Relient K bills themselves as "sublime, silly, and sacred." They definitely succeed on the silly and the sacred--whether or not they achieve the sublime is up to the listener to decide. Their music can best be described as an amalgamation of punk and pop, their sound like that of Goldfinger crossed with "Weird" Al Yankovic.
Matthew Thiessen (vocals/guitar), Matthew Hoopes (guitar), Brian Pittman (bass), and Dave Douglas (drums) met at tiny Malone College in Canton, Ohio. The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek shows that they have retained some of the college style of humor, evident in such songs as "Lion-O," "May the Horse be With You," "Maybe it's Maybelline," and my personal favorite of the titles: "Breakfast at Timpani's." "Sadie Hawkins Dance" is sure to be a hit as well.
Those, along with "Kick Off," help to comprise the silly. Here are the lyrics to "Kick Off," in their entirety:
Here's the kick-off.
We hope you're not sick of Relient K, or all the songs we play,
'Cause then you'll want to throw our CD away.
Now on to the sacred. Concern for others is the recurring thread throughout this album. "Down in Flames" refers to Christians who spend their time tearing each other down in a Pharisaical way, doing Satan's work for him:
Christians, we mourn, the thorn
is stuck on the side of the body.
Watch it self-destruct.
The enemy is much ignored when
We fight this Christian civil war.
We're cannibals. We watch our brothers fall.
We eat our own, the bones and all.
"Breakdown" compares a car's death to the troubles we experience in life. "These Words Are Not Enough" says that we need to back up our words -- that lip service is not enough in the Christian life. "For the Moment I Feel Faint" is a reminder of our need to rely on God when we can't do things on our own.
Another theme is about those who are ambivalent about God. "My Way or the Highway" is a plea with those who are sitting on the fence, and tells the listener "It's your decision -- make the best one." "The Rest is Up to You" perhaps speaks to the same person, finally explaining that they have talked to them all they can about God, but now they need to choose--which way are they going to go in life? The latter features a .38 Special style guitar part.
"Failure to Excommunicate" tells the outcast to take heart, that God loves them no matter how others see them, including those within the church. "What Have You Been Doing Lately?" mourns those who have received their independence, only to drift away from God. This should resonate within high school and college students, as well as older listeners who have become complacent.
Vibrant pop definitely geared to the younger crowd, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek delivers as promised: silly and sacred. Sublime? You be the judge--it struck a chord in me.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Mark BakerSometimes, the best way to prove a point is to use an irony or sarcasm. When the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, he used an analogy. Relient K uses some of these techniques to make their truth-filled lyrics make a greater impact on listeners. Relient K's sophomore album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek hosts 17 impressive songs that mock clichés such as "Maybe It's Maybelline,"…The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Josh HurstWhen Switchfoot released their third album, Learning to Breathe, many critics commented on how much the band matured between their sophomore album, New Way to Be Human, and their new one. They were right, too- Jon Foreman's lyrics were deeper, the band's playing was more skillful, and the production was sharper than anything Switchfoot had done before. Well, it appears that pop/punk outfit…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by Adam L.There is good punk, there is bad punk, and there is punk so bad that only a mother could love it. Which, when you think about it is kind of funny, since I haven't heard reports of throngs of 30+ mothers at any punk shows lately. After several years of hanging around local clubs that let punk bands in, I've become accustomed to plugging my ears and waiting for the agony to be over. This is not the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Matt WilliamsThe ever-graying borders of musical genres have been blurred once again, this time on Relient K's sophomore release, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, an album showing tremendous growth since their debut. Easily labeled as a "happy-music punk band" on their self-titled debut, Relient K has kept their fun loving, tongue-in-cheek nature readily available on ...Anatomy..., but has also opted to…Similar sounding releases
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