Review

By: Lisa Hezmalhalch

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New Relient K Album Typical
But Worth A Listen

Relient K posted 13 of 15 "Five Score" tracks on the band's MySpace page days before the album was released. -- Capital Records, photo

Relient K's fifth and latest album, "Five Score and Seven Years Ago," hit store shelves on March 6, 2007, and by March 7, was already iTunes' No. 2 top album -- trumping Fall Out Boy and John Mayer.

Thankful fans will find that "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" has the playful style, witty lyrics and deep messages listeners have come to expect from Relient K.

The musical style of the album is pop but with a few variations. "I Need You" begins with a screeching guitar that sounds similar to nails on a chalkboard.

In contrast, "Pleading the Fifth" has a harmonious Beach Boys sound. Congruent with that, the band remakes a Beach Boys classic in the bonus track, "Sloop John B."

"Five Score" also has playfully constructed songs. "Crayons Can Melt on Us for All I Care," is 10 seconds of silliness, and "Bite My Tongue," has a fun sound with lyrics that may remind the listener of John Mayer's song, "My Stupid Mouth."

Despite the overall quality of the album, some tracks are, unfortunately, less than desirable. "Faking My Own Suicide" has a cheesy country sound and croons, "I wish you thought that I was dead. So rather than me, you'd be depressed instead."

A defining feature of "Five Score" is the abundance of love songs. "The Best Thing," which has a beginning sounding similar to "Right Now" by Van Halen, playfully exclaims, "Always knew I'd find someone; I never dreamt it'd be like this." Other love ballads include "I'm Taking You With Me" and the first single off the album, "Must Have Done Something Right," a pleasant combination of a lively beat and cheerful lyrics.

Witty lyrics show up in "Must Have Done Something Right." The opening line says, "We should get jerseys 'cause we make a good team. But yours would look better than mine 'cause you're out of my league." "Bite My Tongue" and "Devastation and Reform" are also cleverly worded. "Up and Up" is not only spiritual but hopeful compared to the band's previous darker album, "MmHmm." Its spiritual songs included "Who I am Hates Who I've Been" and "Let It All Out."

But the diamond hidden in the album is "Deathbed." The song is a sad story about a man dying from lung cancer. "Deathbed" goes from lighthearted spiritual undertones to laying out the gospel as the man recounts his conversion experience and in the end is taken to Heaven by Jesus, who sings about being the way, the truth and the light.

"Deathbed" can't be bought off iTunes without buying the whole album -- but for that song, it's worth the purchase.

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