Relient K: Forget And Not Slow Down Review

Before writing this review, I think it's important to examine how many albums Relient K has done, because they have a lot. Like a lot. They began in 2000 with the self-titled "Relient K" and then came "The Anatomy Of The Tongue In Cheek", "Two Lefts Don't Make A Right...But Three Do", "Mmhmm", the EP "Apathetic", "Five Score And Seven Years Ago", the Christmas album "Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer", "The Bird And The Bee-Sides", and now, "Forget And Not Slow Down". Phew. So it's easy to see how long these guys have been around (in terms of discography that is, since their first album came out only 9 years ago). Because of this, some would be worried that their sound would get old or remain too similar to continue to be interesting, or worse, that they would try to change their sound in order to "mature" or attract new fans. I am very happy to say this is not the case. Because while I do not think this is their best album, it expands on their sound, appeasing the vast majority of Relient K fans while still making it interesting so that people do not easily dismiss it. Anyone who needs their Relient K fix and who is looking for something new should look no further. Despite some unnecessary and short transitions into songs that don't really serve much purpose, this is a solid addition to the legacy that is Relient K. The mood of the album is very reflective and peaceful, giving it a serene and inspired feel that is enhanced by lead singer Matt Thiessen's solid and agreeable vocals. I think it is kind of cool also to note how diverse the band's talents are: Matt, in addition to the vocals, also dabbles in piano, organ, electric piano, electric guitar, trombone, steel drum, bells, and string guitar. Matt Hoopes not only tackles electric and acoustic guitar, but also involves himself with the omnichord, John Warne adds backup vocals while playing the bass, John Schneck plays electric guitar and the aluminum bat (interesting), Ethan Luck handles drums, percussion, and electric guitar, and Mark Lee Townsend plays the electric guitar and mandarin. These guys clearly are musically talented and diverse. Although this CD does not really have the band rocking out as much, the mellow and melodious nature sets it apart from other records and is a nice change of pace that fans would be remiss in not appreciating.
1. Forget And Now Slow Down- The first single off the album was a foreshadow of what was to come with this album. This song really epitomizes the mood and feel of the whole album, having a hopeful and pleasant perspective that is very catchy and inspirational. There is some nice use of acoustic guitar in addition to electric guitar and skilled drumming that contributes to the feel of the song. Lyrically, Relient K continues to prove why so many people are drawn to their music: clever, tangible, and pertinent words that reach out and grab people with a hopeful or fun message. This song falls in the hopeful category and definitely makes references to the band's Christian-oriented lyrical roots. The first song and album title track does not disappoint. 10/10
2. I Don't Need A Soul- This is the most popular song off the new record on Itunes right now, and although the lyrics confuse me, I can see why it's such a hit so far. It is a very smooth, introspective song that is open to interpretation as far as what it is actually about, but I think it is about moving on in regard to getting over someone while recognizing that life and the other person "remain beautiful" despite the separation. I like the piano seen throughout the song, the buildup at the end of each chorus leading into each verse is good, and the drumming and guitars are excellent as well. Sure to be a hit. 10/10
3. Candlelight- A laid-back song that is very agreeable to the ears and has some very clever lyrics to it. The song talks about someone special in a really unique way that is cute and dear in its own right. This is a memorable song that is sure to evoke or characterize a time or person in your life. This song is one of those universally enjoyable songs that is just pleasant to listen to, mostly due to the light drumming with a great guitar scheme and Matt's solid vocals. It then leads into the next song which serves as a transition between this track and track number five. 9.5/10
4. Flare- So far I've only had to cover one intro/transition track and it wasn't so bad because that particular intro had some purpose and relevance to the next song and was really good and easy to score. This track is different because it only serves the purpose as singing a lullaby to an infant. It is less than a minute long and I don't really see why this song is distinguished as a separate track when it could have just been an awkward ending to "Candlelight". I suppose it definitely lends to the more artsy and reflective atmosphere of the album, but still, a little too trippy for my personal preference. 7.5/10
5. Part Of It- A solid guitar and bass hook give way to some good drumming and strumming as one of the more energetic songs on the album. Lyrically, this is as strong as it gets for any songwriter, displaying Relient K's knack for injecting strong vocabulary into a song while still being able to make it catchy and witty. The use of metaphor also lends to the notion of looking at things in terms of the whole world and keeping things in perspective. This song features more forceful vocals from Matt although there are definitely sections where his softer vocals are on display. A very solid track and another fine addition to Relient K's list of great songs. 9.5/10
6. Outro- Once again, another transition track that doesn't really serve any particular purpose but is not necessarily a bad thing. This one is better than the last one for sure, especially when one considers that a listener might not even notice the transition from "Part Of It" to this song. I don't see why they couldn't have just had this song be the end of the last song instead of its own separate song, because the only reason I could see behind this is boosting the track count while giving the album its own uniqueness, but maybe I'm making too big a deal about nothing. 8/10
7. Therapy- This is a very stylish song that opens up with some classy piano, cool drumming, and smooth vocals. It gives way to some guitar and a stellar chorus involving the aforementioned excellent piano and drums. This is a song about growing and getting beyond whatever holds you, and finding yourself amidst all this confusion. It really accurately deals with the notion of someone who is messed up actually being better off than someone who thinks they know what everything is all about because at least they are finding themselves in this process. With this idea in mind, the song definitely is able to speak to you and really pull you in. I really like this song because it is different but still manages to embody the essence of Relient K. 10/10
8. Over It- A trippy and mellow beginning gives way to some classical and blues-y piano and Matt shows off another range of his vocals. This jazzy song is definitely one that fans will enjoy singing along to because of how beautiful it is in its simplicity. This song is about being over something and being just fine with that. This song definitely has a great feel to it and is very stylish. It then transitions to softer grounds and becomes reflective at the very end. Very nice break from the norm. 9.5/10
9. Sahara- This song kicks off with an awesome guitar riff that turns to strumming when Matt's vocals kick in. This really cool riff returns throughout the song, and is reinforced by a return of Matt's more intense vocals. This is the hardest song on the album and certainly spices things up a bit. There is a really wicked musical throwdown near the crescendo that features Aaron Gillespie (Underoath, The Almost), adding some additional firepower to the arsenal of the song. One of my personal favorites, and even though the lyrics are not particularly strong (even if they don't need to be), I like the notion of not wanting to be turned loose. 10/10
10. Oasis- Yet another transition track that is only forty seconds long, featuring some quiet and almost mischievous guitar work along with some background harmonizing of the word "Savannah". I understand the play on words of Sahara, Oasis, and Savannah, I just wish I knew what the significance is. Maybe I'm reading too much into this. 7.5/10
11. Savannah- The mischievous and almost folksy guitar returns from the last song in the beginning of this one. Matt's vocals are extremely pleasing to the ears here and consistently so throughout the song, and so is the acoustic guitar that kicks in, especially when everything slows down. This song features frequent changes in tempo and mood, but overall, the mellow side wins out, and I think this is the best characterization the song could have had. This song deals with returning home to someone you love and emphasizes all the special things one remembers about their hometown in context of being with the person you love. The great guitar finishes up the song before taking an abrupt and odd transition into the next track. 9.5/10
12. Baby- The last of the transition songs is only forty six seconds long, features an electronically-affected Matt Thiessen belting out the word "Baby", and finishes up any unsaid thoughts from the last track. This would have been better served without the electronic influence and without being separated from "Savannah". 7.5/10
13. If You Believe Me- A great intro consisting of guitar, bass, and then drums sets up a more upbeat song that is lyrically and vocally strong. This is more of what Relient K fans were expecting throughout the album, but the accompanying vocals in the chorus give it a different style that translates really well onto this album. The chorus is more dramatic and deals with someone declaring their love for someone else and hoping the other party believes it and accepts it despite a major shortcoming. There is some great wailing guitar and piano in the background and the drumming is very strong here. There is a drastic change in tempo near the end of the song that features the piano centrally, and then the drums and guitars kick in to build tempo up in great fashion back up into a rocking chorus with more eccentric guitar. This song really combines rocking music with emotional feel and depth that makes it a beautiful song in its own way, and is the best song on the album. 10/10
14. This Is The End- This song begins with a jaw-dropping piano intro accompanied by Matt's voice which is tailored to the piano, rising and falling with it perfectly. This gives way to some solid strumming and drumming that does not necessarily have much variety, but serves its purpose in declaring "This is the end". Some variety is shown near the end of this very short song with some great drumming accompanied by a cool piano/vocal breakdown. The song closes with Matt showing more intensity with screaming and some discord on the instruments to show that something in the normal order of things is cracking. 9/10
15. (If You Want It)- I don't really see a purpose in separating these two tracks because they sound as though they are one whole song, but the beginning of the song abruptly switches from the aforementioned breaking down in the normal structure to a much calmer and smoother place with softer vocals from Matt, a sudden drop-off of the drums and guitar, and piano. The piano really shines here, and Matt's vocals once again rise and fall extremely well with it. The return of violins is welcome to many Relient K fans who recognize how frequently it is used on slower songs on previous albums. This song is very interesting lyrically and is open to interpretation, but there are too many religious/spiritual references and allusions for me to ignore, and I think its significance lies in this realm. A very solid closer to the album. 9.5/10
Overall: 137/150
Don't let the final tally mislead you Relient K: this is actually a phenomenal score when one takes into account how much room there is for disparity with 15 tracks; then one considers that four of the songs were give scores in the 7.5-8 range because they were transition tracks and it is easy to see that this album is really something magnificent. I will admit that I didn't really take to this album right away, but after listening to it completely through numerous times, it really grew on me, and when I started looking at it more in-depth, I realized how much there is here. This album really is unique and has an artsy and mature feel to it while maintaining the band's own style and feel of pleasantry and quality music. This is not my favorite Relient K, which still remains 2004's "Mmhmm", but this is certainly the most intricate and introspective, thereby making it the most unique and stylish in my opinion. If you are looking for something pleasant to listen to that lies within the realm of rock and having a deeper significance and meaning, look no further. Thanks for tuning in rock fans. I have nothing for you this coming week, but I will be returning a week from now with a new review on Cartel. Rock on.