Relient K
God and Rock seem like an unlikely combination. A quick look at the mortality rate of Rock musicians and you'd easily assume that the Almighty hates Rock and its practitioners. Rockers at more comfortable tipping over carts than polishing apples. But there are those who play Rock from a Christian point of view. And almost always, these performers are limited to Christian radio stations. Just like R&B or Country, Christian Rock sits just outside the mainstream but ready to cross over at any time. But just as foul language on an R&B record or a steel guitar laced into a Country track, any mention of God or Jesus will keep a Christian act from reaching a broader audience.
Groups like Relient K and Switchfoot have been particularly adept at omitting direct God/Jesus references in their songs while keeping the message and the greater glory intact. Of course, conservative Christians have a problem with this. Hell, they have a problem with just about everything - probably even the whole concept of Christians playing or listening to Rock.
Relient K's singer, Matt Thiessen, set the record straight. "Call us whatever you want," he was quoted saying. "You can call us a Christian band, you can call us a Rock and Roll band. We don't care. We're just doing what we do. We're having fun."
Relient K (that's right, named after the Chrysler Plymouth - Thiessen's car) hails from Canton, OH. In '98, Thiessen, guitarist Matt Hoopes, bassist Brian Pittman and drummer Todd Frescone formed the group. Over time, Pittman and Frescone fell by the wayside. John Warne landed on bass and a couple drummers came and went before Dave Douglas arrived.
Two years down the road, the group's debut album, "All Work And No Play," came out brimming with pop culture references and Christian themes. Their sophomore album, "The Anatomy Of The Tongue In Cheek" made them a Christian mainstay. But their label, Gotee, landed a clothing deal on the band's behalf with Abercrombie & Fitch, a retailer know for suggestive and downright racy ads - seemingly obsessed with having their customers take clothes off rather than keep them on. Christian groups howled and the deal was severed.
A couple more albums were issued before '04 release, "Mmhmm" shot the group into the mainstream. The platinum album had a pair of hits, "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been," that helped turn previous efforts gold.
Guitarist Jon Schneck was added in '05 to round out the line-up.
'07 album, "Five Score & Seven Years Ago" had an immediate impact climbing into Billboard's Top 20. The single "Forgiven" went to Christian radio while "Must Have Done Something Right " traveled the secular route.
Relient K is reminiscent of Blink 182, only without the angst or snotty outlook. In other words, not much like them at all except a sonic resemblance. Relient K comes across as friendly and accessible. There certainly is, in these troubled times (there's always troubled times) a need for a safe haven amid the rancor.
"Mmhmm" is a perfect example of Punk-lite. Originally, Punk was a nasty kiss off to the world but for Relient K is all about getting along, helping out and striving for self-improvement.
"Five Score & Seven Years Ago," is a "tour de force" effort ranging from Beach Boys' harmonies ("Plead The Fifth") to jangling '70s pop ("Must Have Done Something Right") to Alt. acoustic Rock ("Faking My Own Suicide") to as close as they come to real Punk ("Deviation And Reform"). It's all very entertaining but "Mmhmm" is the better Rock album.