Of all the relationship songs on the Five Score “Must Have Done Something Right” takes sugary to a new level. Complete with Beach Boy worthy vocals, hand clapping, and xylophone, it’s easy to imagine this song coming from an old sixties beach movie. It’s going to be the song you won’t be able to get out of your head.
On the more serious side, “Devastation and Reform,” “Up and Up” and “Forgiven” all speak of how looking to God can solve any problem. “”Devastation and Reform” starts out with hard, metal guitars that showcase the anger everyone feels when it seems like life is falling in all around us. Lead singer Matt Thiessen’s vocals are able to successfully carry the desperation and heaviness of the song, and transition into the light at the end of the tunnel. “Thank you, God for giving me this insight/So I might take these wrongs right,” Thiessen sings.
While the band is easily able to blend the silly and serious on their albums, one song “I’ll Fake My Own Suicide” is a step too far. Eager to make the girls of his dreams fall in love with him, the singer plans on faking his own suicide so she’ll realize how much she’ll miss him. Then, when she’s really depressed, he’ll come into the room and make things all better. While Relient K has been able to make light of a lot of things in the past, suicide is a bit of a stretch. The lyrics make it sound like the song is trying to hard to be funny. But seriously, when is suicide ever funny?
Overall, this CD will be a great buy for any fan of Relient K’s past work. If you were looking for something new from the boys, there is some lap steel country guitar and aforementioned metal guitar on some albums, but for the most part, the album isn’t  a stretch for the guys. But, hey, is that seriously a bad thing? If it’s ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Check out Relient K's website.
Danielle Cole is one of those people that pretty much listens to music 24/7. When she's not listening to her iTunes, she's probably reading the classics, going to the movies or watching "The Office" on DVD with her friends. Danielle is currently studying music management and journalism at school. But, she prefers to just sit back, enjoy God's creation, and drink some hot chocolate.

Comments

oh my relient k. Written by Krysta on 2007-04-26 19:38:15 i think that this alblum is extremely focused on soothing listeners with their amazing instumentalism and there expression of faith. relient k is by far my favorite band and the biggest joy of my life, except for Jesus... of course. so therefore, they did amazing agian. i didn't think anything can be judged as wrong or innappropriate when it comes from the heart and these tracks obviously came straight from the chest cavity of our dear matthew thiessen.

I wrote the review Written by Danielle on 2007-04-27 20:09:02 Thanks for writing guys!    Yes, I have heard their past stuff, and compared to "MMHMM" musically, this didn't seem like too much of a stretch.     I've personaly had to deal with serious issues such as suicide, and I just don't think it's something to take lightly. And I do understand what it's like to feel that everyone in the world is against you.    however, the album had grown on me in the last few weeks.    God Bless.

manah Written by I'm a Bare on 2007-05-17 18:33:57 I agree with Chris Blystone. Faking My Own Suicide is more of a metaphorical song to me... and I don't think it's making fun of suicide or taking it lightly, rather, it's relating it to the feeling of wishing someone would realize how much you really mean to them. I think it's okay to use it metaphorically.    I also think that Deathbed is great, it's amazing to just close your eyes the whole time it's playing and just take it all in, then the end is amazing if you've really listened to the first 10 minutes and understood it all.     But anyway, thanks for the review.

Written by hilary lauren on 2007-05-18 16:36:40 i also agree with past comments about how "faking my own suicide" isn't making fun of suicide or taking it lightly. however, one complaint i have about the album is it seems to focus too much on the whole "girlfriend" idea, rather than God, like in past albums. it is almost disappointing.

a great leap Written by A concerned individual on 2007-05-22 18:29:58 I think that this is quite possibly Relient K's greatest album to date. It is definately their most musically and spiritually mature album that they have created (even more so than "All Work and No Play," which up until now was the most worshippy of the albums).    I also disagree with you Danielle. I feel this is a great musical departure for Relient K. The pop-punk influence of this album is albeit gone. If you really, truly listen to their old music (Say, "Anatomy" or even "Relient K") and then listen to "Five Score and Seven Years Ago," you notice a drastic change. "mmhmm" and "The Apathetic EP" were the middle of the road, to me at least, incorporating more pop-punk influence than "Five Score" but not as much as in the past.    I also have to respond to those who say that Relient K is not a Christian band anymore, or that they don't care about God anymore, that is simply not true. Do I know them personally? No. But I did have a chance to chat with Matt Hoopes shortly after their switch to Capital Records, and he told me to expect much of the same. Also, the love songs on this album are still God-honoring.    All in all, a fantastic album. A must own for any Relient K fan, new or old. And Songs to download (if you can't just buy the whole album, which I recommend): I Need You, Forgiven, Devastation and Reform, Faking My Own Suicide, Bite My Toungue, Up and Up, Death Bed (best song...ever.)

Written by flitley on 2007-06-16 11:49:39 My favorite songs off "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" are "Deathbed", "Faking My Own Suicide", and "Must Have Done Something Right".     While I agree that suicide may have been taken too lightly, I still like the song "Faking My Own Suicide" because I can understand where they're coming from and I think everyone's felt like they can't get any attention from the person they want it most.    If you listen to every single album of Relient K's you can see how much they've grown, and while I don't think "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" is a whole lot different from "MMHMM", there are some differences and you can tell how much Relient K has matured.    I'd say overall this is a great CD and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Shelby Written by Shelby on 2007-08-11 14:52:03 I love " Five Score". It was the first Relient K c.d that I bought and after listening to it i went out and bought every other c.d that they've ever made. I think it's awesome. Especially "Deathbed". I love every song except for "Faking my own suicide" because I don't really get it. But all in all, it's the most awesome C.D i've ever heard. Everyone should buy it. Oh.. and they were awesome at ICHTHUS this year.

hello Written by cody lunsford on 2007-09-15 11:11:23 hi my name is cody lunsford .I your song sadiehawkins dance is awesome.

Patheticness Written by Iceman14fl on 2007-10-19 05:01:06 You don't understand Faking My Own Suicide. Its about patheticness. Matt Thiessen is Saying that hes so patheticly in love with this girl, that he would do anything for her, even to the point of doing something stupid like faking his own suicide just to get her attention.  The character is pathetic, and that is funny and piognant.

to the concerned individual: Written by iceman14fl on 2007-10-19 05:06:11 all work and no play??  that was a demo!!  and how did you get all work and no play anyway?  any song that is on that is on the rest of their albums.  and besides the anatomy of the tongue in cheek is the most worshippy.  I stick my proverbial tongue out at you.

yoppadcu Written by yoppadcu on 2007-11-14 01:53:49 ehqonfwd tmimvvsc http://hvbkjizw.com gpbwiuov ibvzjqtm sxfwtdvd

My own 2 cents worth... Written by Jonathan St. Clair on 2008-02-03 18:28:54 Great review, except for that "Faking My Own Suicide" part. I'll agree that suicide is not to be taken lightly, as I am a near-victim. It seems, though, that when that word pops into a song, it's the only word that matters. I also cite the comment entitled "patheticness". THE SONG ISN'T ABOUT SUICIDE. AT ANY LEVEL. It's about the frustration of being in love with someone who doesn't love you. If you've ever been there, you know it'll make you think and do some pretty weird stuff. That's the message. BTW, you don't have to be pathetic to be in that position, it sometimes happens after you reach the age of 16. Also, "Must've Done Something Right" is another keeper. Sort of hits on the other side of the issue. I like that. I also think that, in response to the short untitled comment by hilary lauren, the "girlfriend" idea is an important part of the Christian faith. There's an awesome paper I read by a Lutheran pastor entitled "the Maleness of God". Google it, and you can't miss. Point is, when we love each other, we reflect the fact that we are made in God's image. After all, God loves us. It applies to ALL kinds of love, too, so long as it's pure. But now I'm rambling. Great CD. Really great.

Faking my own Suicide!!!! Written by Lindy on 2008-02-18 19:15:09 Good review! I do think Relient K has matured a lot, though.    And as to Faking my own Suicide, I LOVE IT!!!!!!! I agree with whoever said it could be metaphorical...but I think it could be a metaphor for Jesus Christ. Think about it...in a sense, Jesus pretended to leave this world behind, and of course a part of us would die along with Jesus...we are nothing without Him. The part with the letter that you\'ll keep refers to the Bible (I think), and the part that says we would have been His wife...well, Jesus is often referred to as the bridegroom and His church as the bride, right?     And then He comes back and we know He will never leave our side.     Even if this is not the metaphor Relient K intended (though I suspect it is), I really, really like it!!!!    Thanks for reading! God bless.    (apologies if this posted twice...)

Faking my own suicide! Written by Lindy on 2008-02-18 19:17:24 Good review! I do think Relient K has matured a lot, though.    And as to \"Faking my own Suicide\", I LOVE IT!!!!!!! I agree with whoever said it could be metaphorical...but I think it could be a metaphor for Jesus Christ. Think about it...in a sense, Jesus pretended to leave this world behind, and of course a part of us would \"die\" along with Jesus...we\'re nothing without Him. The part with the \"letter that you\'ll keep\" refers to the Bible (I think), and the part that says we would have been His \"wife\"...well, Jesus is often referred to as the bridegroom and His church as the bride, right?     And then He comes back and we know He will never leave our side.     Even if this isn\'t the metaphor Relient K intended (though I suspect it is), I really, really like it!!!!    Thanks for reading! God bless.    (apologies if this posted twice, I'm having trouble getting it to work!)

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