Track Listing

1. The One I'm Waiting For
2. Be My Escape
3. High of '75
4. I So Hate Consequences
5. The Only Thing Worse Than Beating a Dead Horse Is Betting On One
6. My Girl's Ex Boyfriend
7. More Than Useless
8. Which to Bury; Us Or The Hatchet
9. Let it all Out
10. Who I Am Hates Who I've Been
11. Maintain Consciousness
12. This Week the Trend
13. Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)
14. When I Go Down
15. When I Go Down

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2517 in Music
• Released on: 2004-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Following the lead of their secular counterparts like Blink 182 and Good Charlotte, Christian pop-punk group Relient K changes tact for its fourth studio album. Cue pianos and strings and lyrics that largely leave behind adolescent concerns in search of greater meaning on epic songs like "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been." But the heavy themes and dark clouds on the album cover don't spell the death of the band's goofy side--for a quick dose of devolution check "The Only Worst Thing Than Beating A Dead Horse Is Betting On One" and "My Girlfriend's Ex-Boyfriend," songs that would make even a sadsack like Morrissey crack a smile. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

Fine CD as the band bridges secular and Christian music
Relient K has gained attention and new fans recently while opening the "Noise To The World" tour for Simple Plan and Good Charlotte. This CD contains about half of the songs they played on the tour, but not older ones like "Sadie Hawkins Dance" and "Chapstick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry."

Relient K puts together a CD full of upbeat, light pop-punk. To the casual listener, little more seems meant than songs about relationships (like "High of 75"), or lack of fulfillment ("Be My Escape", "I So Hate Consequences")

The Christian point of view quickly becomes clear. The "you" songs such as "Be My Escape" are addressed to could, if you want it to, be some girl the singer is trying to get to take him from an unfulfilling life, but it could be Jesus as well "You've told me the way, and now I'm trying to get there" "But I can't ask you to give what you already gave". "High of 75" plays on the pun between "sun" and "son", and the clouds battling for control of the sky could be good and evil.

Still, Relient K has cleverly done songs that set forth their point of view, but in a manner that all can appreciate, whatever their religious beliefs. They've joined the mainstream, but without selling out their religious beliefs.

Lyrically brilliant, musically great too!
I have to admit, it took me awhile to actually enjoy Relient K. I used to think their music was very generic and their lyrics were cheesy. But this album changed everything for me. Matt Thiessen is such a clever lyricist, using enough word plays to delight the wordsmith in me, but also making me think more deeply about my relationship with God and others.

The band sticks to their standard pop-punk riffs on this album, though I believe they use smoother speed and instrumental transitions on this album. Example: Be My Escape starts with screaming guitars and a fast beat, softens down to keyboards, vocals and light drumming during the verses, back up to rocking during the bridge and chorus, and slows right down for a touching finish. There are several other songs that vary in a like manner.

Lyrically, I really enjoyed Be My Escape (but the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair), Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet (I move you, but you just wouldn't budge, I tried to hold your hand but you'd rather hold your grudge), When I Go Down (When I go down, I'll lift my eyes to You, but I won't look too far, 'Cause You'll be there with open arms, to lift me up again...). What a beautiful way to end the album!

Musically, many songs stand out - High of 75 is probably the most original song, starting with acoustic guitar, and including a drum loop in the chorus. Other highlights include Who I am Hates Who I've Been, and Life After Death & Taxes, which combines great vocals with some cool screaming!

Relient K has made a fan out of me, and if you buy this album, it will do the same for you!

matured, consistent, and ready to make a breakthrough
first of all im not really a kid i just really wanted to write a review and i didnit want to sign in. and before i start this review, if your not into stuff like fall out boy and simple plan they you dont really need to read this review or buy this cd.

its taken them awhile but relient k has finally come through with an album is matured and consistent. i own all of theyre albums but this is the only one i would give 5 stars. theyre all decent but in their 3 most recent this is the only one with at least 10 plus songs that are good. the anatomy of tongue in cheek had sadie hawkins dance which is still one of my favs but that was it. 2 lefts dont make a right had mood rings, falling out, and in love with the 80s which were all pretty good but once again failed at a complete album. in this album they get more serious and the music gets seriously better.their 2 singles, be my escape and who i am hates who ive been, are both incredible but theyre are about 3 or 4 other tracks that arent far behind. i so hate consequences, which to bury us or the hachet, more than useless, and life after death and taxes are all great songs even though they will probably never receive any mainstream radio play. this album, and more importantly "be my escape" has defintly gotten this christian band mainstream exposure but they will need theyre next album to be a real good one if they want to cement theyr place in the mainstream aside bands such as fall out boy and simple plan. i personally think they are better than both of those bands (dont ignore my review because of that comment)this isnt really my prefered genre(punk,emo,pop)of music, im more of a hardcore/metal kinda guy, but this band is just to good to ignore, especially if you are a christian, which i am (jesus, you rock harder than anybody, and i love you)but especially dont ignore this band b/c theyre christian or else yur gonna miss out cuz these guys are pretty sweet. as i final comment this is definitly the best relient k album so buy this one before you buy the others.