
Location
Minnesota
DINGY
This is the best album i've heard so far this year.

So, is it like opposite day or something and no one told me?

Find me EVERYWHERE:

sir mix-a-lot
02/20/2007
05:32PM
Location
Sacramento, CA
wow, a 4.5 star relient k album? i mean, track by track, they're not horrid. at least they weren't when i listened to them in 2000. but if they've really "progressed" like this review makes it seem like they have, i have a hard time believing this could be better than a 3.5. then again, haven't listened to these guys in years. i think maybe this should be held up against their pre-major releases?

I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.

Originally stated by Scott Miller
It's like talking into a mirror!
bitterhalo
02/20/2007
05:35PM
Genre: Corecore
Wow. You must hate music.


wow, it's called an opinion. which you obviously have against this cd. why can't people just let other people like what they like and leave it at that?
Rick Gebhardt
02/20/2007
05:52PM
Age: 31
Location
Minnesota
bitterhalo
wow, it's called an opinion. which you obviously have against this cd. why can't people just let other people like what they like and leave it at that?

Because we're all pretty much just elitist pricks. And we're old, which means we're cranky.

Find me EVERYWHERE:

sir mix-a-lot
02/20/2007
06:01PM
Location
Sacramento, CA
rick, rick, consider the source. BITTERhalo. not angelichalo, not calmhalo. BITTERhalo.

I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.

Originally stated by Scott Miller
It's like talking into a mirror!
awake_and_avenge
02/20/2007
06:03PM
Age: 29
Location
Tucson, AZ
rmgebhardt
Because we're all pretty much just elitist pricks. And we're old, which means we're cranky.

Hahaha this is why this board is fucking dead 95% of the time.
Chris Conlan
02/20/2007
06:03PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
I'm elite!

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DINGY
02/20/2007
07:31PM
I meant One of the best albums I've heard so far in 07. There have been a few albums released this year that were equally as good or better imo. But anyway its hard to believe how much these guys have progressed and made every album better than the one before. Relient K started out as an awful wanna be Blink 182 pop punk band and now have developed into the best pop punk band around today.

I agree wholeheartedly with the score and the review.
Good job Chris
awake_and_avenge
02/20/2007
07:38PM
Age: 29
Location
Tucson, AZ
ChrisC
I'm elite!


Don't you mean l33t?
violentspecter
02/21/2007
01:33AM
Age: 23
Location
Holland
i shall find this somewhere...

im interested

...this is the end.

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