Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right.. But Three Do

I always try to read up on a release before I start to review it, and if it is a band that I have never heard, then I spend a little more time trying to make sure I get a full picture of the history of the band. I mean after all, you have to go a lot harder on a band that has been together for 5 years and released 4 albums, as opposed to a debut release from a young band. Having never heard of them, it came as quite a surprise to me that Relient K was a pretty well known band that has been featured on tons of TV shows, sold over 200,000 copies of their last release, and sold out tours across the country. Oh, and they’re a Christian band. Relient K is pop punk, plain and simple. Imagine Blink 182, with a different vocalist, some pianos and acoustic guitars now and then, less silliness, and a little different subject matter. Well let’s not get too carried away, most songs still center around girls, being young, and… girls. Now I am not trying to say that this album isn’t good, in fact is very enjoyable, with standouts like “In Love With the 80s” (a brilliant song that sounds like…well, an 80s song by a pop-punk band) leading the way. Really all the songs are done exceptionally well and I can see why the band has such rabid fans. With the recent success of this type of music from bands like Blink 182 and New Found Glory, I think Relient K may have struck gold. It recently occurred to me that all music must be taken in context, and when reviewing albums they should be compared to other albums in the same genre, not to another genre that maybe you like more. For example, if I were to review the new 50 Cent album, I would trash it, because I don’t like rap. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good to people that do like rap though, and thus my score would be unfair. Do you see where I’m going? So in giving Relient K’s latest album a score, I am going to rate it as if you are a huge pop-punk fan. I guess I am including this clarification because I don’t want to mislead anyone. If you dig pop punk then buy this album because it is great. If you don’t, then don’t expect to be converted. [www.relientk.com]