Relient K
**
Five Score And Seven Years Ago
Relient K have proven that they can write accessible, commercial, 3-minute pop/punk songs from here to the moon and back, complete with upbeat attitudes, which will make the most sullen youngsters forget their homework woes and their pre-teen frustrations. On Five Score and Seven Years Ago, the band makes no exception to their previous precedent, which has brought them boundless successes in markets on both sides of the musical/spiritual chasm. There has been growth since their past efforts here, however, and it is in the area of breadth. There is a mature emotional quality to this newest release that occurs often enough to imply intention. Think RK with an early Jimmy Eat World or Death Cab twist, resulting in something that is more reminiscent to the Mae’s and Angels and Airwaves of the world than just the Blink 182’s or Sum 41’s. For instance, check out the first single, “Must Have Done Something Right.” Piano, with soft-spoken vox, give way to a primarily acoustic-driven rock (not punk) song. Keyboards and other instrumentation are present enough throughout the album to take the primary focus off rock guitar enough to render a new, fragile balance. But don’t let the word “maturity” scare you. If your teachers or your parents have you down, just put this record on and you will remember (that) you have your whole life ahead of you to frown. [Gotee] Andrew Schwab
This album review was originally published in the March/April Issue (#124) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version to read tons more reviews. You can do this online or find this issue on newsstands. **For fun, we thought we'd post an early preview of this album cover, which is not the final one that was used.
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